An update on atypical large glandular proliferations of the prostate

The differential diagnosis of prostatic atypical large gland proliferations includes several benign and malignant entities. This review focusses on issues relevant to the practising pathologist, particularly around areas of controversy such as high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP). HGPIN is a putative precursor of prostate cancer, but its clinical relevance is as a surrogate marker of unsampled prostate cancer, thereby identifying patients who would benefit from a prompt repeat biopsy. The incidence of missed prostate cancer is much lower in contemporary practice due to pre-biopsy MRI and extended sampling protocols so HGPIN is currently less important. It is however important to distinguish HGPIN from PIN-like carcinoma and IDCP. PIN-like carcinoma is considered a histological subtype/variant of acinar prostate carcinoma and should be graded as Gleason pattern 3. A diagnosis of cribriform HGPIN should not be made in needle biopsies as such a proliferation may represent IDCP. This review discusses controversies related to the diagnosis, reporting and management of IDCP. A personalized approach to management of patients with isolated IDCP in needle biopsies that is based on the histological and radiological features of an individual case is outlined.