J. Aristanasr et al., LOW-GRADE ADENOCARCINOMA SIMULATING BENIGN GLANDULAR LESIONS IN NEEDLE PROSTATIC BIOPSY, Revista de Investigacion Clinica, 49(1), 1997, pp. 37-40
In order to define the frequency and morphological characteristics of
low grade adenocarcinomas misdiagnosed as benign prostatic hyperplasia
in needle prostatic biopsies, we reviewed 135 consecutive needle biop
sies with prostatic cancer. In three biopsies (2.2%) low grade adenoca
rcinoma was found as a single neoplastic pattern simulating benign hyp
erplastic glands in some histological fields and prostatic adenosis in
others. These biopsies showed the histological features described for
carcinomas originating in the transition zone and were seen in isolat
ed histological fields. Retrospectively, it was found that these biops
ies showed features of adenocarcinoma although some histologic criteri
a of malignancy such as infiltrative pattern, prominent nucleoli and n
uclear enlargement were seen only focally. Blue mucinous secretions, c
rystalloids, occasional stromal single cells and mitotic figures were
absent. We conclude that a detailed analysis of architectural and cyto
lgical features must be made of all glandular proliferations, since th
is type of low grade adenocarcinoma can occasionally be found in needl
e prostatic biopsies as the only neoplastic pattern in needle biopsy s
pecimens and simulate benign glandular lesions.