VALUE OF PREOPERATIVE PSA IN PREDICTING PATHOLOGICAL STAGE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING SALVAGE PROSTATECTOMY

Objective. To evaluate the relationship of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and pathologic stage in patients with prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy and undergoing salvage radical prostatectomy. Method. Retrospective analysis of preoperative PSA levels and final pathology in 24 men undergoing Salvage prostatectomy following prior radiation therapy. Results. Although preoperative PSA values were significantly higher in patients with positive surgical margins, preoperative PSA levels failed to predict the presence or absence of extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle involvement, or lymph node metastasis. Conclusion. Our results suggest that PSA is not a reliable method of accurately predicting the pathologic stage of patients who are candidates for salvage radical prostatectomy.