Isolated Fibrinoid Arteritis of the Prostate

Four cases of apparently asymptomatic isolated fibrinoid arteritis in the prostate are described. All four cases occurred in elderly men with nodular hyperplasia. In all of these cases isolated fibrinoid arteritis was an incidental finding unrelated to the presenting symptoms. The histopathological appearance of the vasculitis was not sufficiently specific to exclude the possibility of systemic polyarteritis nodosa. However, there were no signs of generalized disease. Follow-up studies showed no evidence of disseminated vasculitis. Immunophenotyping of the vascular cellular infiltrate revealed abundant T lymphocytes, significant numbers of histiocytes, and virtual absence of B lymphocytes. The diagnosis of isolated arteritis depends on the exclusion of systemic disease, its excellent prognosis differing dramatically from the more common form of systemic polyarteritis nodosa. Information that isolated arteritis may occur in the prostate is of importance both to avoid misdiagnosis and to prevent unnecessary treatment. Int J Surg Patltol 4(3):00-00, 1997