Normal Serum Prostate-specific Antigen Levels Research Articles

FDG PET/CT in a Case of Pure Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate With Osteolytic Metastases and Normal PSA Level.

Prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an uncommon aggressive subtype of prostate carcinoma. It is more likely to present with advanced stage and lower prostate-specific antigen. We describe FDG PET/CT findings in a case of pure prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma with lymph node, bone and lung metastases, normal serum prostate-specific antigen level, and elevated serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carbohydrate antigen 724 levels. The primary tumor, and lymph node and bone metastases were hypermetabolic. All the bone metastases were osteolytic. The multiple lung metastases showed no significant FDG uptake, which may be due to small size.

Prostatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Masquerading as a Rectal Mass: A Case Report

Abstract Objective The approach to a patient presenting with a rectal mass who has a history of bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR) renders a wide range of differential diagnoses. The clinical reasoning to suspect prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) in a patient with BRBPR without a classical clinical presentation is highly unlikely. The incidence of PDA is rare with only 0.4% to 0.8% in pure ductal origin. Methods A 71-year-old African American male presented with 3-month history of watery, bloody diarrhea and a recent history of BRBPR with unintentional weight loss. Patient underwent colonoscopy, which showed a large polyp 10 cm from the anal verge, measuring 7 cm. The unclear history of this patient contributed to an initial impression of a colorectal cancer leading to a biopsy of the colonic mass. Results An erroneous diagnosis of tubulovillous adenoma was rendered initially. Further workup showed a large mass originating from the prostate area that was seen penetrating the colorectal region on an abdominal CT scan. The patient’s serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was alarmingly high (4,800 ng/mL) and a subsequent prostate biopsy showed PDA. The colonic biopsy was reviewed again by a genitourinary pathologist and a correct diagnosis was rendered. Conclusion The role of pathology in diagnosing PDA is crucial as patients with PDA can have normal digital rectal examination (DRE) as well as a normal serum PSA level (less than 4.0 ng/mL). Majority of PDAs originate from periurethral prostatic ducts. The unique presentation of primary prostate pathology offers appreciation into the approach and workups to diagnose PDA. Diagnosing PDA can be challenging due to its more aggressive nature of PDA compared to prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma. The clinical reasoning and pathological findings from this rare case can aid clinicians and pathologists to establish the diagnosis of PDA in a timely and efficient manner.

Recurrent Prostate Cancer Presenting as Multiple Lung Metastases with a Low Serum Prostate-specific Antigen Level 5 Years after Prostatectomy: A Case Report

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced by prostatic duct and acinar epithelial cells and the most commonly used marker for diagnosing prostate cancer, and for monitoring its progression and recurrence. Here, we describe a 76-year-old patient with recurrent prostate cancer who developed isolated hematogenous pulmonary metastases with a normal serum PSA level 5 years after radical prostatectomy. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed tumor cells positive for PSA and prostatic acid phosphatase. After 2 months of maximal androgen blockade, the metastatic pulmonary nodules showed near-complete regression. In conclusion, metastases of prostate adenocarcinoma may occur despite low serum PSA levels, and, if warranted clinically, IHC staining or other serological markers for prostate adenocarcinoma should be considered when evaluating metastatic carcinoma from an unknown primary lesion in males with low serum PSA levels. (Korean J Med 2015;89:238-242)

Incidental Focal (18)F-FDG Uptake in the Prostate: Clinical Significance and Differential Diagnostic Criteria.

The extent and intensity of (18)F-FDG uptake in prostate cancer patients are known to be variable, and the clinical significance of focal (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake that is incidentally found on positron emission tomography (PET) has not been established. We investigated the clinical significance of incidental focal prostate uptake of (18)F-FDG on PET/computed tomography (CT) and analyzed differential findings on PET/CT between malignant and benign uptake. A total of 14,854 whole-body (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans (4,806 that were conducted during cancer screening and 10,048 that were conducted to evaluate suspected or allegedcanceroutside of the prostate) were retrospectively reviewed to determine the presence, location, multiplicity and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of focal prostate uptake and combined calcification. The final diagnosis determined by serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and biopsy was compared with PET findings. Incidental focal prostate uptake was observed in 148 of 14,854 scans (1.0 %). Sixty-seven of these 148 subjects who had diagnostic confirmation were selected for further analysis. Prostatecancer was diagnosed in nine of 67 subjects (13.4%). The remaining 58 subjects had no malignancy in the prostate based on normal serum PSA level (n = 53), or elevated serum PSA level with a negative biopsy result (n = 5). While 84.6% (11/13) of malignant uptake was peripherally located in the prostate glands, 60.2% (50/83) of benign uptake was centrally located (p < 0.05). The positive predictive value of peripheral focal uptake for malignancy was 25%. The SUVmax, multiplicity andcombined calcification were not significantly different between the two groups. Although incidental focal (18)F-FDG uptake in the prostate is not common, the incidence of cancer with focal uptake is not low. Therefore, these findings deserve further evaluation. The location of the focal prostate uptake may help with the selection of high-risk prostate cancer patients.

