Abstract
From 1987 to 1992, over 6,000 men aged between 50 and 79 years underwent mass screening for early diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. They were also given an “epidemiological” questionnaire drawn up by a Urologist, which included information regarding civil status, fertility, working conditions, eating and smoking habits as well as tumours in the family. With regard to the latter, it appeared that 11% of patients with cancer have a positive family history against 2.2% in healthy men and 1.8% in individuals with benign prostatic hypertrophy. In order to investigate this aspect, 46 next of kin (brothers, sons) of patients with prostatic carcinoma (mean age 60 years, range 44–76) were enrolled in the study and subjected to DRE, TRUS and PSA assay. Patients with an alteration of one or more of the above-mentioned parameters (6 patients) underwent an echoguided biopsy (of nodule or normal). Only one (aged 52 years, PSA 12.1, DRE negative, TRUS small hypoechogenic area, prostatic volume 80 cc) had grade 2 PIN. Prostatectomy performed on the patient in another hospital showed that he had fibromyo-glandular hyperplasia. Results are discussed and compared with those reported in literature.
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