Classification of prostate cancer in clinical practice

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the male reproductive system. Its incidence increases with age. It is currently believed that the occurrence of prostate cancer may be related to factors such as genetics, sex hormones, environment, and lifestyle.

Prostate cancer can be mainly divided into four types: clinical prostate cancer, latent prostate cancer, occult prostate cancer, and incidental prostate cancer.

1. Clinical prostate cancer: Clinical prostate cancer refers to prostate cancer diagnosed through clinical examinations such as digital examination, ultrasound, CT or MRI, and can be confirmed by biopsy. The patient's serum PSA and PAP are elevated, and most patients can feel prostate nodules during rectal examination.

2. Latent prostate cancer: Latent prostate cancer is usually discovered during autopsy after death. There are no symptoms and signs of prostate disease during life. It can occur in any part of the prostate, but is more common in the central and peripheral areas, and is often a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma.

3. Occult prostate cancer: The patient has no symptoms or signs of prostate disease, but pathological examination of lymph node biopsy or bone puncture specimens confirms prostate cancer, which can be further confirmed by prostate puncture biopsy.

4. Incidental prostate cancer: Incidental prostate cancer is mainly manifested by symptoms of prostate hyperplasia. Prostate cancer is discovered during the resection of prostate tissue. It is a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, mainly tubular adenocarcinoma and cribriform adenocarcinoma, and a few are poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas.