Diagnosis of early prostate gland damage remains complicated. Early stages of prostate cancer course without symptoms and cancer may be found only after microscopic examination of prostate tissue which was removed for adenoma suspicion.
As a diagnostic marker is used prostate-specific antigen found in the blood plasma. False-positive results are not excluded, therefore are studied rates of antigen in the blood during one year, rates of bound and free antigens and age norms. Great significance has digital rectal examination.
Tumors which grow within prostate gland area are felt in form of typical nodes quite well. Unfortunately, only tenth part of cases may be treated because in pelvic lymph glands frequently are developed metastasis which cannot be found during digital rectal examination. Transrectal ultrasound of prostate helps to reveal cancer stage.
In most cases prostate cancer diagnosis is made at advanced stages. Frequently diagnosis is made for the second time during examination of patients who complain on bone pains. Thus when causes of such pains are examined, doctors find metastasis in bones. More than third of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer for the first time have invasion of cancer into nearby anatomical structures (neck of urinary bladder, seminal vesicles) which makes it impossible to use radical surgical treatment. Here laboratory tests show hyperactivity of acid phosphatase.
In patients with growths invasions into pelvic bones, lymph nodes, liver and lungs (in about 50% cases) acid phosphatase is 80% hyperactive. Activity of acid phosphatase is examined before rectal examination and prostate massage (increase of this indicant in male blood may be observed for 1 – 2 days). For diagnosis confirmation is made needle biopsy of prostate.
Radioisotope scanning of bones and X-ray radiography help to find metastasis in bones. To find metastasis and cancer invasion in nearby organs are used computer tomography of pelvic area, intravenous pyelogram, X-ray examination.
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