Prostatic crystalloids: association with adenocarcinoma.

With review of 393 consecutive cases of previously documented prostatic adenocarcinoma, the coexistence of intraglandular crystalloids was confirmed. The various morphologic appearances of these structures are described. Unequivocal crystalloids were identified in 10% of cases. They were most often located in the acini of malignant glands but occasionally were observed in benign glands adjacent to carcinoma. Of available clinical and demographic parameters analyzed, several unexplained statistical relationships were observed, but none of the variables could be used to characterize the patients with crystalloids. This paper suggests that these structures may be useful in the diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma when only inadequate or equivocal biopsy material is available.