Prostatic adenocarcinoma occurring in men under 50 years of age

Twenty‐six cases of adenocarcinoma of the prostate in men under 50 years of age were reviewed and compared with a larger group of 599 patients more than 50 years old who also had prostatic carcinoma. Although the disease was more frequently diagnosed in its later stages in the younger population, comparison of survival rates by stage of disease suggested that prognosis was worse in men less than 50 years old. Histologic grading was not useful as an aid in determining prognosis. A plea is made for performing a digital examination of the prostate as a part of all routine physical examinations, regardless of the age of the patient.