prostatic cribriform anomalies

The presence of cribriform glands/ducts in the prostate can pose a diagnostic challenge.

Cribriform glands/ducts include a spectrum of lesions, from benign to malignant, with vastly different clinical, prognostic, and treatment implications. Objective.—To highlight the diagnostic features of several entities with a common theme of cribriform architecture.

Although relatively uncommon compared with small acinar lesions (microacinar carcinoma and small gland carcinoma mimickers), large cribriform lesions are increasingly recognized and have become clinically and pathologically important.

The spectrum of cribriform lesions includes benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions, and differentiating them can often be subtle and difficult. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate in particular is independently associated with worse prognosis, and its presence in isolation should prompt definitive treatment.

Patients with atypical intraductal cribriform proliferation, intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, or even focal cribriform pattern of invasive adenocarcinoma in biopsies would not be ideal candidates for active surveillance because of the high risk of adverse pathologic findings associated with these entities.

Source: Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine . Aug2018, Vol. 142 Issue 8, p938-946. 9p. 3 Color Photographs, 1 Diagram.
Author(s): Lee, Thomas K.; Jae Y. Ro