Infarct of the Prostate

Synonyms

Prostatic infarction

Definition

Coagulative necrosis of the prostate gland tissue from a lack of blood supply (Milord et al. 2000).

Clinical Features

• Incidence

  Rare on biopsy: 0.7%

• Age

  Men averaged 71 years of age (range, 57–84 years).

• Sex

  Men.

• Site

  Transition zone of the prostate.

• Treatment

  No treatment unless with acute urinary retention.

• Outcome

  None. It might be followed by acute urinary retention. It may result in sudden rises in serum PSA.

Macroscopy

Whitish or yellowish soft areas in the transition zone associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The pattern is not specific for infarction.

Microscopy

Coagulative necrosis surrounded by immature squamous cell metaplasia of the surrounding ducts and acini. The epithelium shows regenerative atypia. Necrosis tissue is replaced by dense fibrosis. Ischemic type infarcts show sharply outlined areas of coagulative necrosis of glands and stroma (Milord et al. 2000) (Fig. 1).

Infarct of the Prostate, Fig. 1

Prostatic parenchyma...