DNA heterogeneity determined by flow cytometry in prostatic adenocarcinoma--necessitating multiple site analysis.

Although DNA ploidy analysis of prostate cancer is generally associated with grade, stage, clinical outcome, and responsiveness to androgen therapy, one possible reason cited for contrary reports may be tumor heterogeneity. A preliminary report using flow cytometric analysis of punch biopsies demonstrated DNA heterogeneity in five of nine patients. We evaluated 75 patients by cutting whole mounts of formalin fixed prostatectomy tissue every 0.

DNA analysis by flow cytometry of paraffin embedded core biopsies of the prostate.

The majority of literature concerning DNA analysis of prostate cancer involves testing formalin-fixed prostatectomy tissue, fresh or formalin-fixed transurethral resections of the prostate (TURP), or fresh core biopsies. We were interested if flow cytometry could analyze the DNA of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, core biopsies separated into normal versus malignant segments. Of the 50 potentially available samples for analysis representing 11 controls of normal core tissue and 39 core biopsies from the 11 patients, one patient had no normal tissue, one core had no malignancy, and three cores had no tissue visibly remaining in the paraffin blocks for analysis.

Comparing clinical staging plus transrectal ultrasound with surgical-pathologic staging of prostate cancer.

Twenty-five men with histopathologic diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma were staged utilizing traditional staging modalities and transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUSP). A comparison was then done with surgical-pathologic stage. TRUSP accurately predicted the local extent of disease in 84 percent of patients, while digital rectal examination understaged in 64 percent of patients.

Transrectal ultrasound and fine needle aspiration for malacoplakia of the prostate.

Clinically, malacoplakia of the prostate gland may mimic prostatic carcinoma. We report a case of prostatic malacoplakia in which transrectal ultrasound of the prostate was most compatible with carcinoma. However, fine needle aspiration cytology and biopsy revealed the classical histopathological features of malacoplakia so that a correct diagnosis could be made.