Evaluation of prostatitis in autopsied prostates-is chronic inflammation more associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia or cancer?

Purpose: Chronic inflammation is associated with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, the prevalence of chronic inflammation in malignant and benign glands has not been compared. We evaluated the association of inflammation, benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer in autopsied prostates. Materials and Methods: We prospectively analyzed 167 autopsied prostates. Pathological analysis identified each focus of cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia nodules and areas of acute or chronic inflammation. Any cancer focus or benign prostatic hyperplasia nodule involved directly with inflammation was recorded. The association of the prevalence of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia and inflammation was statistically assessed. Results: Inflammation was present in 113 (67.6%) of 167 cases. Chronic inflammation was identified in 88 (53%), acute inflammation in 6 (4%), and chronic inflammation and acute inflammation in 19 (11%) glands. In the majority of cases inflammation was present in the transitional zone. A total of 93 glands (56%) were involved with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 49 (29%) with cancer. Of the glands harboring benign prostatic hyperplasia 75% were also involved with chronic inflammation compared to only 50% of those without benign prostatic hyperplasia (p <0.01). Comparatively the glands with or without any evidence of cancer were similarly involved with chronic inflammation (55% vs 58%, p >0.1). Of the 27 glands involved with cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic inflammation was more associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia than cancer (p = 0.006). Acute inflammation was not significantly associated with either benign prostatic hyperplasia or cancer. Conclusions: Chronic inflammation was a common finding in autopsied prostates. It appeared to be directly associated with the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia but not with cancer.