Detection of prostatic carcinoma: the role of TRUS, TRUS guided biopsy, digital rectal examination, PSA and PSA density

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of various diagnostic tests including transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), TRUS guided biopsy, digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) in detecting prostatic carcinomas. One hundred and thirty-four men underwent TRUS guided random, or directed and random sonographic biopsies of the prostate. The mean age was 64.67 (range, 31- 88) years. Indications for biopsy were abnormal findings suggesting prostatic carcinoma on DRE or increased levels of PSA, defined as 4.0 ng/ml or greater in a monoclonal antibody assay. PSAD was calculated by dividing the serum PSA in ng/ml to the volume of the entire prostate in cm3. The biopsy results were grouped as benign, malign and, prostatitis. The patients were also divided into three groups according to their PSA values. Of the 134 patients evaluated, 31 (23.1%) had prostate adenocarcinoma, 89 (66.4%) had benign prostatic tissue, hyperplasia or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and 14 (10.4%) had prostatitis. The mean PSA and PSAD of the carcinoma group were significantly higher than those of the noncancer group. In the group of patients with PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml, abnormal TRUS or DRE increased cancer detection rate, where neither PSA nor PSAD was capable of discriminating the patients with and without cancer. PSAD did not prove to be superior to the other diagnostic tests in this study. We recommend biopsy when either TRUS or DRE is abnormal in patients with PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml. In the patients with PSA levels greater than 10 ng/ml, biopsy is indicated whatever the findings on TRUS or DRE are, since cancer detection rate is high.     

Utility of Digital Rectal Examination,Serum Prostate Specific Antigen,and Transrectal Ultrasound in the Detection of Prostate Cancer: A Developing Country Perspective

Purpose: To determine the utility of digital rectal examination (DRE), serum total prostate specific antigen(tPSA) estimation, and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in men withlower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Materials and Methods: All patients with abnormal DRE, TRUS, or serumtPSA >4ng/ml, in any combination, underwent TRUS-guided needle biopsy. Eight cores of prostatic tissue wereobtained from different areas of the peripheral prostate and examined histopathologically for the nature of thepathology. Results: PCa was detected in 151 (50.3%) patients, remaining 149 (49.7%) showed benign changeswith or without active prostatitis. PCa was detected in 13 (56.5%), 9 (19.1%), 26 (28.3%), and 103 (74.6%) ofpatients with tPSA <4 ng/ml, 4-10 ng/ml, 10-20 ng/ml and >20 ng/ml respectively. Only 13 patients with PCahad abnormal DRE and TRUS with serum PSA <4 ng/ml. The detection rate was highest in patients with tPSA>20 ng/ml. The association between tPSA level and cancer detection was statistically significant (p<0.01). Among209 patients with abnormal DRE and raised serum PSA, PCa was detected in 128 (61.2%). Conclusions: Theincidence of PCa increases with increasing serum level of tPSA. The overall screening and detection rate can befurther improved by using DRE, TRUS and TRUS-guided prostate needle biopsies.     

The role of prostate-specific antigen as part of the diagnostic triad and as a guide when to perform a biopsy.

The authors reviewed the results and relationship of prebiopsy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay, digital rectal examination (DRE), and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in 124 consecutive patients who underwent a prostate biopsy because of abnormal results of either DRE or TRUS. Results of the three tests (PSA, DRE, and TRUS) showed abnormalities in 54%, 75%, and 84.6% of patients, respectively; biopsy results were positive for cancer in 45.2%. Cancer detection rate increased as the PSA value increased from less than or equal to 4 ng/ml (17.5%) to more than 4 ng/ml (68.7%) to more than 20 ng/ml (83.3%), and as the number of positive tests increased (6.9% for one, 32.7% for two, and 82.6% for three). The PSA assay was the most important parameter of the diagnostic triad. These results suggested that regardless of DRE and TRUS findings, PSA less than or equal to 4 ng/ml confers a low prostate cancer risk, PSA more than 4 ng/ml but less than or equal to 10 ng/ml confers an intermediate prostate cancer risk, and PSA more than 10 ng/ml confers a high prostate cancer risk. Regardless of other findings, all patients with a PSA value more than 10 ng/ml require biopsy because of the high likelihood of cancer. All patients with abnormal DRE or TRUS results still require biopsy despite a low index of suspicion of prostate cancer when the PSA value is less than or equal to 4 ng/ml.     

Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy for detecting early prostate cancer: An Indian experience

BACKGROUND: With the advent of prostate specific antigen the number of patients undergoing prostate biopsy has dramatically increased. The sextant biopsy technique has been conventionally used for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Recently, concern has arisen that the original sextant method may not include an adequate sample of the prostate, hence it may result in high false negative rates. We conducted a prospective study to determine whether the 5-region prostate biopsy technique significantly increases the chance of prostate cancer detection as compared to the sextant biopsy technique. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of TRUS guided sextant and 5-region biopsy techniques in detecting carcinoma prostate in patients with PSA between 4 and 10 ng/ml and normal digital rectal examination. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Between December 2001 and August 2003 one forty-two men, aged 49-82 years, who presented with LUTS, normal digital rectal examination (DRE) and PSA between 4 and 10 ng/ml underwent TRUS guided sextant prostate biopsy. Serum PSA was reassessed after 3 months in patients whose biopsies were negative for cancer. If PSA was still raised, the patients underwent extensive 5-region biopsy. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 64 years and median PSA was 6.9 ng/ml. TRUS guided sextant biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma prostate in 34 men (24%). Median Gleason score was 7. Seven men (4.9%) had cellular atypia and 3(2.1%) had prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (high grade). On repeat PSA estimation after 3 months, 48 patients showed stagnant or rising trend for which they underwent TRUS guided 13-core biopsy. Five (10.4%) patients were detected to have adenocarcinoma on repeat biopsy. Biopsy negative patients are on regular follow up with yearly PSA estimation. Complications included transient mild haematuria in14 patients (9.82%) and haematospermia in 4 (2.8%). Urinary retention developed in one patient and required an indwelling catheter for 4 days. CONCLUSION: Transrectal ultrasound guided sextant biopsy has shown a false negative rate of approximately 11%. A repeat 5- region (13-core) biopsy strategy can decrease the false negative rate of conventional sextant biopsy in patients with previously negative biopsies but persistently high PSA levels, high grade PIN or cellular atypia.     

Predictive modeling for the presence of prostate carcinoma using clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound parameters in patients with prostate specific antigen levels < or = 10 ng/mL

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to develop a model for predicting the presence of prostate carcinoma using clinical, laboratory, and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) data. METHODS: Data were collected on 1237 referred men with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels < or = 10 ng/mL who underwent an initial prostate biopsy. Variables analyzed included age, race, family history, referral indication(s), prior vasectomy, digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA level, PSA density (PSAD), and TRUS findings. Twenty percent of the data were reserved randomly for study validation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the relative risk, 95% confidence interval, and P values. RESULTS: Independent predictors of a positive biopsy result included elevated PSAD, abnormal DRE, hypoechoic TRUS finding, and age 75 years or older. Based on these variables, a predictive nomogram was developed. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 92% and 24%, respectively, in the validation study for which the predictive probability > or = 10% was used to indicate the presence of prostate carcinoma. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the model was 73%, which was significantly higher compared with the prediction based on PSA alone (AUC, 62%). If it was validated externally, then application of this model to the biopsy decision could result in a 24% reduction in unnecessary biopsy procedures, with an overall reduction of 20%. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of clinical, laboratory, and TRUS data into a prebiopsy nomogram significantly improved the prediction of prostate carcinoma over the use of individual factors alone. Predictive nomograms may serve as an aid to patient counseling regarding prostate biopsy outcome and to reduce the number of unnecessary biopsy procedures.     

