Carcinoma of the Prostate: A Revivew

Abstract

Prostate carcinoma, comprising 17% of tumors in men, is the 2nd most common malignancy in American men. Although it is often considered an indolent disease it is the 3rd most common cause of death in men more than 55 yr old. The incidence of prostate cancer in autopsy studies of men over 50 yr old ranges from 12-46% and increases with advancing age, but only about 1/3 of the cases found at autopsy are manifested clinically. Diagnosis is done by digital rectal examination, biopsy, serum acid phosphatase determination, radionuclide bone scanning and skeletal radiography to detect bone metastases, lymphangiography and staging pelvic lymphadenectomy. Treatment is by surgery, radiotherapy, orchiectomy, adrenalectomy, cryotherapy and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide. The ultimate conquest of prostate carcinoma will require substantial advances in understanding the cause of this tumor, further development and refinement of diagnostic techniques and new therapeutic modalities to treat systemic disease.