The relationship between the serum prostate specific antigen and whole body scintigraphy in prostate cancer patients after prostatectomy.
BACKGROUND AND AIM Bone metastases are of the most frequent in prostate cancer. Serum prostate specific antigen--PSA has been suggested as an accurate means of monitoring prostate cancer. Whole body scintigraphy are currently the most widely used diagnostic procedures for metastases to the bone, the most common site of distant tumor spread. Aim of the study was to determinate relation between PSA level, number of metastases and 99mTc- MDP (methyl-diphosponate) uptake in patients with previous prostatectomy for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Study enrolled 15 patients after previous prostatectomy for prostate cancer (histologically proven). Standard whole body scintigraphy (WBS) was performed 3 hours after intravenous application of 740 MBq 99mTc-MDP. Total PSA was measured by MEIA-Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay. RESULTS Group 1: 12/15 (80%) patients were with WBS detected metastases. Correlation of PSA level and number of detected bone metastases was good (r=0.79). Correlation of PSA level and uptake intensity of 99mTc-MDP (score 3) was positive and significant (r=0.706). CONCLUSION PSA values were highly predictive for WBS results. PSA values correlated well with number of metastases. We propose no WBS in patients with normal PSA level. WBS is a sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting prostate cancer metastases to bone. PSA levels is good and simpler marker for disease progression, but that neither technique in isolation gives complete accuracy.