Histological diagnosis of prostate cancer in Korean men aged 70-79 years

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in elderly Korean men, aged 70-79 years. METHODS: Patients with an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or a serum PSA level greater than 2.0 ng/ml underwent a biopsy. A total of 344 men (median age 73 years) constituted the study cohort. RESULTS: Of 344 men, 163 (47.4%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer upon initial biopsy. The positive predictive value (PPV) for cancer was 48.4% for a PSA cutoff of 4 ng/ml, 65.3% for a cutoff of 10 ng/ml, and 87.0% for a cutoff of 20 ng/ml. When combined with an abnormal DRE, the predictive values for these PSA cutoffs increased to 79.3, 87.3 and 100%, respectively. When 10 ng/ml was chosen as a PSA cutoff level, about 50% of patients were found to have a Gleason score of 7 or higher. When 4 ng/ml was chosen as a PSA cutoff level, more than 50% of patients with an abnormal DRE were found to have a Gleason score of 7 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly men, more than 50% of patients are found to have cancers with a Gleason score of 7 or higher when their PSA level is greater than 10 ng/ml. This threshold may be lowered to 4 ng/ml in the presence of an abnormal DRE. Our findings provide a rationale for recommending a prostate biopsy in elderly patients with an abnormal DRE and/or an elevated serum PSA level. However, at present, it is not clear whether elderly men have better outcomes when they undergo cancer screening.     

Prostate-specific antigen, digital rectal examination, and transrectal ultrasound in predicting the probability of cancer.

Over a 4 1/2 year period, 1,940 asymptomatic men were entered in a prostate cancer detection program consisting of digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and transrectal prostate ultrasound (TRUS). Four hundred and sixteen biopsies were performed resulting in the diagnosis of 79 cancers; 82% had clinically organ confined tumors. A recommendation for biopsy was made in 260 (62%) based on the TRUS alone, 55 (13%) by DRE alone, 92 (22%) when the DRE and TRUS were both abnormal, and in 9 (2.2%) cases when only PSA levels were elevated. The DRE, PSA, and TRUS were abnormal in 1,261 (65%), 989 (51%), and 1,552 (80%) of the patients with cancer, respectively. Prostate cancer detection increased as the serum PSA level increased above 4 ng/ml. The positive predictive value of both DRE and TRUS were significantly influenced by an elevated PSA, (P = .042 and P less than .00005, respectively). The results of this study support the idea that, although the prostate cancer detection rate is influenced by these three modalities and the detection rate of localized disease can be improved by early detection programs, its effect on mortality rates remains undefined at this time.     

前列腺肿物检查方法的临床评价

目的评价血清前列腺特异性膜抗原（PSA）和各项物理检查对指导前列腺活检的意义。方法结合血清PSA、直肠指诊（DRE）、直肠B超（TRUS）及磁共振成像（MRI）检查,对148例可疑前列腺病变患者,经直肠B超引导下行前列腺穿刺活检。结果前列腺活检阳性率为43.9%（65/148）。DRE和PSA对前列腺癌的诊断有意义(P＜0.05),其中PSA加DRE、TRUS及MRI对前列腺癌的诊断明显高于PSA或DRE（P<0.01）,但前述三者之间对前列腺癌的诊断差异无显著性（P=0.46,P＝0.16,P＝0.52）。MRI的敏感性高于DRE和TRUS（P=0.05,P=0.01）,TRUS的特异性高于PSA或MRI（P=0.02,P=0.001）。结论前列腺活检是诊断前列腺癌的重要手段,其初步筛选以DRE加PSA为主,同时结合TRUS及MRI,可提高筛选的敏感性和特异性,避免不必要的活检。DRE或PSA加TRUS或MRI在前列腺活检筛选中可提高前列腺活检的阳性率。     

The relationship of prostate-specific antigen to digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography. Findings of the American Cancer Society National Prostate Cancer Detection Project.

