hi - usually they will usually use the words marked atypia, which is the
same as pin.  in fact, there are many different words that are used
instead of pin.

- dysplasia
- intraductal dysplasia
- large acinar atypical hyperplasia
- atypical primary hyperplasia
- lyperplasia with malignant change
- marked atypia
- duct-acinar hyperplasia

they all mean the same.

a low grade pin is not very significant.
a high grade pin is.

the general expectation is that a high pin that's found because of a
elevated psa is a very close predictor of small foci of localized
prostate cancer.

there is no evidence that there is a relationship between a pin and psa
levels, nor is there a relationship between a pin and the presence of
prostate cancer.  but the professionals definitely agree that a high pin
does place one in at risk for prostate cancer.

i hope this information helps.

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional

As Curtis points out, it's a matter of terminology. As a practical point,
atypia is a yellow warning flag. In my case, a biopsy found atypical cells,
but no cancer. After the local evaluation, my urologist sent the slides to
Bostwick Labs, and Urocor Labs. These pathologists confirmed the atypical
cells, but found no cancer. Still suspicious, he performed a second biopsy
four months later. Result: T1c, Gleason 6(3+3). RRP performed 12/11/03.

For a further discussion of "atypical cells" and PIN, see Chapter 6,
Diagnosis and Staging, of Patrick Walsh's book, Guide to Surviving Prostate
Cancer.

Ernie Gudath 64
PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03
Biopsy 1 5/14/03 atypical cells noted
Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3)
Scans Negative
RRP 12/11/03
Gleason 6, w/slight marginal, other tissues negative