[Transitional cell carcinoma involvement of the prostate]

Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate (PTCC) has become a well recognized entity and is increasing in incidence due to the growing awareness of and search for. PTCC is part of the well known pan-urothelial disease: particularly the urologist must always consider the prostate in the management of superficial and invasive bladder cancer. Most cases are diagnosed in association with bladder cancer (secondary PTCC): primary prostatic transitional cell carcinoma arises "de novo" as the first tumor of the prostate urothelium and is rare. Prognosis depends on the prostate invasion degree. No reliable staging system is presently available. Non-invasive PTCC can be successfully treated with conservative means (TUR +/- BCG) whereas stromal invasive PTCC must be aggressively treated with radical cystectomy. PTCC can interphere with surgeon's decisions about urinary diversion in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for urothelial cancer.