Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
The PSA test can be used to suggest the presence of or monitor prostate cancer.
The PSA test can be abnormal with benign enlargement and infection of the prostate gland.
The PSA test can be elevated with other conditions that irritate the prostate gland.
What is prostate specific antigen?
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a substance produced almost exclusively by certain cells within the prostate gland. Biochemically, it belongs to the protease family of kallikrein and is also known as human kallikrein 3 (hK3). PSA is secreted by the prostate in the semen where its role is to liquefy the semen following ejaculation. Most of the PSA produced by the prostate gland is carried out of the body in semen, but a very small amount escapes into the blood stream, so PSA is normally found in low amounts (nanograms per milliliter or ng/mL) in the blood.
If the PSA level is high for your age or is steadily increasing (with or without an abnormal physical exam), a biopsy may be recommended. The doctor should consider other risk factors of prostate cancer such as family history and ethnicity before recommending the biopsy. The biopsy is the only way to determine if prostate cancer or other abnormal cells are present in the prostate.
How is PSA measured?
PSA is measured by a blood test. Since the amount of PSA in the blood is very low, detection of it requires a very sensitive type of technology (monoclonal antibody technique). The PSA protein can exist in the blood by itself (known as free PSA), or bound with other substances (known as bound or complexed PSA). Total PSA is the sum of the free and the bound forms. The total PSA is what is measured with the standard PSA test.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer
Urinary retention (inability to urinate) may be caused by nerve disease, spinal cord injury, prostate enlargement, infection, surgery, medication, bladder
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate) is very common in men over 50 years of age. This noncancerous enlargement of the prostate can impede
Tumor grade is a system used to classify cancer cells in how likely the tumor is to grow, and how abnormal they look under a microscope. Tumor grade is
Certain behavioral, lifestyle, and environmental factors contribute to cancer. Cancer prevention involves modifying these factors to decrease cancer risk.
The prostate is a small organ located at the base of the bladder and wrapped
around the urethra, the tube that empties the bladder through the penis. It sits
in front of the rectum, and the back
portion"...
