Prostate-specific antigen obtained under optimal conditions determines extracapsular adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) obtained under optimal conditions with the presence or absence of organ-confined prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy.


METHODS
The medical records of 300 consecutive patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Ninety-three patients were excluded who had a pre-operative PSA level potentially altered by various factors (prostate infection, manipulation or instrumentation).


RESULTS
A pre-operative PSA value < 4 ng/mL accurately predicted pathologically confined disease in 42 of 51 patients (82%) which contrasted with extracapsular disease in 74 of 84 patients (88%) who had a PSA value > 10 ng/mL. One of the 53 patients with a PSA > 15 ng/mL had organ-confined disease at surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that optimal serum PSA values correlate well with pathological stage.
Ehreth
J T
JT
Department of Pathology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson Medical Center.
Miller
J I
JI
McBeath
R B
RB
Hansen
K K
KK
Ahmann
F R
FR
Dalkin
B L
BL
Schiff
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen