Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the prostate

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005 May;129(5):683-5. doi: 10.5858/2005-129-0683-PGCCOT.

Abstract

We report the clinical and pathologic features of 2 cases of pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the prostate. One case was found at autopsy in a 77-year-old man and was composed of high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma with prominent anaplastic giant cells. The patient presented with metastases to multiple retroperitoneal lymph nodes, liver, and lumbar vertebrae. The second case occurred in a 45-year-old man who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate and was found to have high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma with an extensive anaplastic giant cell component. The patient presented with distant metastases and died within 9 months. Both regular adenocarcinoma and anaplastic giant tumor cells displayed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for prostate-specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase, and keratin AE1/AE3; in one case, scattered cells were also positive for chromogranin and epithelial membrane antigen. Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma is a rare variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma with a poor prognosis that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prostatic pleomorphic tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Giant Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Giant Cell / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Giant Cells / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnosis
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Retroperitoneal Space