[Prostatic xanthoma].

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of prostatic xanthoma, a benign condition of inflammatory origin related with granulomatous prostatitis.

METHODS

A 70-year-old patient with voiding syndrome and a DRE suggestive of grade II hyperplasia of the prostate is described. A bilateral biopsy of the prostate was negative. The patient was submitted to transurethral resection with normal analytical data. Histological examination of the specimen showed benign prostatic hyperplasia associated with sclerosing adenosis and a clear, foamy cytoplasmic cell and an unremarkable nucleus. Immunocytochemical analysis with the KP-1 lysosomal marker (CD-68) disclosed macrophages. Cytokeratin labelling (AE1-AE3) was negative, thereby discarding any type of epithelial cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION

Due to its rarity, making the differential histological diagnosis of prostatic xanthoma can be difficulty in certain cases and it can occasionally present as a palpable mass. However, it must be emphasized that it is a benign condition and clinically irrelevant in most of the cases.