FLOW CYTOMETRIC DNA ANALYSIS OF FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATES OF PROSTATIC BENIGN LESIONS

Fine-needle aspiration samples from 54 consecutive patients suffering from prostatic benign lesions were analyzed for both cytological diagn osis and DNA cell content, by means of standard cytological criteria a nd flow cytometry, respectively. Of these patients, 13 displayed prost atitis: three being classified as acute prostatitis, 7 as chronic and 3 as granulomatosous prostatitis. All cases had a diploid DNA cell con tent, with a mean percentage of S-phase cells of 1.8 +/- 2.7%. Althoug h no major differences were detected between patients with and without prostatitis, the former group had a slightly higher proportion of S-p hase cells (1.4 +/- 2.2% vs 2.7 +/- 3.7%). Moreover, within those pati ents with prostatitis, acute prostatitis cases showed the highest prol iferation rates although differences did not reach statistical signifi cance.