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Which patients with prostatic carcinoma require a staging bone scan
Author(s) -
KEMP P.M.,
MAGUIRE G.A.,
BIRD N.J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1997.00121.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiology , prostate , prostate specific antigen , carcinoma , prostate carcinoma , computed tomography , prostate cancer , nuclear medicine , urology , cancer
Objective To determine whether the level of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) can be used to decide which patients with newly diagnosed prostatic carcinoma require a staging bone scan. Patients and methods Of patients referred during an 18‐month period for a staging bone scan, 98 (median age 72 years, range 52–89) had had their serum PSA level determined within 4 weeks of the bone scan and were assessed retrospectively for the presence of bony metastases. Results Of the 98 patients, 26 who had bone scans showing bony metastases had a PSA level >40 ng/mL. Reviewing the other published studies showed that in those newly diagnosed patients with a PSA level of <20 ng/mL, the probability of having bony metastases detected on a bone scan was <1%. Conclusions A staging bone scan can be omitted in the vast majority of patients with newly diagnosed prostatic carcinoma and a PSA level <20 ng/mL.