Collagenous micronodules in prostate cancer. A specific but infrequent diagnostic finding.

OBJECTIVE: Collagenous micronodules (CMs) are microscopic stromal fibrillar aggregates of uncertain histogenesis that arise in association with prostatic adenocarcinoma. We studied a large series of biopsies and matched radical prostatectomies to determine the frequency, specificity, and predictive value of CMs. DESIGN: Retrospective study of 308 needle biopsies and matched radical prostatectomies with prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND SETTING: Consecutive series of men with prostatic adenocarcinoma undergoing needle biopsy of the prostate and subsequent radical prostatectomy at a large tertiary-care academic medical center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence and extent of CMs, and correlation of CMs with multiple prognostic factors. RESULTS: Collagenous micronodules were identified in 0.6% of needle biopsies and 12.7% of prostatectomies, with a median of 2.0 high-power microscopic (x 40) fields of CMs per positive prostatectomy; most cases were identified in association with mucin-producing glands. The number of fields of CMs was not related to clinical or pathologic stage, serum prostate specific antigen concentration, prostatic weight, volume of cancer, Gleason score, percent of poorly differentiated cancer, nuclear grade, or DNA ploidy content. There were no CMs in benign prostatic glands, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in any specimen. Histochemical and ultrastructural studies showed that CMs are composed chiefly of collagen; in one case, flocculent laminated calcospherites were present. CONCLUSIONS: Collagenous micronodules are a specific but infrequent diagnostic clue in prostatic adenocarcinoma, particularly in those with prominent mucin production, but are not associated with factors predictive of progression.

Linoleic acid in multiple sclerosis: failure to show any therapeutic benefit.

We have studied the effect of a dietary supplement with linoleic acid (LA) in 76 patients with MS. We could detect no effect of this supplement on the progression of neurological findings, the relapse rate, or the severity of relapses. We were also able to show that oral supplementation with a linoleic acid preparation would raise the blood level of LA in these patients. We were unable to show that there was any reduction in the linoleic acid blood levels associated with acute relapses of MS during this study.