INFLUENCE OF DIGITAL EXAMINATION, CYSTOSCOPY, TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND NEEDLE-BIOPSY ON THE CONCENTRATION OF PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN

The influence of various prostatic manipulations, including digital re ctal examination, cystoscopy, transrectal ultrasonography and transrec tal needle biopsy, on the serum prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) level s in 170 men, were examined. We found that digital rectal examination, cystoscopy and transrectal ultrasonography had no significant effect on PSA levels, except for transrectal needle biopsy, which caused an i mmediate increase of serum PSA in 96.2% of the patients lasting more t han 2 weeks in 42.3% of the cases. In conclusion, serum PSA determinat ion after digital rectal examination, after cystoscopy and after trans rectal ultrasonography is accurate and reliable. On the other hand, we must wait about 6 weeks after needle biopsy before measuring PSA in t he serum of patients with prostatic diseases.