Is the positive biopsy core percent really predictive of non-organ confined prostate carcinoma?
Gleason score is the most important and independent predictive factor for extra-prostatic disease. The percentage of cores positive for cancer has significance only in the prediction of ECE and SM positivity. Further studies are needed before routine use of PBCP as one of the important preoperative prognostic factors.
When the PSA level is in the 2.0 to 9.0 ng/mL range, a smaller prostate volume is the strongest predictor of cancer detection. These data support previous studies suggesting the amount of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and not cancer, as the major factor responsible for elevated PSA.