alcian-blue and Prostatic-Neoplasms

We report an occasional biopsy of primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate with review of the literature and discussion about all criteria used to classify this clinical-pathological entity.. Histochemical (Alcian Blue and P.A.S.) and immunohistochemical (P.A.P. and P.S.A.) stainings were performed.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Aged; Alcian Blue; Biomarkers, Tumor; Humans; Male; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Prostatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling

Foamy gland carcinoma is a recently described histologic variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma characterized by abundant foamy cytoplasm and minimal cytologic atypia. The biologic behavior and biochemical nature of the foamy adenocarcinoma cells are unknown. Six cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma with marked foamy appearance were identified from radical prostatectomies. Clinicopathologic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analyses were conducted. The patients ranged in age from 50 to 73 years (mean age, 65 years) with preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen levels ranging from 2.7 to 37.5 ng/mL (mean, 15.2 ng/mL). All six cases were bilateral high-volume tumors. Five of six patients had high-grade tumors with extraprostatic extension. The foamy tumor cells were negative for mucin and lipid stains, but were positive for colloidal iron and Alcian blue stain. Ultrastructurally, the foamy cells displayed numerous intracytoplasmic vesicles and numerous polyribosomes. The authors conclude that the foamy appearance of these tumor cells is the result of the presence of numerous intracytoplasmic vesicles, and not the result of the presence of lipid or neutral mucin. This study illustrates that foamy gland carcinoma is a distinctive histologic variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma and is often associated with an aggressive behavior despite its deceivingly benign histologic appearance.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Cytoplasmic Vesicles; Humans; Iron; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Prostatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling

Considering the advantages provided by the study of glandular secretions in proliferative diseases of the prostate, we carried out a study of 100 consecutive cases of benign hyperplasia (68), glandular dysplasia (12), and carcinoma (20). Samples were predominantly obtained by transurethral resection from patients whose mean ages were 64, 67, and 73.5 years, respectively. The paraffin embedded material was sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, PAS-diastase, PAS-Alcian blue, methenamine silver, and Masson trichrome. Intraglandular secretion in normal, hyperplastic, and even neoplastic samples was predominantly neutral mucin, but in 2 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and in all the carcinomas, we found acid mucin secretion. Holmes crystalloids were present in one case of nodular hyperplasia (1.4%), 2 cases of dysplasia (16.6%), and in 5 carcinomas (25%). As another manifestation of altered secretion, we also saw numerous needle-shaped argyrophilic and isotropic crystalloids, not previously described, in 12 of the 20 carcinomas (60%). These crystalloids were exclusively found in the carcinomas, reached a size of 50 mu, and were completely differentiated from the Holmes crystalloids by their odd needleshape and their staining characteristics.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Amylases; Carcinoma in Situ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Hematoxylin; Humans; Male; Methenamine; Middle Aged; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling

Carcinoma exhibiting signet ring cell appearance in the prostatic gland is rare. An example of this rare tumor is presented herein.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Alcian Blue; Antigens, Neoplasm; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling