Microvascular invasion of the seminal vesicles in adenocarcinoma of the prostate

The objective of this article is to determine the relationship between microvascular invasion and seminal vesicle invasion in prostatic adenocarcinoma. Radical prostatectomies with seminal vesicle involvement were examined histologically and immunohistochemically with antibodies directed against S-100 protein and factor VIII. Microvascular invasion of the seminal vesicles showed a positive correlation with microvascular and capsular invasion of the prostate (P=0.006 and 0.048, respectively) and lymph node metastases. Tumor progression was found in 8 of 14 (57%) patients with microvascular invasion of the seminal vesicles, compared with 3 of 22 (14%) without microvascular invasion (P=0.001). Microvascular invasion of the seminal vesicles is predictive of tumor progression and lymph node metastases in prostatic adenocarcinoma. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.