Incidental diagnosis of a PSA-negative prostate cancer by 18FDG PET/CT in a patient with hypopharyngeal cancer

Diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) still remains critical as non-invasive screening with prostate specific-antigen (PSA) lacks to indicate malignancy of the prostate in some cases. Recent research has shown that clinically meaningful PC can develop in patients with a PSA value <4 ng/ml, frequently defined as upper limit of normal serum PSA levels. Furthermore, both morphological (computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, transrectal ultrasound) and functional imaging with (18)fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) are associated with several limitations for primary diagnosis of PC. We report a case of an incidentally diagnosed PSA-negative PC by (18)FDG PET/CT in a patient with a previous diagnosis of a hypopharyngeal cancer.

Prostate Cancer Presenting with Normal Serum PSA Levels and Boney Metastases Treated with Zoledronic Acid

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is currently the most widely used tumor marker for diagnosing and monitoring prostate cancer. Serum PSA level greater than 10 ng/mL is considered a negative predictor for the presence of bone metastases and routine use of bone scans is therefore avoided. This report describes two cases of patients presenting with normal PSA levels (0-4 ng/ mL) and positive bone scans. The value of routine use of bone scintigraphy in the follow up of these cases is therefore questioned here. Moreover the addition of bisphosphonates to the androgen deprivation treatment, achieved not only pain relief and improvement in aspects of quality of life, but also provided radiographic evidence of management of metastatic bone disease.

Serum pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (31-98) in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma

Objectives. To clarify whether serum levels of pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) (31-98) could be a useful marker in patients with prostatic carcinoma. GRP is produced and secreted by prostatic neuroendocrine cells. Methods. Serum levels of ProGRP(31-98) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 107 patients with prostatic carcinoma. Results. The mean serum levels of ProGRP(31-98) in patients with distant metastasis and hormone-resistant prostate cancer were significantly elevated compared with those in patients with organ-confined disease. Significantly elevated levels of ProGRP(31-98) were detected in 9 patients with prostatic carcinoma before any treatment. During hormone-resistant prostate cancer progression, ProGRP(31-98) levels were elevated in 9 patients (23%). Of the 9 patients with Stage D3 and elevated serum ProGRP, 4 had a normal serum prostate-specific antigen level. Conclusions. ProGRP may be a potential tumor marker for prostate cancer. Additional studies in large groups of patients are needed to define the clinical value of ProGRP.

Correlation of histological inflammation in needle biopsy specimens with serum prostate- specific antigen levels in men with negative biopsy for prostate cancer

Objectives. To reveal the possible contribution of histological inflammation within the prostate to the abnormal elevation of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with needle biopsy negative for prostate cancer. Methods. We reviewed negative needle biopsy specimens obtained in 93 patients. The degree of acute and chronic inflammation as evaluated histologically was compared with serum PSA levels in conjunction with age and prostate volume. Results. Both age ( P <0.01) and prostate volume ( P <0.0001) correlated significantly with serum PSA levels and were significantly greater in patients with abnormal serum PSA levels (greater than 4.0 ng/mL) than in those with normal serum PSA levels (4.0 ng/mL or less) ( P <0.01). The presence of histological inflammation within the prostate also correlated significantly with serum PSA levels. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated prostate volume to be the only independent determinant of serum PSA levels ( P <0.01). In patients with a prostate volume larger than 25 mL, only prostate volume correlated significantly with serum PSA levels ( P <0.05). On the other hand, the degree of acute inflammation as represented by polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was the only parameter correlating significantly with serum PSA levels ( P <0.05) in patients with a prostate volume smaller than 25 mL. Conclusions. Histologically defined acute inflammation within the prostate is a significant contributor to elevated serum PSA levels, especially in patients with small prostates. In the assessment of needle biopsy results negative for prostate cancer, it might be helpful to evaluate the degree of histological inflammation, especially in terms of the necessity of subsequent repeated biopsies.

