Foamy gland carcinoma

Foamy gland carcinoma, also foamy gland adenocarcinoma, is an uncommon variant of prostate carcinoma that has a bland appearance and may be confused with benign glands.

General

• Rare.
• Usually low grade, i.e. Gleason score 6/10.

Microscopic

Features:

• Increased glandular density - key feature.
• Eosinophilic intraluminal amorphous secretions - key feature.
• Abundant foamy cytoplasm.
• Tufted glandular border.
• Gland size larger than "typical" prostate cancer.

Note:

• Prominent nucleoli usually infrequent or absent!
• Can be thought of as pseudohyperplastic adenocarcinoma without the nucleoli.

DDx:

• Adenosis of the prostate.
• Bulbourethral gland.

Images

• 

  Intraluminal eosinophilic crystalloid in foamy glands. (WC)

www:

• Foamy gland carcinoma (nature.com).

See also

• Prostate carcinoma.