Serum prostate specific antigen levels in non-specific granulomatous prostatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with granulomatous prostatitis, an inflammatory condition that can clinically mimic malignancy.


METHODS
The study comprised 10 consecutive patients (age range 53-80 years) with histologically-documented granulomatous prostatitis and who had serum PSA levels recorded before and after diagnosis.


RESULTS
PSA levels in six of the patients were normal (< 4.0 ng/mL) at diagnosis. The other four had slightly elevated PSA levels, with three being between 4.0 and 6.0 ng/mL and the other 10.1 ng/mL. In six of the patients, there was a dramatic decrease (> 40%) in PSA level within 6-12 months after the histological documentation of granulomatous prostatitis. At the final follow-up, all 10 patients had normal PSA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Granulomatous prostatitis may cause a relatively mild and transient increase in serum PSA level which resolves when the inflammation subsides.
Speights
V O
VO
Department of Pathology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, USA.
Brawn
P N
PN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006099:Granuloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen