The Missing Link in the Diagnostic Pathway of Prostate Cancer

Pathol Oncol Res. 2017 Apr;23(2):447-450. doi: 10.1007/s12253-016-0183-1. Epub 2017 Jan 4.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the Western world. It is among the leading causes of cancer related death. While its incidence and survival increased significantly during the last few decades in Denmark, the mortality rate did not change for patients younger than 80 year old. Development of new techniques, such as multiparametric MRI, helps to increase the accuracy of diagnosis. However, a missing link in the diagnostic pathway may result in mistreatment if an acinar adenocarcinoma of prostate is transformed into a neuroendocrine phenotype such as small cell carcinoma.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Prostatic carcinoma; Small cell carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*