Intraluminal crystalloids in whole-organ sections of prostate.

Demonstration of intraluminal crystalloids and mucin can aid in the diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Crystalloids have been reported in 10% to 23% of prostatic adenocarcinomas. This incidence may not be accurate, however, because previous studies were based on specimens obtained by transurethral resection or transrectal biopsy. This study was based on the examination of 54 prostates (9 obtained from radical prostatectomies for prostate cancer and 45 from cystoprostatectomies for bladder carcinoma) processed by a whole-organ section method. Crystalloids were found in all nine prostatic carcinomas from radical prostatectomy specimens. Thirty-one of 45 specimens from cystoprostatectomies had single or multiple foci of adenocarcinoma; of these, 20 cases (64.5%) had crystalloids. Numbers of crystalloids varied not only from case to case but also from area to area within the same case. Crystalloids were occasionally identified in benign and dysplastic glands that were adjacent to areas of carcinoma. Cases without prostatic carcinoma and benign or dysplastic glands distant from areas of carcinoma did not contain crystalloids. Twenty-four prostatic adenocarcinomas had intraluminal mucin; mucin was not found in benign glands. In conclusion we found the incidence of crystalloids to be higher than that reported in previous studies, a difference we believe is because of sampling. We confirm previous observations that intraluminal crystalloids and mucin are helpful in diagnosing prostate adenocarcinoma.