The incidence of unsuspected metastases from clinically benign prostate glands with latent prostate carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how many latent prostate gland carcinomas (unsuspected carcinomas in clinically benign prostate glands) metastasize.

DESIGN

The prostate glands and the pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes were removed at autopsy from 209 consecutive patients with clinically benign prostate glands. The prostate glands were completely sectioned and examined microscopically using full cross sections. Pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were identified and examined microscopically for metastases.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine (38%) of the prostate glands had latent prostate carcinomas. None of the pelvic or paraaortic lymph nodes contained metastases.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that few latent prostate-gland carcinomas metastasize.