Predictive value of serum PSA in detection of prostate cancer by fine needle biopsy

Parallel study of PSA and needle biopsy were performed in 356 men, aged 42-92 years; prostate cancer was detected in 182 cases while no cancer--in 174. When PSA level ranged 4-20 ng/ml, at density of 0.1-0.3, its specificity was low and cancer detection was under 50%. There was a direct correlation between the PSA indices and cancer detection rate, and nearly 100% of tumors were detected at the values of 25-30 ng/ml and 0.5-0.9 respectively. PSA level and especially results of morphological examination by means of prostate needle biopsy (Gleason) offer possibility to visualize tumor size and its malignant potential.