Accuracy of staging in A1 carcinoma of the prostate

The classification of patients with incidental carcinoma of the prostate into focal (Stage A1) or diffuse (Stage A2) subgroups depends primarily on the microscopic findings on tissue removed from transurethral resection (TUR) or open enucleation. However, these procedures sample only a portion of the entire prostate, and some patients staged A1 may have residual diffuse cancer that should properly be classified as Stage A2. This study is a review of 86 patients with Stage A1 cancer of the prostate in whom additional prostatic tissue was available because of repeat transurethral resection or radical prostatectomy. Only six patients (7%) were found to have diffuse cancer in the remaining prostatic tissue. Therefore, it appears that the classification of patients into Stage A1 or Stage A2 is generally accurate when based on the findings from initial TUR alone and that the incidence of understaging in this group is low. Repeat transurethral resection does not appear to contribute significantly to the accuracy of staging.