[The value of PSA follow-up in recurrent prostate carcinoma after radical prostatovesiculectomy]

We report our experience in evaluating PSA-follow-up of patients treated with radical prostatectomy. Also PSA is the most sensitive available screening test for relapse after radical prostatectomy, it is not 100% specific for cancer relapse while this serum marker is not specific for prostate cancer. In our opinion, patients with biochemical relapse (PSA > 0.5 ng/l) should undergo an early restaging including biopsy of the anastomosis. In 57% of our patients with PSA > 1.0 ng/l two months after surgery we found clinical recurrence 27 months later on.