Changes in serum prostate-specific antigen following prostatectomy in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how prostatectomy for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) affected the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.


METHODS
In 193 patients who underwent prostatectomy for BPH, serum PSA levels were measured before and three months after the operation. The total prostate weight measured by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the weight of the surgical specimen were examined in relation to the pretreatment PSA value and the changes in PSA levels after the operation.


RESULTS
The transition zone volume measured by TRUS could well estimate the weight of the surgical specimen in patients who underwent subcapsular prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate. The concentration of preoperative serum PSA showed a significant correlation with the prostatic volume and with the transition zone volume. Removal of 1 g of BPH tissue reduced serum PSA levels by an average of 0.18 ng/mL. The change in serum PSA levels after the prostatectomy correlated with the total prostatic gland volume and with the transition zone volume.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevated PSA levels in patients with BPH were caused by the enlargement of the transition zone. After the resection of the adenoma, PSA levels should be expected to decrease to the normal range.
Furuya
Y
Y
Department of Urology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan. furuyayu@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Akakura
K
K
Tobe
T
T
Ichikawa
T
T
Igarashi
T
T
Ito
H
H
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen