Abstract
Adenocarcinomas of the prostate with attenuated cytoplasm (i.e., atrophic features) have not been studied formally and represent a diagnostic dilemma to the surgical pathologist. Forty-four cases of adenocarcinoma with atrophic features seen at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions were reviewed. Forty-two cases were seen on needle biopsy, and two were from transurethral resection specimens. Neoplastic atrophic glands were characterized by cells with a paucity of cytoplasm, such that the nuclei occupied almost the entire cell height. Atrophic cancers were defined as cancers with atrophic glands constituting ≤50% of the tumor. Only two of 44 patients whose prostatic adenocarcinoma showed atrophic features were on hormone therapy at the time of biopsy. Forty-one cases had an infiltrative pattern of growth. Thirty-nine cases were Gleason grade 3 + 3 = 6. Nuclear size was increased in 39 cases, and macronucleoli were noted in 21 cases. The most useful criteria to establish a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma were (1) an infiltrative pattern of growth, (2) the presence of macronucleoli, (3) increased nuclear size, and (4) the presence of adjacent, nonatrophic cancer.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 289-295 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Surgical Pathology |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 1997 |
Keywords
- Atrophy
- Prostate
- Prostatic adenocarcinoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Surgery
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine