Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42267679›Full record

ArticleBJU international2026

Delphi consensus on ex vivo fluorescence confocal microscopy in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Edoardo Beatrici, Mario de Angelis, Ricardo Almeida-Magana, Tarek Al-Hammouri, Cristian Fiori, Federico Piramide, Andrei Plopeanu, Nicola Frego, Riccardo Schiavina, Attilio Barretta and 30 more

Abstract readConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Article in BJU international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

40 authors.

Edoardo BeatriciORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Mario de AngelisORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Ricardo Almeida-MaganaDepartment of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Tarek Al-HammouriDepartment of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Cristian FioriDivision of Urology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (Turin), Italy.
Federico PiramideDivision of Urology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (Turin), Italy.
Andrei PlopeanuDepartment of Microscopic Morphology-Pathology, ANAPATMOL Research Center, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-4900-4809
Nicola FregoORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Riccardo SchiavinaDivision of Urology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Attilio BarrettaORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Anna SilvantoDepartment of Pathology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Renu S EapenSir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Ravi BarodSpecialist Centre for Kidney Cancer, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Jon OxleyDepartment of Histopathology, North Bristol Hospitals Trust, Bristol, UK.
Elio MazzoneDepartment of Urology, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1932-1800
Mathias WinklerDepartment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Nikhil MayorDepartment of Urology, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, UK.
Kris Van Der SteenDepartment of Pathology, AZORG Hospital Aalst, Aalst, Belgium.
Rui FarinhaORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Stefania FerrettiDepartment of Urology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
Giampaolo BianchiUniversity of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Natali Rodriguez PeñarandaORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Riccardo AutorinoGlickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Jihad KaoukGlickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Ruben OlivaresGlickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Christopher J WeightGlickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Nicolas A SoputroGlickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Luca Reggiani BonettiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
Albino EccherDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
Maria Chiara SighinolfiFondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Vincenzo CavarraORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Francesco PepilloORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Anthony G GallagherORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Declan G MurphySir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7500-5899
Peter WiklundUrology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Freddie C HamdyNuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Stefano PuliattiDepartment of Urology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
Alexandre MottrieORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Greg ShawDepartment of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Ruben De GrooteORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPositive surgical margins (PSMs) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) increase the risk of prostate cancer recurrence, often requiring salvage treatments that may compromise functional recovery. Intraoperative frozen section can detect PSM but is not feasible as a routine approach in most settings. Ex vivo fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) provides a rapid, real-time alternative, though evidence remains limited and knowledge gaps persist. This international Delphi consensus aimed to define expert recommendations on the clinical application of and workflow and research priorities for the safe integration of FCM during RARP. MATERIAL AND

methodsA modified Delphi process was conducted following the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and reported according to the ACCORD checklist. In total, 32 international experts in urology and pathology participated in a hybrid consensus meeting after structured literature review and preparatory online sessions. Forty-four evidence-based multiple-choice items across patient selection, image acquisition, and surgical management domains were developed and anonymously voted on via a secure online platform. Consensus was predefined as ≥80% agreement among respondents.

resultsConsensus was achieved for 24 of 44 items (55%). Key agreements included a risk-adapted use of FCM (97%), its role as an adjunct to magnetic resonance imaging for nerve-sparing decisions (87%), adoption of en-face imaging as the preferred FCM technique (82%), and a maximum reporting time of 30 min (85%). The panel endorsed formal certification for image interpretation (83%), standardized reporting of positive margin length (82%), and feasibility of remote intra-institutional reporting (84%). Larger (>3 mm) PSM in high-risk cases warranted complete neurovascular bundle resection (96%).

conclusionsThis consensus provides a structured framework for the intraoperative use of FCM during RARP, defining its indications, workflow standards, and training requirements. Future multicentre studies are needed to assess its oncological and functional impact and to establish standardized implementation pathways.

Indexed as

ProstatectomyProstatic NeoplasmsRobotic Surgical ProceduresDelphi TechniqueHumansMaleMargins of ExcisionMicroscopy, ConfocalMicroscopy, FluorescenceDelphi consensusfluorescent confocal microscopyintraoperative margin assessmentpositive surgical marginsprostate cancerrobot‐assisted radical prostatectomy

Identifiers

PMID42267679
PMCPMC13314564

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.