Clinical pathology of prostate cancer: focus on diagnosis, predictive and prognostic factors and quality indicators.
Nowadays more and detailed information is available from the pathologic analysis of the prostatic biopsies and surgical samples in patients with prostate carcinoma.


METHODS
A systematic revision has brought to focus on the most important histopathologic aspects which are of clinical relevance in terms of diagnosis and prognosis.


RESULTS
This article summarizes the most important recommendations and definitions of the diagnostic and prognostic factors which are shared by the main scientific urological and pathological scientific associations. The quality indicators of needle cores and prostatectomy surgical specimens are shown in detail.


CONCLUSIONS
This review is means for the physician involved in prostate cancer management (urologist, pathologist, radiologist, oncologist and radiotherapist) to improve interdisciplinary communication and the patient counseling.
Galosi
Andrea B
AB
Institute of Urology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy. galosiab@yahoo.it
Montironi
Rodolfo
R
Mazzuchelli
Roberta
R
Muzzonigro
Giovanni
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen