Posted by C S Loh on June 03, 1999 at 11:18:29:
In Reply to: PSA - once again... posted by Bjorn Lundquist on June 02, 1999 at 15:52:26:
In addition to what you pointed out, we have our own indigenous problem. Our CaP pickup rate from TRUS biopsy is about a third of what is seen in the West (about 10% of all TRUS directed systematic biopsy). We are still searching for an explanation. A review of prostate histology in my institution revealed a very high incidence (70-80%) of histological prostatitis in all prostate specimens (TURP chips, Millin's prostatectomy specimens and trucut specimens). None of these patients had the classic prostatitis signs or symptoms and the significance of these inflammatory infiltrate in the prostate is unclear although it is tempting to blame our low TruCut biopsy pick up rate on it. Besides, a recent study showed the the 95% PSA centile was 6 for the Malays and Chinese and 4 for the Indians. A lot more works need to be done but PSA is not as useful as an early detection tool in Malaysia while screening is a definite no no!