THE VALUE OF SCREENING TESTS FOR DETECTION OF PROSTATE CANCER IN 1000 SAUDI MEN

OBJECTIVES: Predicting the value of screening tests in the detection of prostate cancer in Saudi men. METHODS: The study was conducted in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar. Total, free and percent free serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) were measured in Saudi men above the age of 45 years. Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and needle biopsy were performed on those with suspicious digital rectal examination (DRE) and or PSA >4ng/ml. A group of 849 Saudi men were with normal PSA levels and normal DRE were considered cancer free.. The remaining 151 patients with PSA >4ng/ml were suspicious for prostate cancer. Only 55 patients agreed to have TRUS and needle biopsy RESULTS: PSA testing and DRE had the highest positive predictive value but this value dropped when TRUS was added. CONCLUSION: PSA and DRE are the main tests for the detection of prostate cancer, while TRUS is valuable when sample are taken of a wide area of prostate tissue in men at high risk of cancer.