Relationship between serum prostate-specific antigen and age in cadavers

An increase in number of unidentified cadavers is a growing problem. To identify these cadavers, a simple objective method is required to estimate cadaveric age. We examined the correlations between postmortem serum prostate-specific antigen levels and cadaveric age to determine whether serum prostate-specific antigen levels can be used in age estimation of unidentified cadavers.

Total serum prostate-specific antigen was measured in 140 male autopsy cases aged from 0 to 94 years.

The serum prostate-specific antigen levels of cadavers correlated with age at death to the same degree as with the age of living individuals (r = 0.393, P < 0.01). Prostate-specific antigen levels also correlated with prostate weight, but not with psoas muscle index and body mass index. Cause of death did not influence postmortem serum prostate-specific antigen levels.

Age estimation based on prostate-specific antigen provides a simple, objective, and rapid method to determine age at death estimation of cadavers, and is expected to greatly contribute to the identification of cadavers.