USE OF PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN, GLEASON SCORE, AND DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION IN STAGING PATIENTS WITH NEWLY-DIAGNOSED PROSTATE-CANCER

The serum prostate-specific antigen level, digital rectal examination findings, and Gleason score from the biopsy have been shown to predict the likelihood of metastatic disease in patients with newly diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Several authors have suggested that u sing PSA in conjunction with local clinical stage and tumor grade can eliminate the need for staging CT scans, MR imaging scans, pedal lymph angiography, and pelvic lymph-node dissection in many patients with ne wly diagnosed prostate cancer. The purpose of this article is to revie w the literature on this subject.