Calcifications in prostate and ejaculatory system: a study on 298 consecutive whole mount sections of prostate from radical prostatectomy or cystoprostatectomy specimens

Abstract

Although calcifications in the prostate are a common manifestation, the relationship between calcifications and prostate cancer is not clearly documented as in breast cancer. In addition, anatomical distribution of calcifications by zones of the prostate and ejaculatory system has not been systematically studied. To study the frequency and patterns of calcifications within the prostate and ejaculatory system, we reviewed the whole mount sections of 298 consecutive prostatectomy or cystoprostatectomy specimens. Calcifications were evaluated in the prostate (central, peripheral and transition zones, and verumontanum), ejaculatory ducts, and seminal vesicles. We graded the degree of calcifications as mild, moderate, or severe. Calcifications in the prostate and ejaculatory system were common, and their frequency in our series is as follows: 88.6% (264/298) of prostates, 58.1% (173/298) of seminal vesicles, and 17.1% (51/298) of ejaculatory ducts. The prostatic calcifications occurred mostly in benign glands and/or stroma of all zones and the verumontanum. Calcifications were more common in the transition zone than other zones. There were 4 cases of prostatic calcifications in the areas of prostatic adenocarcinoma: 3 cases with calcifications in the tumor glands and 1 case with calcifications in tumor stroma but not in the accompanying tumor glands. In conclusion, calcifications are a very common finding in prostatectomy specimens and seem mostly to be associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, calcifications can occur in direct association with prostatic adenocarcinoma, although the incidence of this association is not as high as in breast carcinoma. Also, ejaculatory system calcifications are not an infrequent finding.