Adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate: review and update.
BACKGROUND
Although most prostate carcinomas are of the conventional acinar type, unusual variants have been reported. Adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate is a rare tumor with distinctive histopathologic features. There are only a few publications in the literature concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this neoplasm.


OBJECTIVE
To review current literature together with the clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features of adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate and offer a practical approach to the diagnosis--including the differential diagnosis--of this neoplasm in surgical pathologic specimens.


METHODS
Adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate is composed of infiltrating basaloid cells forming dilated acinar and cribriform spaces with luminal basementlike material. Differentiation of adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma from basal cell hyperplasia and cribriform pattern of acinar adenocarcinoma may be difficult. The use of cytokeratin 34betaE12 and prostate-specific antigen can help in difficult cases. Most cases are indolent, but metastasis has been documented in a few cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Various histologic and immunohistochemical features are helpful in recognizing adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate. This is a rare subtype of prostate cancer and correct diagnosis is important because of the unique clinical and biological features and the implications for treatment and prognosis.
Begnami
Maria Dirlei
MD
Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bldg 10/Room 2N216, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. begnamim@mail.nih.gov
Quezado
Martha
M
Pinto
Peter
P
Linehan
W Marston
WM
Merino
Maria
M
D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*