Clinical classification of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that originates from the prostate gland and usually presents with symptoms such as pain, difficulty urinating, and erectile dysfunction. In addition to increasing in size or invading adjacent organs, prostate cancer may also metastasize to other parts of the body, especially bones and lymph nodes.

Knowing more about prostate cancer is of great significance for the effective prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Currently, prostate cancer is mostly discovered during routine health examinations or blood screenings. Clinically, it is mainly divided into four types: latent cancer, incidental cancer, occult cancer and clinical cancer. Let’s take a brief look at them below!

Latent cancer

Latent prostate cancer refers to adenocarcinoma originating in the prostate that is discovered by pathological examination during autopsy after death without any symptoms or signs of prostate disease during life.

Incidental cancer

Incidental prostate cancer is mainly manifested by benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is a prostate cancer discovered through histological examination in the resected hyperplastic prostate tissue.

Hidden cancer

Patients with occult prostate cancer generally have no symptoms or signs of prostate disease, but pathological examination of lymph node biopsy or bone puncture specimens confirms prostate cancer.

Clinical cancer

Clinical prostate cancer refers to cancer that is diagnosed through clinical examination (such as digital examination, ultrasound, CT or magnetic resonance imaging, etc.), and can be confirmed by biopsy, or assisted by increased serum PSA and PAP levels in patients.