ABSTRACT
Study of the distribution of tumor foci within the prostate may have implications for optimizing locally directed therapies for prostate cancer, such as brachytherapy, cryotherapy, or, in the future, direct intraprostatic injection of antineoplastic agents. However, prostate carcinoma is well known to exhibit considerable histologic and anatomical heterogeneity within the gland. Such heterogeneity makes it difficult to summarize the distribution of prostate cancer foci. Previous studies have been limited to written descriptions of tumor distribution, or to schematic diagrams of a small number of cases superimposed on prostate crosssections.1-4 We have developed a computer-based methodology that graphically summarizes the tumor distribution of a large number of prostate cancer cases on to sections of a paradigm prostate. This system allows the display of relative tumor concentrations in different regions of the prostate. We have used such plots of tumor distribution to devise improved biopsy strategies to detect prostate cancer.
