STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT TO ENHANCE THE DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF PROSTATE VOLUME .2. CORRELATION WITH PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN LEVELS

BACKGROUND. Standardized estimations of prostate volumes are used for interpretation of prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. METHODS. In 243 patients with clinically benign diagnosis, automated and reference prostate volumes and transition zone volumes are correlated to PSA le vels. Besides, growth curves of PSA level when aging are determined. R ESULTS. The strongest correlation was found with multiple regression a nalysis between PSA and transition zone volume and rest volume (R = 0. 854). Mean PSA density was 0.092 ng/mL(2), its labelling quality for b enign disease was 91% (threshold = 0.15 ng/mL(2)). An average growth f actor for PSA levels of 2.9% per year was obtained. CONCLUSIONS. The c ontribution per unit tissue to PSA level was for the transition zone 1 .9 times higher than for the rest volume. Average growth of PSA per ye ar is in consonance with the increase in normal levels of age specific PSA ranges, although only weak correlations were found between PSA an d age and PSA density and age. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.