OBJECTIVES: To analyse the impact of repeating a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level assessment on prostate biopsy decision in a cohort of men undergoing prostate biopsy.PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2015 onwards, we consecutively enrolled, at a single institution in Italy, men undergoing 12-core transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate needle biopsy. Indication for prostate biopsy was a PSA level of ?4 ng/mL. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data were collected. The PSA level was tested at enrolment (PSA1 ) and 4 weeks later on the day before biopsy (PSA2 ). Variations in PSA level were defined as: stable PSA2 within a 10% variation, stable PSA2 within a 20% variation, PSA2 decreased by ?10%, PSA2 decreased by ?20%, PSA2 increased by ?10%, PSA2 increased by ?20%, and PSA2 <4 ng/mL. Percentages and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyse biopsy outcomes. High-grade cancer was defined as Grade group ?3.RESULTS: Overall, 331 patients were enrolled. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 153/331 (46%) patients and of them 80/153 (52%) had high-grade disease. When compared to the rest of the population, patients with a stable PSA within 20% variation had a higher risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio [OR] 1.80, P < 0.05) and high grade disease (OR 2.56, P < 0.05), patients with a PSA2 decreased by ?20% had a lower risk of prostate cancer (OR 0.37, P < 0.05) and high grade disease (OR 0.13, P < 0.05), whilst patients with a PSA2 increased by ?10% had an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer (OR 1.93, P < 0.05). When PSA returned to normal values (<4 ng/mL) both risks of prostate cancer and high-grade disease were reduced (OR 0.33 and 0.01, respectively, P = 0.001).CONCLUSION: In a cohort of Italian men undergoing prostate biopsy, a reduction of ?20% in PSA levels significantly reduced the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Further multicentre studies should validate our present results.
Aged Biopsy, Large-Core Needle