The short-term prostate-specific antigen velocity before biopsy can be used to predict prostatic histology

To evaluate whether the short-term prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity before biopsy can be used to predict prostatic histology, and to assess the role of a second PSA measurement before prostate biopsy.

The study comprised 197 patients who were referred for transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and prostate biopsy. The PSA level was initially measured at the first outpatient assessment; patients with a serum PSA level of < 4 ng/mL and > 50 ng/mL were excluded. Blood samples were taken just before prostate biopsy for the second PSA measurement. The mean interval between the measurements was 2.2 months. The short-term PSA velocity was calculated and correlations between this variable and age, prostate volume and initial PSA levels determined.

There was a statistically significant difference between the short-term PSA velocity of patients with benign prostate histology and those with prostate cancer (P < 0.05). The short-term PSA velocity alone had the same diagnostic accuracy as the serum PSA level (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.612). There was only a weak correlation between the short-term PSA velocity and prostate volume. However, there was no correlation with age and initial PSA level in patients with benign histology. The second PSA measurement had higher specificity without losing sensitivity.

The short-term PSA velocity estimated before biopsy can be used to predict prostatic histology. By measuring serum PSA 2 months after the first in patients with serum PSA level of 4-10 ng/mL, the number of negative biopsies can be reduced by 17%.