title: Small-cell carcinoma of prostate.
abstract: Small-cell carcinoma of the prostate is rare, but lethal. We report on 2 cases and review another 6 cases reported in the English literature. Microscopically the tumor may be pure small-cell carcinoma like that seen in the lung or may have a mixed pattern of adenocarcinoma with small-cell carcinoma. This tumor most probably arises from the basal or reserve cells of the prostatic acini. The totipotential basal cells have dual capacity for differentiation into adenocarcinoma and small-cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Weilbaecher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*