Influence of patient's age on prostate volume, and serum PSA levels

Prostate specific antigen could be elevated in prostatic and non prostatic diseases, therefore it is not specific for prostate pathology .We evaluated in this retrospective study other factors such as patient's age to determine its effect on the prostate specific antigen level and prostate volume in normal, benign, and malignant conditions. One hundred twenty one patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound biopsy were included in this study. The prostate volume, total prostate specific antigen, free prostate specific antigen, and percent free prostate specific antigen in normal, benign, and malignant conditions were evaluated Descriptive analysis, Two tailed student's t- test, Anova test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Biopsy results yielded 35 patients with prostate cancer [29%], 77 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia [64%], and no abnormal histological finding in nine patients [7%].There was positive correlation between patient's age and prostate volume [r = 0.22, p < 0.05] Positive correlation was also found between patient's age and prostate specific antigen levels, total prostate specific antigen, and free prostate specific antigen [r = 0. 10 and r = 0. 1 8 respectively, p value was > 0.05]. Across categories no significant difference was found neither in the mean patient's age, nor in the prostate specific antigen levels [p > 0.05]. Although patient's age affects both total and free prostate specific antigen levels, but it could not be used as prostate cancer predictor

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa with syndactyly

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa [MDL] is a rare form of congenital localized gigantism characterized by hypertrophy of all mesenchymal tissues of the affected digits, with particular overgrowth of fat. Syndactyly is a rare association. We report a case of MDL associated with syndactyly affecting the hand. We describe the characteristic radiographic and MRI findings that distinguish the abnormality from other causes of localized gigantism