VALUE OF PSA (PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN) IN THE DETECTION OF PROSTATE-CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH UROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS - RESULTS OF A MULTICENTER STUDY

The aim of this multicentre study was to assess the usefulness of pros tate-specific antigen (PSA) as a diagnostic procedure for prostate can cer in patients with urological symptoms, and compare it with digital rectal examination (DRE). The study included 2054 urological patients, aged over 50 years, and PSA levels were measured using an automated e nzyme immunoassay. In the 680 cases with PSA levels >3 mu g/l and/or s uspect DRE, transrectal ultrasound and prostate biopsy were also perfo rmed, leading to a diagnosis of cancer in 131 cases. The sensitivity o f PSA was higher (95% and 73% for the cut-off values of 3 and 10 mu g/ l, respectively) than DRE (69%), both parameters being complementary. When DRE and PSA (>10 mu g/l) were combined, 118 cancers were diagnose d, with a PPV of 37%. We recommend using PSA and DRE in combination as a diagnostic procedure for prostate cancer in urological patients, si nce both methods are complementary. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by El sevier Science Ltd