The management of transitional cell carcinoma in the prostate

Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate is a rare tumour. A review of 318 patients with carcinoma of the prostate presenting to this hospital in the 5 years between April 1974 and April 1979 revealed 7 patients with transitional cell carcinoma arising within the prostate. Two of these had previously been treated for a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. These prostatic tumours are usually poorly differentiated and carry a poor prognosis. Early radical surgery, however, achieved a good result in one of our patients. Other forms of treatment were ineffective and a review of the literature revealed that this was also the experience of others. We suggest that cystoprostatectomy should be considered as an early form of treatment.