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Sulfur-rich prostatic intraluminal crystalloids: a surgical pathologic and electron probe x-ray microanalytic study
A D Del Rosario1, H X Bui, M Abdulla
1Department of Pathology, Albany Medical College, NY 12208.
Human Pathology
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Prostatic intraluminal crystalloids, sulfur-rich structures, are linked to low-grade prostate cancer. Their presence in biopsies may signal malignancy, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Uropathology
- Biochemistry
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- Prostatic intraluminal crystalloids are increasingly recognized as potential indicators of prostatic malignancy.
- Their exact composition and association with different grades of prostate cancer require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the composition and prevalence of prostatic intraluminal crystalloids in various prostatic tissue pathologies.
- To differentiate crystalloids from corpora amylacea and assess their potential diagnostic significance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 250 surgical pathology cases of prostatic tissues.
- Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining.
- Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.
- Electron probe x-ray microanalysis.
Main Results:
- Intraluminal crystalloids were found in 36% of well-differentiated and 14% of moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas, but not in benign hyperplasia or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.
- Crystalloids are nonproteinaceous, composed primarily of inorganic sulfur with some sodium.
- Crystalloids are distinct from corpora amylacea based on microscopy and histochemistry.
Conclusions:
- Prostatic intraluminal crystalloids are frequently associated with low-grade prostate adenocarcinoma.
- Their presence in benign or atypical prostate biopsies may indicate underlying malignancy and warrants further investigation.
- The inorganic sulfur composition differentiates them from other prostatic structures.