Prostate-Specific Antigen Test

Prostate-Specific Antigen Test

Prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced by normal as well as cancer cells of the prostate gland. Its levels are often elevated in patients with prostate cancer.

The amount of PSA in your blood is measured in nanograms of PSA per millilitre of blood (ng/ml). If your age is above 50 years and raised PSA is 4 ng/ml or higher.

A raised PSA level in your blood may be a sign of prostate cancer, but it can also be a sign of another condition that’s not cancer, such as:

• an enlarged prostate
• prostatitis
• urinary infection

When is PSA test recommended?

PSA is recommended as a screening test for men above age 50 once a year as per European Association of Urology (EAG) guidelines. Men with predisposed risk factors are recommended to undergo screening test above age 45 years. You are more likely to get prostate cancer if you are of Afro-carribean ethnicity or have a family history of prostate cancer, especially in a close relative such as a parent or sibling.

PSA levels of more than 4 ng/mL are considered abnormal. However, high levels of PSA may also be a result of prostatitis and urinary tract infection (UTI). So, other tests are required to know the exact cause of abnormal results.

How is the test performed?

In this test, blood sample is taken to measure levels of PSA. Results most often come back within 3 hours or on the same day.

If you’re having a PSA test, avoid ejaculating or exercising heavily in the past 48 hours. People who had a prostate biopsy in the past 6 weeks also cannot undergo PSA testing. They may cause inaccurate reading. Ideally, PSA should be done before biopsy.

If you have high PSA levels, you need more testing. Raised levels may also be due to enlarged prostate, prostatitis, infections, or some medications. Raised PSA or abnormal examination are the indications of imaging (multiparametric MRI of the prostate) followed by biopsy of prostate.

Biopsy is necessary for confirming the diagnosis in all cases of prostate cancer. It is a safe procedure done in an outpatient setting with all the due precautions taken care of in a dedicated center.

Verified by Dr Ashwin Tamhankar, Consultant Uro-oncology & Robotic Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai