The 2016 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Urinary System and Male Genital Organs-Part B: Prostate and Bladder Tumours

Eur Urol. 2016 Jul;70(1):106-119. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2016.02.028. Epub 2016 Mar 17.

Abstract

It has been 12 yr since the publication of the last World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumours of the prostate and bladder. During this time, significant new knowledge has been generated about the pathology and genetics of these tumours. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is a newly recognized entity in the 2016 WHO classification. In most cases, it represents intraductal spread of aggressive prostatic carcinoma and should be separated from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. New acinar adenocarcinoma variants are microcystic adenocarcinoma and pleomorphic giant cell adenocarcinoma. Modifications to the Gleason grading system are incorporated into the 2016 WHO section on grading of prostate cancer, and it is recommended that the percentage of pattern 4 should be reported for Gleason score 7. The new WHO classification further recommends the recently developed prostate cancer grade grouping with five grade groups. For bladder cancer, the 2016 WHO classification continues to recommend the 1997 International Society of Urological Pathology grading classification. Newly described or better defined noninvasive urothelial lesions include urothelial dysplasia and urothelial proliferation of uncertain malignant potential, which is frequently identified in patients with a prior history of urothelial carcinoma. Invasive urothelial carcinoma with divergent differentiation refers to tumours with some percentage of "usual type" urothelial carcinoma combined with other morphologies. Pathologists should mention the percentage of divergent histologies in the pathology report.

Patient summary: Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is a newly recognized entity in the 2016 World Health Organization classification. Better defined noninvasive urothelial lesions include urothelial dysplasia and urothelial proliferation of uncertain malignant potential.

Keywords: Bladder; Prostate; WHO classification.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma / classification*
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / classification*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / classification*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • World Health Organization