Abstract

Digital rectal examination (DRE), serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and bone scintigrahy in patients with prostate cancer are the staging tools used the most common. In this study, it has been investigated whether there is any relationship between serum PSA levels and bone scintigraphy in the patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa).

Ninety-nine patients with PCa were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to scintigraphy results as positive and negative. The difference between the groups regarding the patients’ age and serum PSA levels was evaluated by Student-t test.

No bone involvement in scintigraphy was found in 38 patients while 61 patients had bone involvement. PSA level was 93.12±9.66 ng/ml in patients with bone involvement while it was 31.95 ±4.10 ng/ml in those without bone involvement. There was a significantly difference between both groups in terms of serum PSA levels.

All of the patients with PSA levels above 100 ng/ml (n: 22) had bone involvement. Six of 22 patients with serum PSA levels less than 20 ng/ml (9.8%) had bone involvement.

High PSA levels are a good marker for bone involvement. However, approximately 10% of the patients with low PSA levels (n: 22) may be found bone involvement, as well. For that reason, it is appropriate that all patients with PCa should undergo baseline bone evaluation regardless PSA levels.