Grading prostatic malignancy on cytologic smears. A feasible proposition

ABSTRACT

Gleason's tumour grade has been accepted as a benchmark protocol in qualifying prostate cancer on histology. Since cyto-evaluation of suspected prostatic malignancy is being increasingly accepted, we have attempted a correlation between cytologic smear pattern categories and Gleason's grade, accorded on cytologic and histologic material and obtained from the same patient, simultaneously in 60 patients. The cytologic smears were classified as 1 well differentiated, corresponding to combined Gleason score 2-4, II moderately differentiated, Gleason 5-7, and III poorly differentiated, corresponding to Gleason 8-10. An overall concordance of 89% was observed between grading on cytologic and histologic material. The incidence of metastases and progression of clinical stage were also found to be clearly influenced by the cytologically accorded grade