Prostate cancer detection in men with an initial diagnosis of atypical small acinar proliferation

OBJECTIVE: To determine the subsequent prostatic adenocarcinoma detection rate amongst men with an initial diagnosis of atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the Illawarra Prostate Pathology Database over a 10-year period (January 1994 to January 2004) for specimens diagnosed as ASAP. These specimens were re-reviewed and clinical data obtained. RESULTS: Of 61 cases of ASAP, there were complete follow-up data for 31. In this group nine patients had no further biopsies at our institution; the other 22 had at least one repeat biopsy. The incidence of prostatic adenocarcinoma in this group was 17/31 (55%). This included 13 diagnoses on second biopsy, three on third biopsy and one diagnosed at another institution. CONCLUSION: This study showed a detection rate for prostatic adenocarcinoma of 55% after an initial diagnosis of ASAP, which indicates that an initial diagnosis of ASAP mandates re-biopsy.