A guide to the interpretation of serum prostate specific antigen levels.
OBJECTIVE
To review the factors that affect the concentration of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the serum.


RESULTS
The discussion includes the structure of PSA; its distribution and metabolism; various analytical aspects of PSA measurements; the effects of clinical manipulations on PSA, including digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound, cystoscopy, biopsy and transurethral resection of the prostate; factors affecting PSA levels in health, in benign disease, and in prostate cancer; the effect of various treatments on PSA; and the issue of reference ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
Laboratory staff and physicians must take many factors into consideration when interpreting PSA results.
Bunting
P S
PS
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Canada.
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen