No left lymph nodes sampled because none there

Hi all. As soon as we get back to our more normal routines, I plan to write a post about DH's robotic RP which was last week. For now, I have a question regarding lymph nodes.

Prior to the surgery, the plan was that the lymph nodes would be sampled with additional nodes to be removed if they looked enlarged.

Right after the surgery, DH's surgeon told me that there weren't many lymph nodes there, that there was a lot of fatty tissue on one side, but that he did sample the nodes.

The post-op pathology report states that two lymph nodes were removed, one from the right side and one from the left. The report talks about the specimen labeled "left pelvic lymph node" but then states:

"Sectioning reveals unremarkable adipose tissue, no lymph node grossly is identified."

It looks as if the surgeon intended to take out a lymph node from the left side but ended up only with fatty tissue. So where are the lymph nodes on that side?

We meet with the surgeon tomorrow and I'm not sure what to ask. Has anyone else had this happen? More importantly, should we be concerned? (FYI, the report says moderately involved, bilaterally, 25%.)

Thanks,
Melaine

Thanks Allen. I appreciate your response.

Very interesting about the fluorescent dye. DH's surgeon is supposedly a top surgeon so I wonder why he didn't do that?

I'm trying to not worry--but am having mixed results. I guess there's nothing to do right now but wait for that first PSA test. Thanks again