BACKGROUND: To determine the normal distribution of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in Taiwanese men without clinical evidence of prostate cancer. METHODS: Between August 2006 and October 2007, healthy Taiwanese men undergoing a routine health examination in our hospital were recruited into the study. All men received a digital rectal examination (DRE) and serum PSA determination and some received a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). Men with normal DRE findings, and PSA < 4.0 ng/ml, PSA between 4.0 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml with a negative TRUS or abnormal TRUS findings (hypoechoic lesion or others) with a negative biopsy were defined as clinically free of prostate cancer. RESULTS: A total of 7803 participants without clinical evidence of prostate cancer were included in the study. The median PSA value (95th percentile range) was 0.896 ng/ml (3.329) for men 50-59 years old; 1.151 ng/ml (5.114) for men 60-69 years old; 1.623 ng/ml (6.237) for men 70-79 years old and 1.754 ng/ml (6.613) for men older then 80 years. The serum PSA values correlated with age (r = 0.3078, p < 0.001). There were small changes in the median and 95th percentile PSA values in men younger than 50 years old, but large increases in those older than 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that the serum PSA is directly correlated with age, and offer more efficient PSA reference values for prostate cancer screening tests in Taiwanese men.
BACKGROUND: To determine the normal distribution of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in Taiwanese men without clinical evidence of prostate cancer. METHODS: Between August 2006 and October 2007, healthy Taiwanese men undergoing a routine health examination in our hospital were recruited into the study. All men received a digital rectal examination (DRE) and serum PSA determination and some received a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). Men with normal DRE findings, and PSA < 4.0 ng/ml, PSA between 4.0 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml with a negative TRUS or abnormal TRUS findings (hypoechoic lesion or others) with a negative biopsy were defined as clinically free of prostate cancer. RESULTS: A total of 7803 participants without clinical evidence of prostate cancer were included in the study. The median PSA value (95th percentile range) was 0.896 ng/ml (3.329) for men 50-59 years old; 1.151 ng/ml (5.114) for men 60-69 years old; 1.623 ng/ml (6.237) for men 70-79 years old and 1.754 ng/ml (6.613) for men older then 80 years. The serum PSA values correlated with age (r = 0.3078, p < 0.001). There were small changes in the median and 95th percentile PSA values in men younger than 50 years old, but large increases in those older than 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that the serum PSA is directly correlated with age, and offer more efficient PSA reference values for prostate cancer screening tests in Taiwanese men.
Authors: G Pourmand; R Ramezani; B Sabahgoulian; F Nadali; Ar Mehrsai; Mr Nikoobakht; F Allameh; Sh Hossieni; A Seraji; M Rezai; F Haidari; S Dehghani; R Razmandeh; B Pourmand Journal: Iran J Public Health Date: 2012-02-29 Impact factor: 1.429