LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF STAGE A PROSTATE CARCINOMA, ATYPICAL HYPERPLASIA ADENOSIS AND BPH/

Between 1972 and 1986, 134 patients with stage A carcinoma of the pros tate (CAP) were diagnosed at a single Veterans Administration medical centre and followed annually by the hospital tumour registry. Seventy- four were classified as stage A1, defined as non-palpable, well-differ entiated CAP, regardless of amount, found unexpectedly on transurethra l resection of the prostate (TURF). Twenty-eight were classified as st age A2, defined as non-palpable, moderately or poorly differentiated C AP, regardless of amount, found unexpectedly on TURF. The remaining 32 were reclassified as atypical hyperplasia/adenosis (AH/A) rather than CAP. The survival of each group was compared with the survival of a c ontrol group from the same medical centre who had TURPs showing histol ogically proven benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Survival and tumou r progression were similar for patients with stage A1 CAP, AH/A and BP H. Furthermore, patients with stage A1 CAP, with or without therapy, h ad similar survivals as patients with BPH in each age group (under 65, 65-74 and over 74 years). Stage A2 CAP was associated with a signific antly worse survival and more tumour progression. Within stage A1 CAP and stage A2 CAP the percentage of chips with CAP or the amount of CAP removed did not affect survival.