Reference ranges for serum prostate-specific antigen in black and white men without cancer

Objectives. To determine the age- and race-specific prostate-specific antigen (PSA) distributions in healthy men in central South Carolina and to compare these to data from other studies. Methods. Two thousand ninety-two black men aged 40 to 69 years and white men aged 50 to 69 years from the general population in 11 counties of central South Carolina participated in a prostate cancer educational program. Seventy-two percent of the participants were black—about double the proportion in the general population—and 63% of the men (1319 of 2092) subsequently obtained a PSA determination from their own physician. The distribution of serum PSA was compared with distributions from the Olmsted County study and from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center/Center for Prostate Disease Research study. Results. Older men without cancer had higher PSA levels. Regression analyses yielded an associated increase of about 3.3% per year. Reference ranges for normal PSA in men without cancer (based on their sample 95th percentiles) were zero to 1.9, 3.8, and 5.7 ng/mL in black men aged 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60 to 69 years, and zero to 2.7 and 4.9 mg/mL in white men aged 50 to 59 and 60 to 69 years, respectively. Conclusions. Reference ranges for normal serum PSA levels should take into account the population from which they are derived and to which they will be applied. Reference ranges that are useful in the general population can differ from those that are appropriate in a hospital setting. For the general population in central South Carolina, reference ranges for serum PSA levels are lower than previously published reference ranges, particularly among black men.

Transrectal ultrasound appearance of radiation‐induced prostatic sarcoma

BACKGROUND Delayed development of prostatic sarcoma is a rare complication of prostatic pelvic irradiation. The transrectal ultrasound appearance of this lesion has not been previously described. METHODS Three cases of radiation-induced prostatic sarcoma are presented, with emphasis on the transrectal ultrasound findings. RESULTS An irregular, hypoechoic prostatic mass with an anechoic area consistent with the echogenicity of muscle and/ or necrosis was found in all 3 patients. This appearance is distinctly dissimilar from prostatic adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS The sonographic finding of an irregular, hypoechoic prostatic mass with an anechoic area should raise suspicion for prostatic sarcoma in patients with a history of pelvic irradiation who develop an abnormal prostate on rectal examination and/or worsening voiding symptoms despite a normal serum prostate-specific antigen level. Prostate 37:182–186, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Serum prostate-specific antigen as a predictor of staging abdominal/pelvic computed tomography in newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

The standard staging evaluation for prostate cancer includes digital rectal examination, measurement of serum tumor markers, and radionuclide bone scan. In many institutions, abdominal/pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is performed. We retrospectively reviewed 425 cases of newly diagnosed, untreated adenocarcinoma of the prostate to evaluate the ability of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to predict results of staging abdominal pelvic CT. The medical records of 425 newly diagnosed, untreated prostate cancer patients were reviewed. The following information was collected on a standard data form: age, clinical stage based on digital rectal exam, method of diagnosis, histological grade, serum PSA level, and results of abdominal pelvic CT including adenopathy and abnormalities of the upper urinary tract. The results of this review were tabulated and analyzed with regard to the ability of serum PSA level to predict positive results of abdominal pelvic CT. The mean PSA level of the study group was 22.1 ng/ml. Fourteen patients (3.6%) presented with a positive abdominal/pelvic CT (12 with adenopathy, one with a renal cell tumor, and one with an adrenal metastasis). Eleven of these (79%) had serum PSA levels of 30.0 ng/ml or greater, ranging from 30.0 to 234 ng/ml. No patient with a positive study presented with a normal serum PSA level. Two patients with a positive study had a serum PSA level between 4.1 and 10.0 ng/ml (0.6%), and one had a PSA level between 10.1 and 20 ng/ml (0.3%). We conclude that in asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed, untreated prostate cancer and serum PSA levels of less than 20 ng/ml the likelihood of positive findings on abdominal/pelvic CT is extremely low (<1.0%). Abdominal/pelvic CT does not appear necessary in this setting. With 200,000 cases of newly diagnosed prostate cancer each year in the United States, elimination of staging abdominal/pelvic CT in these patients could reduce medical expenditures for prostate cancer management by $20-50 million per year.

Serum prostate-specific antigen as a predictor of radiographic staging studies in newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

