title: The lady with raised prostate specific antigen: do we need to worry?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is generally considered a biological marker of prostate cancer although raised values may also be observed in benign prostatic diseases. PSA can be secreted in females from Skeine's periurethral gland but at low levels. This case-control study aimed at the evaluation of relation of PSA with different diseases in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 297 patients were included, 107 with breast cancer, 90 with benign breast disease (BBD) and 100 controls (patients attending our surgery department for non-breast diseases). PSA was measured in the serum of all and a statistical analysis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An association of raised PSA with breast diseases was observed. Total PSA was more sensitive for benign breast diseases, whereas breast cancer showed a predilection towards increase in free PSA. PSA decreased after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSA can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of breast cancer in women, therefore helping secondary prevention of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ipgmer and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, India. drsoumen_das@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Soumen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Retina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Utpal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: Mrityunjoy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen