SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AFTER DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND TRANSURETHRAL MICROWAVE THERMOTHERAPY OF BENIGN PROSTATICHYPERPLASIA

The objective was to study the effects of diagnostic and therapeutic p rocedures on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration. Uret hrocystoscopy in combination with digital rectal examination was follo wed by a moderate increase of serum PSA for 7-10 days. At 1 day after transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), an acute and pronounced effect on PSA was observed, which returned to baseline level after 4 w eeks. The initial rise in serum PSA corresponded to a PSA density of 1 .11, compared to 0.07 at baseline. The present data should be taken in to consideration in conjunction with endoscopic evaluation of the lowe r urinary tract. Additionally, the acute effect on PSA after TUMT stro ngly suggests the ability of thermotherapy to induce cellular injury a nd death. One-year follow-up, however, was associated with increased P SA levels, indicating that only a minor part of the PSA-producing comp artment was lost in the acute phase.