Prostate cancer screening before and after abdominoperineal resection: recommendations, biopsy, and therapeutic techniques.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer in men without a rectum at a single institution. The usefulness of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) to screen for prostate cancer in men without a rectum was defined. Improved biopsy techniques and therapeutic options were developed in those with elevated levels.

METHODS

We undertook a retrospective review of 65 men who underwent an abdominoperineal resection. Twenty-five of these men underwent serum PSA determinations (mean age, 68 years).

RESULTS

Four (16%) of 25 patients had elevated PSA levels. Three of these four men and two additional patients (one before the availability of PSA and one with normal serum PSA level) were found to have biopsy-proven prostate cancer. Two men (3% of the 65 patient population) died of metastatic prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that men about to undergo an abdominoperineal resection should have a preoperative serum PSA measurement. Moreover, we recommend that men older than 49 years of age (older than 39 years for those with positive family histories) without a rectum should have annual serum PSA determinations as if recommended for the general male population at large. If an elevated serum PSA level is discovered, the transperineal ultrasonogram-guided biopsy technique offers an effective method to detect peripheral zone prostate cancers.