Imaging

Abstract

Objective: It is well known that histologically focal prostatic atrophy (FPA) is one of the most frequent mimics of prostatic adenocarcinoma. The purpose of our study was to show that FPA may also simulate prostate The latter group was formed only by patients with elevated PSA levels and prior negative prostate biopsies. All -together with prostatitis, represent an important cause of false-positive result on prostatic biopsy directed with endorectal MRSI (11.2%). Editorial CommentProstatic atrophy is one of the most frequent mimics of prostatic adenocarcinoma. There are still controversies regarding the causal linkage of FPA to the prostate cancer and to other pre-neoplastic lesions. On conventional and color Doppler transrectal ultrasound and on magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging studies (MRSI), FPA may also simulate prostate cancer. The vast majority of our cases that simulate prostate cancer were related to sub-type hyperplastic prostatic atrophy. We might speculate why FPA manifests as false-posiFor this reason, pathologists should include the presence of FPA in the pathology report of a prostatic biopsy, several negative prostatic biopsies, this lesion may be the source for PSA elevation.