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Elevated PSA & Infections

The PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test is one of the most widely used tools in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, an elevated reading is hardly definitive and can indicate other problems totally unrelated to cancer.

  1. Usefulness of PSA Test

    • Despite its wide use, the PSA test is the subject of some controversy, both because of the ambiguity of findings and because 15 percent of prostate cancer patients have a "normal" PSA reading.

    What Is Elevated PSA?

    • A PSA reading greater than 4.0 nanograms per milliliter is generally indicative of a problem, according to the National Cancer Institute.

    What It Means

    • While an elevated PSA level could mean prostate cancer is present, it also can indicate the presence of prostatitis or some other urinary tract infection or benign prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate.

    What's Next?

    • If your doctor suspects an infection is causing your elevated PSA reading, he will order either a urinalysis or semen culture to confirm that diagnosis.

    Don't Panic

    • Given the ambiguity of an elevated PSA reading, don't jump to any hasty conclusions. According to DrMirkin.com, the chances are better than even that it indicates an infection or inflammation and not cancer.

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