The participating institutions of the American Cancer Society National Prostate Cancer Detection Project did 520 biopsies on 2425 men over a 3.5-year period. A total of 88 cancers were confirmed pathologically, 93% of which clinically were organ confined. In 324 men (62.3%), a recommendation for biopsy was made based solely on the results of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS); in 69 patients (13.3%), solely on the digital rectal examination (DRE); in 116 patients (22.3%), on abnormal DRE and TRUS examinations; and in 11 patients (2.1%), in whom DRE and TRUS were normal, on elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The TRUS was abnormal in 80.6% of men found to have cancer, and the PSA level and DRE were abnormal for 67% and 50% of cancers, respectively. The influence of PSA level on cancer detection increased as the serum level increased above 4 ng/ml. The positive predictive values of both the DRE and TRUS were influenced significantly by the presence of an elevated PSA level (P = 0.044 and P less than 0.001, respectively). The results of this ongoing multicenter study support the following statements: (1) the prostate cancer detection rate is influenced by this diagnostic triad and (2) the detection rate of organ-confined disease can be improved substantially by early detection programs.     

Improved detection of prostate cancer using classification and regression tree analysis.

PURPOSE: To build a decision tree for patients suspected of having prostate cancer using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were uniformly collected on 1,433 referred men with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of < or = 10 ng/mL who underwent a prostate biopsy. Factors analyzed included demographic, laboratory, and ultrasound data (ie, hypoechoic lesions and PSA density [PSAD]). Twenty percent of the data was randomly selected and reserved for study validation. CART analysis was performed in two steps, initially using PSA and digital rectal examination (DRE) alone and subsequently using the remaining variables. RESULTS: CART analysis selected a PSA cutoff of more than 1.55 ng/mL for further work-up, regardless of DRE findings. CART then selected the following subgroups at risk for a positive biopsy: (1) PSAD more than 0.165 ng/mL/cc; (2) PSAD < or = 0.165 ng/mL/cc and a hypoechoic lesion; (3) PSAD < or = 0.165 ng/mL/cc, no hypoechoic lesions, age older than 55.5 years, and prostate volume < or = 44.0 cc; and (4) PSAD < or = 0.165 ng/mL/cc, no hypoechoic lesions, age older than 55.5 years, and 50.25 cc less than prostate volume < or = 80.8 cc. In the validation data set, specificity and sensitivity were 31.3% and 96.6%, respectively. Cancers that were missed by the CART were Gleason score 6 or less in 93.4% of cases. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that CART and logistic regression models had similar accuracy (area under the curve = 0.74 v 0.72, respectively). CONCLUSION: Application of CART analysis to the prostate biopsy decision results in a significant reduction in unnecessary biopsies while retaining a high degree of sensitivity when compared with the standard of performing a biopsy of all patients with an abnormal PSA or DRE.     

Incidental Abnormal FDG Uptake in the Prostate on 18-fluoro-2-Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scans

18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans arecommonly used for the staging and restaging of various malignancies, such as head and neck, breast, colorectaland gynecological cancers. However, the value of FDG PET/CT for detecting prostate cancer is unknown. Theaim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of incidental prostate 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT scans.We reviewed 18F-FDG PET/CT scan reports from September 2009 to September 2013, and selected cases thatreported focal/diffuse FDG uptake in the prostate. We analyzed the correlation between 18F-FDG PET/CT scanfindings and data collected during evaluations such as serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, digital rectalexamination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and/or biopsy to confirm prostate cancer. Of a total of 18,393cases, 106 (0.6%) exhibited abnormal hypermetabolism in the prostate. Additional evaluations were performedin 66 patients. Serum PSA levels were not significantly correlated with maximum standardized uptake values(SUVmax) in all patients (rho 0.483, p=0.132). Prostate biopsies were performed in 15 patients, and prostatecancer was confirmed in 11. The median serum PSA level was 4.8 (0.55-7.06) ng/mL and 127.4 (1.06-495) ng/mLin the benign and prostate cancer groups, respectively. The median SUVmax was higher in the prostate cancergroup (mean 10.1, range 3.8-24.5) than in the benign group (mean 4.3, range 3.1-8.8), but the difference wasnot statistically significant (p=0.078). There was no significant correlation between SUVmax and serum PSA,prostatic volume, or Gleason score. 18F-FDG PET/CT scans did not reliably differentiate malignant or benignfrom abnormal uptake lesions in the prostate, and routine prostate biopsy was not usually recommended inpatients with abnormal FDG uptake. Nevertheless, patients with incidental prostate uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT scans should not be ignored and should be undergo further clinical evaluations, such as PSA and DRE.     

