Incidental Carcinoma of the Prostate: a Review of the Literature and Critical Reappraisal of Classification

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Abstract
The problem in treating incidental carcinoma of the [human] prostate is that of distinguishing between tumors that will have a long, benign natural history and those that will progress rapidly. A review of the English literature concerning incidental prostatic carcinoma reveals that patients with focal low grade tumors have a good prognosis; patients with high grade lesions often suffer rapid tumor progression. The clinical significance of high volume, low grade tumor is unknown. A method was developed to evaluate the distribution of prostatic cancer using 4-quadrant transurethral prostatic resection. A detailed method for staging these cancers based on a comprehensive, segmental histopathological analysis is presented. A precise definition of the stages of prostatic cancer should eventually improve understanding of the natural history of this disease.