Carcinoma of the prostate in specimens removed for benign hyperplasia.

Unexpected carcinoma was found in 69 cases (7.7%) our of 891 patients subjected to surgery for clinically benign hyperplasia. The incidence was higher in specimens removed by suprapubic or retropubic approach (10.2%) than by transurethral resections (2.7%). Carcinoma was found most frequently in patients aged 70 to 80 years (50.8%), next being the age group 60 to 70 years. A statistically significant prevalence of carcinoma was in th medium sized prostases (30-40 grams = 12.4%) well compared to smaller or larger prostates. The principles for a systematic topographically oriented microscopic examination are described. Morphological categories of latent carcinoma are defined as microcarcinoma, focal, multifocal or diffuse carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma was the uniform pattern of these latent carcinomas. The therapeutic attitude towards the microscopically diagnosed clinically latent prostatic carcinoma is discussed.