Prostate-specific antigen versus digital rectal examination in the diagnosis of prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

Prostate cancer [CaP] is the most commonly diagnosed non cutaneous cancer and the third most common cause of death from cancer in males. PSA is considered the most useful tumor marker currently available for diagnosis and management of the CaP. The digital rectal examination is still the basis in the suspicion of CaP in males with normal or minimally high PSA levels. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of PSA versus digital rectal examination [DRE] in identifying cases of prostate cancer among men presenting with symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction. A cross sectional study was conducted at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Dohuk on 400 patients with bladder outflow obstruction above 50 years were selected between January 2005 and October 2007. DRE and serum PSA done for all patients and prostate biopsy for abnormal results. The mean age 69.63 +/- 8.3 years. All cases of documented prostate cancer with positive DRE had PSA >/= 4 ng/ml. In conclusion, DRE is still the basic step in the suspecting prostate cancer. Combination of DRE and PSA has the highest detection rate for CaP than each alone