title: Adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate: review and update.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Maria Dirlei
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Begnami
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quezado
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: W Marston
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Linehan
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merino
mesh_terms: 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*