The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of the prostate adenocarcinoma in volunteers, between 40 and 80 years of age, from a northeastern region of Brazil. All volunteers were submitted to a digital rectal examination and total PSA blood level determination. A total of 499 men were evaluated. Prostatic biopsy guided by transrectal ultrasound (5 cores/ lobe) was indicated to those with PSA higher than 2ng/ml and/or prostatic changes on the DRE. Biopsies were carried out in 120 of 135 men that filled those criteria. Prostate adenocarcinoma was found in 24 volunteers corresponding to 5.1% of the sample. Such prevalence seems higher than that reported for men living in the southeastern area of the country. Differences might be a consequence of racial or environmental factors, but it is not possible to rule out other factors such as a methodological bias.
Prostatic adenocarcinoma; screening
