A case of particular diffusion of prostate cancer

Abstract

Neoplastic diffusion can occur due to dissemination, continuity, through lymphatic or haematic vessels, or, more rarely originate from surgical instruments. We report a particular case of prostate cancer spread. A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with undifferentiated prostate cancer through prostate biopsy. The patient was treated with a total androgenic block allowing a decrease in PSA blood level. The patient, wishing to regain his sexual activity compromised by hormonal therapy, interrupted the treatment spontaneously and unchecked. 19 months later he contacted us again: we had to hospitalize him due to a 12-hour anuresis. A urgent right transcutaneous nephrostomy was carried out, yielding an improvement in the patient's condition. A descending pyelography carried out by means of nephrostomy revealed a completely reduced urethral lumen. During the following surgery for transcutaneous urinary derivation we observed the two ureters entangled in whitish tissue, spreading bilaterally up to the renal pelvis. The histological examination of tissue samples showed the presence of neoplastic metastasis of prostatic origin. We assume that this neoplastic diffusion has occurred due to permeability through the lymphatic vessels of the urethral wall, producing a subsequent neoplasm growth: this has been limited by the urethral connective sheath, thus preventing its wide diffusion to the surrounding tissues, but fostering its spreading upwards along the ureter pathway.