OBJECTIVE: Compare the capacity of the PSA density (PSAD), Free PSA percentage (%FPSA) and PSA transition zone density (PSATZ) in improving the sensitivity and specificity of the PSA to detect prostate cancer (PCa) in men with a PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty five men with PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL were prospectively studied. Blood collection for the total PSA and free PSA was performed as well as transrectal ultra-sound with prostate biopsy and measurement of the total prostate volume (TPV) and transition zone volume (TZV). Patients with initial negative biopsy were followed and the prostate biopsy was repeated in those that presented PSA increase. The capacity of the PSAD, %FPSA and PSADTZ in improving the sensitivity and specificity pf the PSA test to the detection of the PCa was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses and through the ROC curve. RESULTS: Of the 145 patients, 38 (26.2%) had PCa and in 107 (73.8%) a benign prostate disease was diagnosed. No difference among the PSAD, %FPSA and PSADTZ was found. The multivariate analysis showed that the PSADTZ, %FPSA, TZV and age were those more powerful and highly significant PCa predictors. CONCLUSION:The determination of %FPSA and PSAD can allow a better discrimination between PCa and benign disease that the isolated use of PSA. The combination of PSADTZ, %FPSA, TZV and age promote a high accuracy for PCa detection.

Schistosomiasis or bilharziasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma. When infecting men the most common parasites are Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma haematobium. The Schistosoma mansoni is the only endemic parasite in Brazil. We present a case of testicular schistosomiasis simulating malignancy. The case was treated successfully by excisional biopsy and praziquantel therapy. A review of the literature is discussed.

PURPOSE: to determine the role of RPLND for residual masses following chiotherapy in patients with non-siinomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) stage T1N2 and T1N3 (IIB and IIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have preformed retrospective analysis of 11 patients who underwent RPLND for residual masses following chiotherapy in an oncologic reference center between January 1997 and Deciber 2002. All patients harbored either pure nonsiinomatous or mixed tumors in the testis tissue and had undergone 4 cycles of primary chiotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. The residual masses were assessed by abdominal computed tomography preoperatively. RESULTS: There were perioperative complications in 3 cases owing to vascular iatrogenic lesion. One of who died in the early postoperative period due to extensive iliac thrombosis. The other 2 patients had an inferior vena cava injury owing to the difficulty in rioving the attached lymph nodes. The injuries were repaired by continuous suture with Prolene 5-0. All patients had tumors in the final pathological report and were referred to other 2 cycles of chiotherapy with the same drugs. Seven patients (63.3%) had complete response and riained free of the disease in a mean follow up of 38.3 months (ranging from 12 to 72). The riaining 3 patients had disease progression, 2 of which died 6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively, and one patient missed the follow-up after salvage chiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for residual masses after chiotherapy is a high-morbidity procedure, even by experienced surgeons, although it riains an efficient modality of treatment in advanced germ cell carcinoma. The high frequency of tumor found in the RPLFN following chiotherapy might have been caused by the small number of patients in this study.