ISSN Print: 2394-7500, ISSN Online: 2394-5869, CODEN: IJARPF
Introduction: Prostatic cancer among males is the most common neoplasm in most developed countries. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) has been widely used in screening, diagnosis and management of patients with prostate cancer. However, it may be elevated in other prostatic lesions and surgical procedures as well.
Objectives: The objective was to determine the relationship between serum PSA levels and histologic findings in corresponding biopsy specimens and also to determine the efficacy of serum PSA levels in screening of prostatic carcinoma.
Results: 30 prostatic biopsies were studied and their corresponding PSA values obtained. These were diagnosed on histopathology as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH); BPH with inflammation; Prostatitis and Prostatic Adenocarcinoma. In these, 22(73.33%) were diagnosed as BPH with PSA levels ranging from 4ng-22ng/ml. 3 patients(10%)were diagnosed as BPH with inflammation with PSA level ranging from 1.17ng/ml-11.98ng/ml. 1 case(3.33%)diagnosed as Prostatitis had PSA level 110.22ng/ml. 4 patients(13.33%) diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, had PSA ranging from 8.9ng/ml-2584.42ng/ml. One patient (25%) however showed PSA value of 8.9ng/ml. Mean serum PSA value was 120ng/ml.
The positive predictive value for increasing PSA levels was 18.18% for PSA>4ng/ml; 27.2% for PSA>10ng/ml; 50% for PSA>20ng/ml and 75% for >100ng/ml.
Conclusion: Serum PSA level elevation usually implies Prostatic carcinoma. However it may be elevated in other benign lesions of prostate; or the levels may not always be elevated in carcinoma. Thus, given a significant number of false positives and false negatives, it cannot be regarded as a 100% accurate screening marker in assessing an individual’s risk for prostatic ca.