[Amyloidosis of the seminal vesicles: a local condition with no systemic impact].

AIM

Localised seminal vesicle amyloidosis is relatively infrequent and we present 9 additional cases.

MATERIAL

and methods: Those 9 cases were retrospectively retrieved from 803 radical prostatectomies performed between 1995 and 2000 for prostatic adenocarcinoma. In each case, the type of amyloidosis was characterised by immunohistochemistry. Information regarding a possible concurrent disease or prior hormone therapy has been obtained.

RESULTS

The prevalence of amyloidosis of seminal vesicles is lower in our study (1.1%) than in unselected autopsy cases. The prevalence of amyloidosis in patients exposed to prior hormone therapy (LHRH agonist and anti-androgen) was 2% while it reached only 0.9% in those who received no hormone therapy (p>0.3). No patient had systemic amyloidosis and all cases were of non A-A type. Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein produced by normal seminal vesicles, was detected in more than a half of them (5/9).

CONCLUSION

No association was found between the occurrence of seminal vesicle amyloidosis and occurrence of a prostatic adenocarcinoma, corcomitant systemic disease or exposure to prior hormone therapy. Seminal vesicle amyloidosis is a localised condition without systemic involvement and amyloid deposition is composed mostly of lactoferrin.