Clinically detectable disease usually manifests as firm to hard, nodular and irregular areas palpated transrectally. The cut surface of resected specimens shows hard, ill defined, gray to grayish-yellow nodules. Histologically, the disease produces well-defined, readily discernable glandular patterns. The glands are usually small and lined by a single layer of cuboidal cells and may show papillary or cribriform patterns. Less often the glands are large and without papillary tufting while in poorly differentiated forms gland formation is rudimentary or absent.
Mixed patterns are common.
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Prostatic adenocarcinoma. Note single layer epithelium with moderate nuclear pleomorphism. Prostatic adenocarcinoma, cribriform pattern. In others there is no gland formation. Note lack of gland formation.