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The natural history of prostatic adenocarcinoma has been studied in a series of 261 radical prostatectomy specimens from Stanford. Total tumor histologic grade, cancer volume, zonal distribution of the tumor and correlation with its direction of spread, capsular penetration, seminal vesicle invasion and peripro-static extension were quantitated for each case. We identified specific morphologic and histologic features for cancers which arise in the anteromedial transition zone which contains BPH nodules, and for cancers which arise in the posterolateral peripheral zone. Stage A cancers are almost equivalent to transition cancers and stage B cancers to peripheral zone cancers. Prognosis as measured by lymph node metastasis was not different between these two groups of cancers but only related to their volume of poorly differentiated areas.

Summary— In 36 of 99 consecutive patients operated on for the presumptive diagnosis of renal carcinoma the tumour was discovered accidentally during investigations for a variety of complaints. CT and ultrasound scans were responsible for discovery of the tumour in 24 of the 36 patients. Renal carcinoma accounted for 92% of incidentally discovered solid renal masses. Of 33 incidentally diagnosed renal carcinomas 27 were stage 1. An incidentally discovered solid renal mass should be regarded as a low stage renal carcinoma until proven otherwise.