PSA test - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

Purpose of PSA test

Normally, the blood contains a small amount of prostate-specific antigen( PSA). PSA is a specific protein that produces prostate gland in adult men. With an increase, inflammation and other prostate diseases, the level of PSA in the blood rises. It also increases in prostate cancer. You can determine the level of PSA using a blood test. As with any analysis, false-positive and false-negative results are possible. Sometimes in patients with prostate cancer the analysis gives a negative result, and in men with an elevated PSA level a terrible diagnosis is not confirmed.

Men over 50 years of age are recommended to undergo a rectal finger examination and a PSA test once a year. People with poor heredity should be examined at 45 years old. But on this account, there is another opinion. Some experts oppose that it is mandatory to examine all men in this way. Discuss with a doctor the need for an examination is if you are over 50 or in your family had cases of prostate cancer. Since the appropriateness of the test is challenged, you must first jointly with the doctor to assess all of its risks and benefits.

A blood test for PSA can also be used to track the progression of the disease or to evaluate the effectiveness of the selected treatment.

Preparing for the

PSA test Special preparation for the PSA test is not required. To avoid false results, it is better to pass the PSA test immediately before the rectal finger examination or two days or more afterwards.

Conducting the

Assay For the investigation of PSA, blood is taken from the vein. When you insert a needle, you can feel pain, but it quickly passes. A small portion of blood is collected in a test tube and sent to a laboratory.

Duration of procedure

Blood sampling for PSA takes 3-5 minutes.

Poor PSA analysis: what to do?

If the PSA content is slightly above the norm, and if there is nothing suspicious in the rectal examination, the doctor can prescribe a reanalysis.

The PSA level, exceeding 4 ng / ml, means a 20-25% chance of prostate cancer. If the PSA level is higher than 10 ng / ml, the likelihood of cancer is more than 50%.The higher the level of PSA in the blood, the higher the threat of cancer.

However, the result of the PSA test itself is not the basis for diagnosing cancer. The level of PSA can be increased 2-3 times for benign prostatic hyperplasia( enlargement).In addition, it can increase due to infections, inflammatory processes in the prostate gland, as well as after a biopsy or surgery on the prostate.

If the level of PSA is higher than normal, you need to undergo transrectal ultrasound examination of the prostate( TRUS).To confirm the diagnosis of "cancer", biopsy data are also needed.

Risks in the conduct of the PSA test

The PSA test itself is virtually unrelated to the risk. But the false positive result of this analysis causes the patient to be very worried and undergo a number of other tedious examinations, and a false negative result makes it difficult to diagnose cancer.

PSA test limits

In most men over 40 years, the PSA level in the blood is less than 4 ng / ml. In men younger than 40 years, it should not exceed 2.7 ng / ml.