Diagnostic methods in prostatic pathology used in a surgical department of a small town of Pavlovo (Nizhny Novgorod Region) are analysed. Infrared spectroscopy was for the first time used in Pavlovo for diagnosis of cancer. Examination of 57 patients aged 38-89 years has detected prostatic cancer in 16 (28 +/- 5.9%) patients, chronic prostatitis in 6 (10.5 +/- 4%) patients, prostatic adenoma in 34 (59.6 +/- 6.4%) patients, prostatic abscess--in 1 (1.9 +/- 1.7%) patient. Infrared spectroscopy of the blood serum according to the proposed technique provides accurate (91.2 +/- 4.8%, p < 0.01) differential diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases of the prostate.