Is sextant biopsy a valid method in diagnosis of prostatic cancer?

We evaluated effectiveness of a laterally directed sextant biopsy on large prostates and analysed the results of this biopsy technique in a group of men with obstructive voiding symptoms and suspected prostatic cancer (PC). Biopsy was performed in 386 men because of elevated PSA and/or abnormality in digital rectal examinations (DRE). The mean prostate volume was 79.6 +/- 39.1 cm3, and in 72.3% of the cases the volume of the prostate was > or = 50 cm3. PC was diagnosed in 107 of 386 cases (27.7%). In groups of patients with < 50 cm3 (small), 50 to 79 cm3 (medium) and > or = 80 cm3 (large) prostate volume and normal DRE, PC was detected in 27.5, 19.4 and 9.5% of cases, respectively (p < 0.018). PC detection rate was statistically insignificant (SI) in the same groups of patients with abnormal findings at DRE, 49.2, 54.2 and 51.9%, respectively (SI). Repeat sextant biopsy revealed PC in 14.5% patients. After TURP prostatic cancer was found in 7.7% patients who had undergone biopsy two times before. Thus, our results show that laterally directed sextant biopsy is an effective method of PC detection among suspected patients (PSA > 4 ng/ml) with large volume prostates and abnormal findings at DRE. An extensive biopsy protocol should be considered as a more appropriate method for markedly enlarged prostates with normal DRE findings but also for repeat biopsies.     

Changing role of 3 screening modalities in the European randomized study of screening for prostate cancer (Rotterdam).

A randomized screening trial was started in Europe to show the effect of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer on mortality (European Study on Screening of Prostate Cancer). In one centre (Rotterdam), the screening protocol initially consisted of 3 screening tests for all men: prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). A PSA value of >/=4 ng/ml and/or an abnormality on DRE and/or TRUS were taken to indicate that biopsy was required. In this study, we examined the possibilities for a more efficient screening protocol. A logistic-regression model was used to predict the number of cancers for PSA < 4 ng/ml if all men were biopsied (predictive index, PI). Effects of a change in PSA cut-off on the screening results were explored. Weights were applied to procedures and cancers to explore the possibility of expressing differences between protocols in one overall figure. Biopsies in men with PSA < 1 ng/ml and a positive DRE or TRUS were very inefficient. Applying DRE and TRUS only in the PSA ranges 1.5 to 3.9 and 2 to 3.9 ng/ml to determine whether a biopsy was required would result in a decrease of 29 to 36% in biopsies and a decrease of 5 to 8% in cancers. However, the results of DRE and TRUS could not be duplicated entirely. A protocol with only PSA >/= 3 ng/ml as a direct biopsy indicator resulted in a decrease of detected cancers by 7.6% and of biopsies by 12%, also a much simpler screening procedure. Use of the PI would give more efficient protocols, but this should be viewed as a preliminary finding, with the disadvantage of necessitating many additional screening visits. Since the results of DRE and TRUS could not be duplicated, a change in protocol towards PSA >/= 3 ng/ml appears acceptable. If this proves effective, a final judgement about the optimal combination of screening tests may be made. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84:437-441, 1999.     

经直肠超声引导前列腺穿刺活检方案的合理选择

目的 分析经直肠超声(TRUS)和前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)及其相关参数在前列腺穿刺活检中的作用,探讨个体化前列腺穿刺方案的可行性。方法 回顾性分析195例患者的首次穿刺活检资料,所有患者均采用系统8点穿刺方案,并对可疑病灶增加1~2点。依据穿刺病理结果,分析前列腺癌(PCa)检出率与TRUS、PSA及其相关参数的关系。结果 195例患者中检出PCa 98例(50.3%),其中PSA 4~10 ng/mL组45例,检出PCa 16例(35.6%),其中TRUS(+)且PSATZ≥0.35 ng/mL² 210例均证实为PCa;PSA＞10 ng/mL组150例,检出PCa 82例(54.7%)。PSA 4~10 ng/mL与PSA＞10 ng/mL两组患者PCa检出率差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),且两组中TRUS(+)与TRUS(-)患者相较PCa检出率差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01)。结论 依据TRUS、PSA及其相关参数制定个体化前列腺穿刺方案是可行的。     

