The incidence of unsuspected metastases from clinically benign prostate glands with latent prostate carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how many latent prostate gland carcinomas (unsuspected carcinomas in clinically benign prostate glands) metastasize.


METHODS
The prostate glands and the pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes were removed at autopsy from 209 consecutive patients with clinically benign prostate glands. The prostate glands were completely sectioned and examined microscopically using full cross sections. Pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were identified and examined microscopically for metastases.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine (38%) of the prostate glands had latent prostate carcinomas. None of the pelvic or paraaortic lymph nodes contained metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that few latent prostate-gland carcinomas metastasize.
Brawn
P N
PN
Department of Pathology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48105, USA.
Kuhl
D
D
Speights
V O
VO
Johnson
C F
CF
Lind
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta; D002102:Cadaver; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010388:Pelvis; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*