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IPLab:Lab 1:Prostate

Revision as of 22:09, 27 June 2019 by Peter Anderson (talk | contribs) (Clinical Summary)

Contents

Clinical SummaryEdit

This 68-year-old man with a 7-year history of prostatic carcinoma developed metastases to the bones of the pelvis and lumbar spine which produced significant pain and discomfort. He was treated with androgen deprivation therapy to slow the growth of the tumor and decrease the size of the tumor metastases in order to help relieve his bone pain. Two months after starting the androgen deprivation therapy, the patient experienced an acute myocardial infarction and died suddenly. At autopsy there was evidence of cancer in the peripheral region of the prostate gland and there were metastases present in the pelvis and lumbar spine. The patient also had moderate testicular atrophy.

Autopsy FindingsEdit

At autopsy the patient's myocardial infarction was found to have resulted from the thrombotic occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. There was evidence of cancer in the peripheral region of the prostate gland and there were metastases present in the pelvis and lumbar spine. The patient also had moderate testicular atrophy.

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Study QuestionsEdit


Additional ResourcesEdit

Prostatic carcinoma is a highly metastatic form of cancer.

Back pain resulting from vertebral metastases of prostatic carcinoma is not uncommonly the presenting symptom which leads to the discovery of the carcinoma. Pain occurs late in the metastatic process and is an indicator of a poor outlook for a patient.

Myocardial infarction is necrosis of myocardial tissue which occurs as a result of a deprivation of blood supply, and thus oxygen, to the heart tissue. Blockage of blood supply to the myocardium is caused by occlusion of a coronary artery.

Most commonly, prostatic carcinoma arises in the peripheral region of the gland.

An occlusion is a blockage.

Corpora amylacea are small hyaline masses of degenerated cells and inspissated secretions. They are so named because they resemble (but are categorically not) amyloid deposits.