What is PSA?

What is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)?

PSA stands for which it is known the prostate specific antigen (Prostate-Specific Antigen). The prostate is a gland that only exists in males and embraces the urethra below the bladder. It is responsible for producing many substances, many of which are necessary for the production of semen. Among these substances is the PSA, which is a molecule that can be measured in the blood and determining its concentration.

PSA production depends primarily on the amount of male sex hormones and the size of the gland. Normally blood PSA levels are very low, are considered normal levels of 4 ng / mL. There are situations that can increase blood PSA, like exercise or ejaculation. Also undergo a digital rectal exam, a prostate biopsy or the fact of having taken a urinary catheter.

“Prostate-specific antigen is a tumor indicator used for the detection of prostate cancer.”

What a PSA is

The reason is best known for being the PSA is a good marker for prostate cancer. When a tumor appears in the prostate PSA production is uncontrolled and increases its concentration in blood. It is considered a suspect PSA if greater than 10 ng / mL. When the PSA is between 4 and 10 ng / mL are recommended to study why it is high, without suspicion of prostate cancer is so strong. The PSA test is also used to detect other prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate infection (prostatitis).

In recent years it has been thought that the PSA could be a good method of early detection of prostate cancer in the general population. After many studies and after the accumulated experience.

PSA analysis test is easy to perform, nonaggressive it is an analytical simple blood. Their results should be interpreted with caution. The test remains today the most useful for detecting early prostate cancer is a digital rectal exam performed annually from 50 years of age.