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Very late local recurrence after surgery for prostate cancer unaccompanied by detectable PSA levels

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 9, pages 192–194 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The possibility and possible aetiology of local prostate cancer (PC) recurrence despite undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are highlighted. A case of a local recurrence 8.5 years after radical prostatectomy for Gleason 3+4 PC is presented. It demonstrates that PC can recur, even after a prolonged period of time (8.5 years), despite undetectable levels (i.e. <0.02 ng/ml) of PSA. In conclusion, the decision to omit digital rectal examination from the follow-up regimens of men with undetectable PSA levels could be justified. In such exceptional cases, however, PC recurrence would be either missed or would only be diagnosed after a considerable delay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    S Roemeling & F H Schröder

  2. Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    G J L H van Leenders

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  1. S Roemeling
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  2. G J L H van Leenders
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  3. F H Schröder
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Correspondence to S Roemeling.

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Roemeling, S., van Leenders, G. & Schröder, F. Very late local recurrence after surgery for prostate cancer unaccompanied by detectable PSA levels. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 9, 192–194 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500861

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500861

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