[The diagnostic utility of PSA density].

Recently, the concept of PSA density has been introduced in order to increase the diagnosis sensitivity obtained with serum PSA dosing. The usefulness of this parameter has been assessed in 47 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BHP) and 26 patient with non-disseminated prostate adenocarcinoma. Using 0.15 as cut-off value, below which were 97% of patients with uncomplicated BHP, we obtained a 73% overall sensitivity. This sensitivity was stage related, reaching 100% in stage C patients. On the contrary, the test specificity was relatively low, since it considered patients with complicated HPB with urinary infection or with in-dwelling vesical catheter, obtaining 41% false positives. These results suggest a special usefulness of this test for the correct diagnosis of those prostate cases with mild suspicion of cancer.