Elevated PSA

The use of PSA as a screening test is based on the idea that prostate cancer can cause an increase in the production of PSA, leading to higher levels of PSA in the blood. However, it is important to note that elevated PSA levels do not necessarily mean that a person has prostate cancer, as other factors such as an enlarged prostate or prostate infections can also cause elevated PSA levels.

The benefits of PSA screening include the ability to detect prostate cancer early when it is most treatable. Early detection and treatment of prostate cancer can improve a person's chances of survival and reduce the risk of complications.

However, PSA screening also has risks and limitations. One major concern is the high rate of false positive results, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety and further testing, such as a biopsy. Additionally, PSA screening has been associated with overdiagnosis and overtreatment of prostate cancer, as many cancers detected through screening may not have caused harm if left untreated. However, there are now many tests that can be used after a diagnosis of prostate cancer to see which types need to be treated versus those that can just be watched.

An alternative test, or test that is sometimes used in conjunction with a high PSA, is known as a 4K test. The 4K test is a blood test that measures four different prostate-specific markers: total PSA, free PSA, intact PSA, and human kallikrein 2 (HK2). The test is marketed as an alternative to traditional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for the detection of prostate cancer.

The idea behind the 4K test is that it provides more information about a man's PSA levels and may be more accurate in detecting prostate cancer. By measuring multiple markers, the test may help distinguish between prostate cancer and other conditions that can cause elevated PSA levels, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate infections.

Like PSA testing, the 4K test is not a definitive test for prostate cancer, and a positive result does not guarantee a diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, the 4K test may provide additional information that can help guide further testing and treatment decisions.

It is important to note that the 4K test is not yet widely used or recognized as a standard test for the detection of prostate cancer, and more research is needed to determine its accuracy and usefulness. Likewise, there are even newer tests that are being vaildated and should be available within the next few years that will increase the diagnostic accuract of prostate cancer screening by blood.

There has been a decrease in PSA screening in recent years, and some studies have shown that this decrease has been associated with an uptick in the incidence of prostate cancer. It had been confusing for a lot of providers to determine if a PSA test is really necessary or useful, but there is an almost indisputable amount of data at this point showing overall benefit, and overall risks if it is not performed. However, how often PSA screening needs to be performed varies significantly among individuals, and depends a lot on a man’s risk factors.

Prostate Biopsy

If a person is diagnosed with an elevated PSA, further testing may be necessary to determine the cause of the elevated levels. This may include a 4K test, a digital rectal exam, an MRI, or a biopsy. A biopsy is the most reliable way to diagnose prostate cancer and involves removing small tissue samples from the prostate for examination under a microscope. An MRI of the prostate is useful for some men to guide a biopsy to specific areas that are suspicious for cancer. It will not catch all prostate cancers however, as some cancers may not show up on a prostate biopsy. Likewise, not all cancers will show up on a prostate biopsy either, and so an MRI can become helpful to aid the diagnostic accuracy of a prostate biopsy.

A prostate biopsy is performed using a needle and may be done using local anesthesia or sedation. The risks and benefits of a biopsy must be carefully considered, as the procedure can cause complications such as pain, bleeding, or infection. The infection from a prostate biopsy may lead to sepsis and may require a hospital stay with IV antibiotics. As such, it is important to properly prepare for a prostate biopsy, including appropriate antibiotics and techniques to keep as clean as possible.

A biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis and help guide treatment decisions. Even though a prostate biopsy is done to determine the presence of prostate cancer, not all prostate cancers will need to be treated and many urologists will err on the side of recommending surveillance of a cancer rather than treatment because of the slow-growing nature of most prostate cancers. However, it is important to find out if there is a prostate cancer, what kind is present, as prostate cancer still remains the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, and about 1 in 41 men will die of prostate cancer.

At SMIU, we aim to incorporate the latest technologies to ensure not only is the prostate done in an appropriate manner, but only the patients that have an elevated PSA that need a prostate biopsy gets one.

For more information, please follow the link below:

Prostate Cancer Screening