[Amyloidosis of the seminal vesicles: a local condition with no systemic impact].
OBJECTIVE
Localised seminal vesicle amyloidosis is relatively infrequent and we present 9 additional cases.


METHODS
and methods: Those 9 cases were retrospectively retrieved from 803 radical prostatectomies performed between 1995 and 2000 for prostatic adenocarcinoma. In each case, the type of amyloidosis was characterised by immunohistochemistry. Information regarding a possible concurrent disease or prior hormone therapy has been obtained.


RESULTS
The prevalence of amyloidosis of seminal vesicles is lower in our study (1.1%) than in unselected autopsy cases. The prevalence of amyloidosis in patients exposed to prior hormone therapy (LHRH agonist and anti-androgen) was 2% while it reached only 0.9% in those who received no hormone therapy (p>0.3). No patient had systemic amyloidosis and all cases were of non A-A type. Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein produced by normal seminal vesicles, was detected in more than a half of them (5/9).


CONCLUSIONS
No association was found between the occurrence of seminal vesicle amyloidosis and occurrence of a prostatic adenocarcinoma, corcomitant systemic disease or exposure to prior hormone therapy. Seminal vesicle amyloidosis is a localised condition without systemic involvement and amyloid deposition is composed mostly of lactoferrin.
Service d'anatomopathologie, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, 11 Côte du Palais Québec, Canada GIR2J6.
Isabelle
I
Harvey
Bernard
B
Têtu
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
D000682:Amyloid; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007781:Lactoferrin