RESUMO
Background: Intraluminal and extracellular acid mucin secretion is one of the ancillary findings of prostate adenocarcinoma and can aid in diagnosis. Objective: To determine the actual frequency and percentage of acid mucin production in prostatic adenocarcinoma from radical prostatectomy specimens at the Department of Pathology, Siriraj Hospital. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 51 cases of radical prostatectomy with diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma at the Department of Pathology, Siriraj Hospital from January to March 2008. Results: Forty-nine cases (96%) of these prostatic adenocarcinomas showed positive mucicarmine stain. Among these, 24 (47.1%) cases were graded as Gleason score (GS) 7; 12 (23.5%) cases as GS 9; 8 (15.7%) cases as GS 6; 4 (7.8%) cases as GS 8, and 1 (1.9%) case as GS 5. Two cases (3.8%) without mucin production were gradeda as GS 7 and 9. Conclusion: Intraluminal acid mucin is one of the useful ancillary findings in diagnosing prostatic adenocarcinoma, particularly when combined with other architectural and cytological findings. The high frequency and percentage of actual acid mucin production in prostatic adenocarcinoma studied in radical prostatectomy can be applied to a questionable positive core biopsy with confidence.