What is ASAP or atypia on a biopsy?
Atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) indicates prostate glands that are suspicious for cancer in their appearance but inadequate in number to allow a firm diagnosis of prostate cancer. When viewed under a microscope, normal prostate glands appear as large floppy circles, whereas cancerous glands appear as clusters of small, tightly packed circles with a single layer of cells. When only a few small, circular glands are observed, it is difficult to determine if this represents the edge of a cluster of cancer or the edge of a larger, normal gland. In this setting, the pathologist who examines the sample may be unable to make a firm diagnosis. Because this often reflects the uncertainty of the pathologist, less-experienced pathologists will diagnose ASAP on biopsy more often than experienced pathologists. If your biopsy shows ASAP, a second opinion by an experienced pathologist is usually a good idea before any action is taken. If an experienced pathologist confirms the presence of A
