CYTOLOGIC ATYPICAL GRADE OF EXFOLIATIVE CYTOLOGY VERSUS HISTOLOGIC DIFFERENTIATION DEGREE IN PROSTATIC CARCINOMA

Our method of exfoliative cytology using a prostatic fluid collecting catheter is effective in detecting prostatic carcinoma. To presume histological diagnosis by means of the cytology we analyzed cytological findings of 62 cases of prostatic carcinoma in relation with their biopsy findings, clinical stages and clinical courses. In cases in which cellular atypism was low in the cytology the carcinoma was mostly well or moderately differentiated. Conversely, in cases in which the carcinoma was well differentiated atypism was mostly low in the cytology. In cases in which the cellular atypism was high the carcinoma was poorly differentiated, and vice versa. The poorer histological differentiation and the higher cytological atypism, the more advanced carcinoma and the higher death rate from the carcinoma. The tendency seemed to be more related with the cellular atypism than with the histological differentiation. Thus the cytological findings reflect the histology well and the degree of the histological differentiation can be presumed by the cytological atypism. The cellular atypism is not a less important factor than the histologic differentiation degree for determining the clinical stage and the prognosis.