title: Mucous gland metaplasia of the prostate.
abstract: Mucous gland metaplasia of the prostate was observed in 11 of the 1,236 autopsy cases. The cells were characterized by plump cytoplasmic mucin and tiny nuclei that were basally oriented. They resembled Cowper's gland (bulbourethral gland) epithelium. The lesion was located randomly within the glands and was very small; only one was larger than 1 mm2. The cytoplasmic mucin was periodic-acid Schiff positive and immunohistochemically negative for prostate-specific antigen. Lectin binding profiles were different from those of normal prostatic glandular epithelium and also from those of Cowper's gland. The importance of recognizing mucous metaplasia lies in its differentiation from other lesions, especially from low-grade carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mie University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yatani
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011467:Prostate / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling