[Problems of so-called atypical hyperplasia of the prostate]

In search of a precancerous morphological correlate for the carcinoma of the prostate gland becoming more and more frequent with growing age the prostate glands of 450 males from the current autopsy material were investigated by means of large sections according to the so-called serial section technique. The appearance of cellular atypias was discovered for the time being in the various form of hyperplasia of the prostate gland and their corresponding correlations to the latent carcinoma of the prostate gland. In all hyperplasias examined cellular atypias of different degrees of severity and a good correlation to the carcinoma were found, so that they can be regarded as precancerous in the narrower sense. The notion of the "atypical hyperplasia" should not be used, since in it too many different hyperplastic lesions are comprised. On the other hand, in every form of hyperplasia the presence of corresponding cellular atypias should be mentioned. The evidence of a hyperplasia with moderate and severe cellular atypias in the biopsy and TUR-material requires a careful treatment of the residual material by the pathologist and a search for carcinoma by the urologist. In no case it is the cause for an invasive diagnostics or surgical consequences.