Acid Phosphatase: Its Influence on the Management of Carcinoma of the Prostate

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Abstract
Of 343 patients who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection during treatment for carcinoma of the prostate 25 had persistently elevated serum enzymatic acid phosphatase levels preoperatively: 15 (60%) had metastases to the pelvic lymph nodes and 10 (40%) had negative nodes. Bone metastases occured in 10 of 12 (83%) and 5 of 7 patients (71%), respectively, who were followed for a minimum of 2 yr. Of the 318 patients with normal serum enzymatic phosphatase levels 70 (22%) had positive nodes. A persistently elevated serum enzymatic acid phosphatase level in patients with proved carcinoma of the prostate, with elimination of infrequent causes of enzyme elevation, indicates metastases and had significant implications regarding staging and, thus, therapy of this disease.