Significance of the Palpable Prostatic Nodule

• Localized, abnormally indurated nodules found in the prostate gland were studied histologically in 211 cases; 108 were classified as benign and 103 as malignant. These results were compared with those of the preoperative digital rectal examinations to see whether the character of the nodule could be predicted from its location and consistency. Benign and malignant nodules differed little as judged by palpation. They were almost equally elevated or not elevated, smooth or irregular. Stony induration was present in 75 benign nodules. There was no great difference as to location within lobes, except that seven nodules palpated in the median furrow were all reported as benign by the pathologist. In the group of 103 malignant nodules, careful rectal examination had failed in 74 cases to reveal the full extent of the growth, and in 26 cases the tumor cells were found to have invaded the tissues around the seminal vesicles.