HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY ON LATENT CARINOMA OF PROSTATES OBTAINED AT AUTOPSY

Latent carcinoma and nodular hyperplasia of the prostate were studied histopathologically in men born and bred in Japan.We examined the incidence, age distribution, localization and histopathology of latent carcinoma and nodular hyperplasia in the prostate by means of the step-section technique in 51 subjects (males, over 40 years of age) who underwent autopsy at the Gunma University School of Medicine from June, 1986 through November, 1987.Latent carcinoma of the prostate was detected in 10 subjects (19.6%). When different age groups were compared, the greatest incidence was found in older patients, reaching 50% in the over 80 years age group.The site of latent carcinoma was exclusively in the external regions. There was no difference in the frequency when compared anteroposteriorly, right to left, and superioinferiorly.Anteroposteriorly located latent carcinoma was found to occur frequently around the verumontanum.Histopathological examinations revealed a higher incidence of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and smaller sized carcinomas.Nodular hyperplasia was exclusively found in the internal regions, especially between the bladder neck and the verumontanum in the anterior regions.We propose from these regional findings that nodular hyperplasia of the prostate might not be a risk factor for latent carcinoma of the prostate.