acid-phosphatase and Priapism

Priapism, the persistent painful erection unrelated to sexual stimuli, is called malignant whenever the priapism is due to metastases. A new case of malignant priapism, secondary to metastases of prostatic carcinoma is presented. As usual, survival was poor--our patient died 3 months after diagnosis was established.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Aged; Alkaline Phosphatase; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Metastasis; Penile Neoplasms; Priapism; Testicular Neoplasms

While prostatic adenocarcinoma is associated classically with osseous or lymphatic metastasis, it can present clinically with protean manifestations. We describe 4 cases that demonstrate unusual patterns of metastatic spread, including isolated supraclavicular mass, pleural effusion, suprapubic and genital skin metastasis, and priapism. Newer immunohistochemical staining techniques for prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase can assist in localization of the metastatic adenocarcinoma to a prostatic origin.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Antigens, Neoplasm; Clavicle; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion; Priapism; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms