[Cytological diagnosis of prostatic cancer by transrectal aspiration biopsy (author's transl)].

From the cytologic study of fifty transrectal needle aspirations of the prostate the authors try to establish the principles leading to the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. Correlation with clinical diagnosis shows that in positive cases, cytologic diagnosis is accurate. In the case of negative cytologic responses this negative response may be imputable: to the paucicellularity of the sample, unavoidable blind needle aspiration, an early necrosis of the cellular material, a false interpretation of minimal cellular and nuclear abnormalities. This method proves valuable for the clinician. In two cases out of three the cytological diagnosis confirms the clinical diagnosis.