BACKGROUND: At radical prostatectomy (RP), pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) represents the most accurate staging procedure for the presence of lymph node (LN) metastases. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the rate of PLND use and its lymph node count (LNC) over the last two decades. We also tested the relationship between LNC and the rate of pN1 stage. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between 1988 and 2006, 130 080 RPs were recorded in 17 Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registries. MEASUREMENTS: The statistical significance of temporal trends was evaluated with the chi-square trend test. Separate univariable and multivariable regression analyses tested the relationship between predictors and two end points: (1) lack of LN staging (pNx) and (2) presence of LN metastases (pN1). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Stage pNx was recorded in 25.9% of patients, and pNx rate was higher in more contemporary years (30.1% in 2000-2006 vs 20.8% in 1988-1993; multivariable p