The standard staging evaluation of prostate cancer includes digital rectal examination, measurement of serum tumor markers, radionuclide bone scan, and abdominal pelvic computed tomography (CT) or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We retrospectively reviewed 300 cases of newly diagnosed, untreated adenocarcinoma of the prostate to evaluate the ability of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to predict results of staging radiographic studies (bone scan, CT/MRI). The medical records of 300 newly diagnosed, untreated prostate cancer patients were reviewed. The following information was collected on a standard data form: age, clinical stage based on digital rectal examination, method of diagnosis, histological grade, serum PSA level, results of radionuclide bone scan and additional radiographic studies to confirm bone scan results, results of abdominal pelvic CT/MRI, and presence or absence of bone pain. The results of this review were tabulated and analyzed with regard to the ability of serum PSA level to predict positive results of radiographic staging studies. The mean PSA level of the study group was 24.6 ng/ml. Ten patients (3.6%) presented with positive bone scan results with 5 of these having serum PSA levels greater than 20 ng/ml (range 27.6 ng/ml-144 ng/ml, mean 66.3 ng/ml). The 5 remaining patients all had elevated PSA levels ranging between 4.1 and 20.0 ng/ml. No patient with a positive staging bone scan presented with a normal serum PSA. Ten patients (4.0%) presented with a positive abdominal/pelvic CT/MRI (adenopathy only; no patients had radiographic evidence of abnormalities of the upper urinary tract). Eight had serum PSA levels greater than 20 ng/ml, ranging from 30.0 to 234 ng/ml. No patient with a positive study presented with a normal serum PSA level. No patient with either positive bone scan or abdominal pelvic CT/MRI presented with bone pain. We conclude that in asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed, untreated prostate cancer and serum PSA levels of less than 10 ng/ml, a staging radionuclide bone scan may not be necessary. Likewise, in patients with serum PSA levels of less than 20 ng/ml the likelihood of positive findings on abdominal/pelvic CT/MRI is extremely low. Abdominal/pelvic CT/MRI does not appear necessary in this setting. With over 130,000 cases of newly diagnosed prostate cancer each year in the United States, elimination of staging radiographic studies in the patients outlined above could result in economic savings on the order of 30-80 million dollars per year.

Transrectal Ultrasonography for the Early Detection and Staging of Prostate Cancer

Relatively recent changes and improvements in equipment have vastly increased image resolution for transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate. The expanded use of transrectal ultrasonography has greatly furthered knowledge of prostate zonal anatomy and permitted clinical evaluation of internal prostate architecture. The technique is operator dependent, as the quality of the results is related directly to that person's knowledge and experience. The significant majority of prostate cancers originate from the peripheral zone. Palpable stage B nodules characteristically have a hypoechoic appearance. There is disagreement about the tumor characteristics that cause hypoechogenicity, but large tumors may obscure the normal prostate anatomy and appear isoechoic because of the lack of contrast with surrounding prostate tissue. The transition zone of the prostate is the origin of benign prostatic hyperplasia and almost 20 per cent of prostate cancers. These tumors probably correspond to most stage A lesions. Transrectal ultrasonography is less accurate in identifying transition zone tumors because of the mixed echogenicity of the transition zone, interference from prostatic calculi or calcified corpora amylacea, and poorer image resolution in this area. Studies evaluating the use of transrectal ultrasonography for early detection of prostate cancer generally have shown a twofold increase in the detection rate compared with digital rectal examination. However, the decreased morbidity and expense of transrectal prostate biopsy using an automatic gun device have increased the frequency of biopsy in ultrasound-examined patients compared with those historically evaluated by digital rectal examination. The increased detection rate may in part be a function of the increased use of biopsies, independent of other factors. Transrectal ultrasonography rarely detects cancer in patient with normal digital rectal examination and a normal serum prostate-specific antigen level. Transrectal ultrasonography may be capable of identifying early capsular penetration or seminal vesicle invasion in some patients with known prostate cancer. However, its superiority to digital rectal examination for this purpose has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Ultrasonography does allow directed biopsies of the seminal vesicles or other suspect areas, and this may be helpful in staging the disease. The use of transrectal ultrasonography in prostate cancer has evolved rapidly, and changes in technology antiquate reports within a few years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

前立腺特異抗原の組織内局在とその臨床的意義

A total of 58 cases with prostatic diseases including benign hypertrophy (BPH) (n = 10) and adenocarcinoma (n = 48) were studied as to prostate-specific antigen (PA) with indirect enzyme immunohistochemistry. The expression of PA in the prostate, as well as the localization of PA in the tissue, was also studied in regard to cell differentiations, clinical stages, serum PA levels, with or without endocrine therapy, and prognosis of prostate cancer. Strong staining of PA was noted in epithelial cells of the gland, particularly on the ductal cavity, except for patients in the poorly differentiated carcinoma group. The overall positive rate for expression of PA was 100% in BPH and 73% (35/48) in prostate cancer. When prostate cancer was classified by cell differentiation, the positive rate was 100% (17/17) in the patients with well, 83% (10/12) moderately, and 42% (8/19) poorly differentiated carcinoma. When divided by clinical stages, the positive rate was 100% (1/1 and 9/9) in stages A and B each, 69% (9/13) in stage C, and 65% (17/26) in stage D. Of 33 cases whose serum PA values were determined, the histochemistry was positive in 67% of 12 patients with normal serum PA levels and in 86% of 21 in the elevated group. The prior to endocrine therapy group showed the presence of PA in 22 of 27 cases (82%) and a positive rate of 62% (13/21) was observed in the group during the treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)