The contribution of prostatic acid phosphatase and prostatic specific antigen in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were measured by immunochemical methods using test preparations from two different companies. In 66 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate a good correlation was found only between PSA levels (orthogonal regression analysis: y = 1.77 x -0.68; r = 0.995). Discrimination analysis between benign hyperplasia and new prostatic cancer (28 patients), using ROC curves, revealed a sensitivity for prostatic cancer of about 30 percent using both PAP methods and of about 58 percent using both PSA methods at the 95-percentile of benign hyperplasia. The PSA methods were both more sensitive in detecting prostatic cancer than the PAP methods.     

Needle biopsy in diagnosis of prostatic cancer

Four methods available for the diagnosis of carcinoma of the prostate-digital rectal evaluation, prostatic smear, needle biopsy and open perineal or transurethral biopsy-were studied and correlated.One hundred ten patients with clinical indications of cancer of the prostate were subjected to needle biopsy and open perineal or transurethral biopsy. Seventy of the same patients had prostatic smear examination. Using the open perineal biopsy or the positive transurethral biopsy as the standard, the accuracy of prostatic palpation, prostatic smear and needle biopsy were obtained.A high degree of correlation (74 per cent) was demonstrated between digital rectal evaluation and positive surgical biopsies in both early and late cases. There were 17 false positive clinical diagnoses. The prostatic smear showed an overall correlation of 45 per cent when compared with the results of positive surgical biopsy. The overall accuracy of needle biopsy was 73 per cent. However, in the last 39 cases, including eight in which the carcinomas were of groups A and B (curable), the needle accuracy was 100 per cent. When there is clinical indication of malignant disease of the prostate, needle biopsy of the lesion is warranted and should be done before definitive or palliative treatment is undertaken.     

Counter-flow gas contrast in the differential diagnosis of formation of the cardiodiaphragmatic angle

X-ray examination using counter-flow gas contrast study was performed in 30 patients for differential diagnosis of cardiodiaphragmatic angular formations. Approximately 700 ml of gas was administered in to the mediastinum, 1500 ml into the abdominal cavity, followed by x-ray examination (roentgenoscopy, roentgenography and tomography) in 30 min. It made it possible to determine an accurate site of the formation and to make correct diagnosis in 28 cases. This method is highly informative and considerably reduces the diagnostic period, decreasing radiation exposure of a patient.     

Palliative methods of the treatment of prostatic adenoma]

Semi-conservative therapies in prostatic adenoma are discussed. They may be used in patients with non-operational prostatic adenoma. Besides permanent catheterization, there are the following possibilities: extension of the prostatic tube with a balloon, application of the urologic coil, commissurotomy, therapy with cryosurgery or hyperthermia. ++Palliative therapy markedly prolongs and improves the life of patients with systemic diseases, which make radical surgery impossible.     

Effect of prazosin on human prostatic adenoma tissue

The effect of prazosin on epinephrine-induced contractions of human benign prostatic hyperplasia strips was studied. It was shown that prazosin has a pronounced adrenoblocking activity (EC50 = 5.10(-9) g/ml) but fails to affect strip contractions induced by KCL. It is suggested that prazosin can be used in the treatment of patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia.     

Potentialities of MRI in the differential diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer and inflammatory changes

The paper analyzes the authors' own data of chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 62 patients with verified peripheral lung cancer and different inflammatory changes (round pneumonic focuses, abscesses, etc.). The MRI signs of peripheral lung cancer are systematized. The additional capacities of contrast enhancement are analyzed. The MRI semiotics of different inflammatory changes has been developed. The differential diagnostic criteria for recognizing peripheral lung cancer and inflammatory changes have been also elaborated.     

The value of oral contrast ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gastric cancer in elderly patients

Background

This study aims to investigate the value of oral contrast ultrasonography (OCUS) in the diagnosis of gastric cancer in elderly patients.

Methods

OCUS data obtained from patients ≥?60?years old were retrospectively analyzed and compared with gastroscopy results.

Results

Among the 12,716 subjects examined by OCUS, 5021 subjects were ≥?60?years old, which accounted for 39.48% (5021/12,716). Gastritis, gastric polyp, benign ulcer, and gastric cancer were detected by OCUS in 1099 patients. Among them, 196 patients underwent gastroscopy. Furthermore, ulcerative lesions were detected in 32 patients by OCUS and in 51 patients by gastroscopy, and the coincidence rate was 62.74%. Among these patients, gastric cancer was diagnosed in 18 patients by OCUS with a detection rate of 1.64% (18/1099) and detected in 19 patients by gastroscopy with a diagnostic coincidence rate of 94.73% (18/19). Furthermore, benign ulcer was detected in 14 patients by OCUS and in 32 patients by gastroscopy, and the diagnostic coincidence rate was 43.75% (14/32).

Conclusion

OCUS helps to timely detect senile gastric cancer and can be used as a suitable technique for the detection of gastric diseases.