Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a distinct entity that usually occurs in older dogs and apparently caused by a sex hormone imbalance and also accompanies inflammatory lesions.
Cytologically cells harvested from aspiration are usually very frequent and identify sheets and clusters of monomorphic epithelial cells.
Cell borders are usually well defined and often columnar when small clumps are seen.
The cytoplasm is often abundant and basophilic with a granular appearance and sometimes acidophilic.
Nucleoli are not usually found and chromatin is finely stippled. Inflammation (mild) is often seen.
The regular nature of the cells in BPH is of contrast to prostatic carcinomas.
First published: Wed, Nov 10 2010