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Tests for Prostate Problems

The prostate is a small gland in the male body responsible for the release of urine and production of semen, and it has a great capacity to cause health problems. The medical world's understanding of the prostate is incomplete, but over the past two decades the ability to detect and treat prostate problems has improved greatly with the wide variety of screening tests.

  1. Recommendations

    • The American Urologic Association and the American College of Surgeons recommend that most males begin prostate cancer screening at age 50. African-Americans and men with family histories of the disease should start testing at age 40.

    Common Prostate Problems

    • According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, at any one time, 10 to 14 percent of all men suffer from prostatitis, an inflammation or infection of the prostate gland. As men age, many develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is non-cancerous prostate enlargement. Additionally, the prostate gland is prone to cancer, with 200,000 cases diagnosed in the U.S. annually, as reported by the 2001 California Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

    PSA Tests

    • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced in the prostate. There are two types of PSA blood tests: bound PSA and free PSA. Bound PSA levels in the bloodstream higher than 0 to 4 ng/mL may indicate inflammation, or possibly cancer. If the ratio of bound to free PSA levels is lower than 14 to 25 percent, prostate cancer may be present.

    Digital Rectal Exam

    • If repeated PSA tests show sustained elevations, a digital rectal exam (DRE) may be indicated. The physician's gloved, lubricated finger is inserted into the rectum to evaluate the back of the prostate gland for abnormalities.

    Biopsy

    • If abnormalities are found in both the PSA and DRE, a biopsy may be indicated. A biospy involves the removal of sample tissue to check for cancer. A transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) uses an ultrasound probe to evaluate the best locations to retrieve six to eight biopsy samples. A handheld biopsy gun fires a needle into the body and sends a sheath to slice off and remove a core of prostate tissue. After the sample has been obtained, a pathologist determines if cancer is present.

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