Early (stage A) prostatic cancer. IV. Methodological criteria for histopathological diagnosis.

This study was performed in order to elucidate some of the problems of incidence, morphology and natural history concerned with Stage A prostatic cancer or prostatic microcarcinoma (PMC). The prostates of 100 patients, treated by subtotal prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), were studied by comparing both routine and step-section techniques. The incidence of PMC was 41% by the former and 86% by the latter technique. Assessment of the size of PMC, as measured by the sum of the two main diameters, resulted in three groups: A1, A2, A3. The last of these may represent a frankly malignant condition, judged by size and the histological appearance. Radical prostatectomy is strongly suggested as appropriate therapy for this group.