Doctors in charge of treating Emperor Akihito's prostate cancer have concluded the cancer has not spread to other parts of his body, an Imperial Household Agency official said Friday.

Ichiro Kanazawa, medical supervisor of the Imperial Household, said the doctors determined through pathology tests conducted after the operation that there was no evidence the cancerous cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

"The cancerous tissues were limited to the parts that were removed," Kanazawa told a news conference on postoperative examinations on the Emperor.

The Emperor's prostrate gland was removed in an operation last weekend.

Some cancerous tissues had entered parts of the outer coating of the prostate but had not penetrated it, he said.

After the doctors conducted the operation last Saturday at the University of Tokyo Hospital, they said there were no visible signs that the cancer had spread. and that they had ordered the pathology tests "just in case."

The Emperor, who is steadily recovering, was visited Thursday by his two sons and daughters-in-law for the first time since his operation, agency officials said.

He chatted for about an hour with Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko at University of Tokyo Hospital. Empress Michiko and Princess Nori have been staying there with him.