PSA is a substance produced by the prostate that, in elevated level, may be an indicator of various prostate conditions, including infection or inflammation, enlarged prostate, or prostate cancer.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland . The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood .
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older. The FDA has also approved the PSA test to monitor patients with a history of prostate cancer to see if the cancer has come back (recurred).
- Doctors' recommendations for screening vary.
The higher a man's PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present, but there are many other possible reasons for an elevated PSA level .
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. The doctor takes a blood sample, and the amount of PSA is measured in a laboratory. Because PSA is produced by the body and can be used to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or tumor marker .
It is normal for men to have low levels of PSA in their blood; however, prostate cancer or benign (not cancerous) conditions can increase PSA levels. As men age, both benign prostate conditions and prostate cancer become more frequent. The most common benign prostate conditions are prostatitis ( inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement of the prostate). There is no evidence that prostatitis or BPH cause cancer, but it is possible for a man to have one or both of these conditions and to develop prostate cancer as well |