The clinical utility of measuring total PSA, PSA density, gamma-seminoprotein and gamma-seminoprotein/total PSA in prostate cancer prediction

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (serum total PSA level divided by prostate volume), gamma-seminoprotein and gamma-seminoprotein/total PSA ratio could predict prostate cancer (PCa) prior to biopsy. METHODS: A total of 316 consecutive patients who had undergone transrectal prostate biopsy and/or transurethral resection were examined. The prostate volume was determined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the ability of the above-mentioned four variables to distinguish PCa from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was evaluated. RESULTS: PCa was detected in 61 cases. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that both the PSA density and serum total PSA were the most useful predictors of PCa among the four variables. For the patients with a serum total PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml, PSA density was significantly more accurate than total PSA (p < 0.005). An optimum PSA density value of 0.18 was chosen as a cutoff because it showed the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity, 92 and 54%, respectively. Using this PSA density cutoff, the number of biopsies could have been reduced to 57 from 63% when compared with a PSA density of 0.15. CONCLUSIONS: PSA density was significantly more accurate than other variables in predicting PCa. To avoid unnecessary biopsies, the PSA density cutoff value of 0.18 would be recommendable for determining a prostate biopsy for Japanese males with a serum total PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml.     

The American Cancer Society National Prostate Cancer Detection Project. Findings on the detection of early prostate cancer in 2425 men.

The American Cancer Society National Prostate Cancer Detection Project (ACS-NPCDP) is a multidisciplinary, multicenter effort to assess the feasibility of early prostate cancer detection by digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay. By June 1990, 2425 men not previously suspected of having prostate cancer had been examined in ten participating clinical centers according to the project protocol. Three hundred ninety-six men (16.3%) were recommended for biopsy on the basis of TRUS or DRE. An analysis of the results of 330 completed biopsies showed 52 cancers detected by DRE and/or TRUS. Forty-four (84.6%) of the men with cancer had positive TRUS examination results compared with 33 (63.5%) with positive DRE. Five additional cancers were discovered as a result of elevated PSA levels. The overall detection rate was 2.4% and this rate varied by age. The detection rate in men 55 to 60 years of age was 1.3% and this rose to 3.3% in men older than 65 years of age. The estimated sensitivity was significantly greater for TRUS compared with DRE (77.2% versus 57.9%; P less than 0.05). The estimated specificity of DRE was greater than that of TRUS (96.3% versus 89.4%; P less than 0.01). The positive predictive value (PPV) for the tests varied as a function of patient and disease characteristics. The overall PPV was 28.0% for DRE and 15.2% for TRUS. The occurrence of elevated PSA levels significantly increased the PPV of both TRUS and DRE. The majority of cancers detected were at early stages. These preliminary data suggest the feasibility of using these techniques to promote cancer control, but additional data and follow-up are needed to assess the significance of the results.     

直肠超声引导经会阴途径穿刺活检诊断前列腺癌

目的:通过总结经直肠超声(TRUS)引导下经会阴途径前列腺癌(PCa)穿刺活检患者的临床表现、相关检查及病理特征,提高对PCa穿刺活检的病理诊断水平.方法:选择2014年7月至2016年12月期间于我院行TRUS引导下经会阴途径PCa穿刺活检患者101例,对这些患者的临床表现、血清PSA检查、影像学检查及病理检查进行总结.结果:PCa患者年龄多大于60岁,多伴有泌尿系统症状与直肠指检异常、血清PSA常超出上限;影像学表现为病变区域图像改变与血流信号异常;镜检特征主要表现在细胞异型、结构异型和浸润性生长,镜下特征性结构与免疫组化检查有助于PCa的诊断.结论:前列腺穿刺活检病理检查是诊断PCa的金标准,在熟练掌握其病理特征与免疫组化表达的同时,注意结合PCa临床表现与临床相关检查的特点,对提高病理诊断准确性具有重要的临床意义.     

