PATHOLOGY REVIEW IN AN EARLY PROSTATE-CANCER DETECTION PROGRAM - RESULTS FROM THE AMERICAN-CANCER-SOCIETY NATIONAL PROSTATE-CANCER DETECTION PROJECT

Biopsy materials obtained in the American Cancer Society National Pros tate Cancer Detection Project were reviewed at the Central Pathology L aboratory at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Of 265 cases sub mitted, 177 were diagnosed as prostatic carcinoma, 7 as prostatic intr aepithelial neoplasia (PIN), 13 as atypical glands or atypical hyperpl asia, and the remaining 68 were benign hyperplasias. Irrespective of t he means of detection or the grading system used (Gleason or WHO-Mosto fi), a large majority of the cancers were detected as low-grade tumors . Of 27 cases of PIN reported, 20 were associated with cancer, leaving 7 cases with the sole diagnosis of PIN. These data may indicate the i ncreased use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examin ation (DRE), and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in the United States is shifting the spectrum of prostate cancer pathology toward early low-g rade tumors. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.