[Prostate-specific antigen in prostatic pathology].

UNLABELLED: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), like prostate acid phosphatase (PAP), are prostate tissue markers that are useful in prostate disorders. Increased PSA levels are often seen in carcinomas of the prostate, but have also been reported in benign inflammatory disorders of the prostate. We therefore studied PSA levels in 600 patients aged 22 to 89 years to evaluate the usefulness of this marker in prostate disorders. The 600 patients were divided into four groups: 120 normal subjects, 180 patients with carcinoma of organs other than the prostate, 75 patients with carcinoma of the prostate, and 225 patients with benign hypertrophy of the prostate. RESULTS: a significant difference in PSA levels was found between carcinomas and adenomas of the prostate, as well as between stage A carcinomas and adenomas of the prostate. Conversely, non significant difference was evidenced between stage A carcinomas and benign prostatic hypertrophy with inflammation. Rather than a specific marker for cancer, PSA indicates the presence of active prostatic disease, other investigations being necessary to determine whether this disease is malignant. PSA remains extremely useful for monitoring prostate carcinoma patients, especially following radical prostatectomy.