Health · Medical Research · 1 day ago
One PSA test cannot confirm or rule out prostate cancer
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures a protein in the blood and can help screen for prostate cancer.
One result is only a snapshot, and a high PSA level does not by itself mean someone has cancer.
Levels can rise because of factors such as an infection, medication, a recent procedure or riding a bike.
Some people with prostate cancer can also have normal PSA levels.
Because prostate cancer may not cause symptoms early on, doctors may recommend more checks after an abnormal result.
Depending on the person’s results, a urologist may repeat the PSA test later or arrange a biopsy to look for cancer cells.
The next steps depend on the patient’s individual results and circumstances.
A single prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test cannot confirm or rule out prostate cancer, a urologist says.
PSA levels can be affected by factors such as medication, infection, a recent medical procedure or riding a bike.
Some people with prostate cancer have normal PSA levels, while elevated levels can occur without cancer.
Doctors may recommend another PSA test or further checks, including a biopsy, depending on the patient’s results.
- Who
- People being screened for prostate cancer and their doctors.
- What
- A single PSA test cannot confirm or rule out prostate cancer; abnormal results may lead to further screening.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- PSA levels can vary over time and may be affected by factors other than cancer.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
One test is not sufficient
That’s most of the patients that I see in my clinic
Prostate cancer screening can use a PSA blood test to look for signs of disease.
A doctor may refer the patient to a urologist for closer inspection.
The urologist may schedule another PSA test or, in some cases, a biopsy.
- PSA test
- Measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood
- Normal PSA range
- 3.5–4 nanograms per milliliter
- PSA above 10
- 50% chance of prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society
- Prostate cancer cases below the normal PSA range
- 15% of people with prostate cancer, according to the article
Sources
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