Prostate specific antigen ratio: for diagnosis and assessment of aggressiveness of malignancy of prostate.

The search for a perfect tumour marker, which would be able to distinguish benign from malignant enlargement of prostate accurately, is still not complete. Total Prostate Specific Antigen (TPSA), a good test, has it's own inadequacies but Free Prostate Specific Antigen (FPSA) to TPSA ratio is emerging as a better adjuvant to it. This prospective study was done to verify the utility of FPSA to TPSA ratio in diagnosis of malignancy of prostate and its relationship to Gleason grading (indicating the aggressiveness) of adenocarcinoma of prostate.

Diagnosis of malignancy of prostate.

Minimal or complete lack of symptoms hinders early diagnosis of malignancy of prostate leading to undue morbidity and mortality. Therefore early detection is imperative, making use of simple and safe technique with least of expense. Five hundred consecutive patients, who reported with urinary complaints, were assessed by digital rectal examination, transabdominal suprapubic ultrasonography for prostatic volume/weight and serum assay of prostate specific antigen (PSA).