This revision of the book originally published in 1980 is the result of a collaboration among scientists from 10 countries. The authors include not only pathologists but also a urologist and a basic scientist. The second edition - containing 146 colour photographs - is considerably more extensive than its predecessor. A number of new entities, unrecognized in 1980, are included: prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, which is commonly associated with carcinoma and may also be seen in a biopsy for elevated PSA; basal cell carcinoma; small cell carcinoma; paracrine-endocrine elements; variants of carcinoma; and stromal sarcoma. The criteria for the diagnosis of carcinoma have been expanded, including the minimal criteria. The Gleason grading system, based on growth pattern, is presented in detail. The WHO grading system, based on nuclear anaplasia and glandular differentiation, is more clearly defined.