Diabetes Mellitus and HbA1c Levels Associated with High Grade Prostate Cancer

Pirpose: The aim of this study to analyze the association between history of diabetes mellitus (DM) with riskof prostate cancer (PCa) and cancer grade among men undergoing radical prostatectomy for PCa. Materialsand Methods: 50 patients with DM and 50 patients without DM who undervent radical prostatectomy (RP)were included in the study. Age at biopsy, height, weight, digital rectal examination (DRE), pre-biopsy PSAlevels, prostate volume, histopathologic diagnosis after surgery and gleason scores were collected data from allpatients. Histologic material obtained at biopsy was given a Gleason score; tumours with a Gleason score ≥7 wereconsidered high grade and <7 were considered low grade. Results: The mean age at the time of biopsy was 63.7in patients with DM and 61.6 in patients without DM. Diabetic men had significantly lower PSA levels (p=0.01).Mean PSA level 7.04±2.85 in patients with DM and 8.7±2.86 in patients without DM, respectively. Also, diabeticmen had higher RP tumor grade than men without DM (p=0.04). We found that HbA1c levels were higher inpatients who have high grade prostate cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: Diabetic men undergoing RP have lowerPSA levels and have significantly higher grade PCa. We must be careful for screening PCa in patients with DM.Although the patients had lower PSA levels, they might have high grade disease.     

Prostate cancer screening: current trends and future implications.

Screening for prostate cancer represents a clinical dilemma with no clear evidence to suggest decreased mortality from any diagnostic test. We now possess new knowledge regarding optimal combinations of DRE, TRUS, and PSA. While DRE and TRUS may be too subjective and PSA too nonspecific, their combined predictive values identify not only men at high risk but also those for whom continued frequent screening may not be cost effective. A monoclonal PSA decision level of no more than 4.0 ng/ml should be used, since 40 percent of cancers detected from 4.0 to 10.0 ng/ml already have extracapsular extension. Assuming that DRE is performed by experienced examiners, the combination of PSA and DRE should produce cost-effective early detection and minimize missed cancers below 4.0 ng/ml. TRUS should be reserved for those patients with either PSA elevations and/or DRE abnormalities. The use of TRUS gland volume data to further modify PSA decision levels, such as the "predicted" PSA concept, may also improve TRUS biopsy criteria and predictive values. Prostate cancer detection can then be objectively limited to a small percentage of the population and better selected for earlier, more localized disease. The ultimate decrease in mortality from screening remains to be demonstrated in randomized trials or observed only after decades of increased public awareness about prompt early detection combined with effective, definitive therapy.     

Prostate specific antigen and Gleason score in men with prostate cancer at a private diagnostic radiology centre in Western Jamaica

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumour in men and the second most commoncause of male cancer death. The study examines the clinicopathological features of patients with prostate cancerconsecutively diagnosed at a private Diagnostic Radiology Centre in Western Jamaica over a 6-year period.Method: The medical records, including the pathology reports of 423 consecutive patients who had transrectalultrasonography (TRUS) - guided prostate biopsy between January 2006 and December 2011 were reviewed.Results: The mean age at diagnosis of the 191 men with prostate adenocarcinoma was 68.5 ± 0.59 years withthe majority in the 70 - 79 year age group (43.5%). Moderately differentiated carcinomas (Gleason score of 6)comprised the largest group with 72 cases (37.9%); poorly differentiated cancers with Gleason scores of 8 - 10comprised 49 cases (25.8%). The PSA levels increased with Gleason score. The mean PSA levels for men withGleason score of 6 was 50.1 ± 30.0 ng/mL compared with 136.5 ± 59.9 ng/mL in patients with Gleason score of 8and 140.5 ± 31.8 ng/mL in patients with Gleason score of 9. Perineural invasion was present in 7.85% of the casesoverall; high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) was present in 4.71% of the biopsies. Conclusion:Although the majority of patients had moderate, and moderate to poor differentiated carcinomas, the numberwith poorly differentiated carcinoma was high. This is a reflection of the patients’ late clinical presentation atthe time of diagnosis.