CONTEXT: Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is frequently used in early detection programs for prostate cancer. While PSA testing has resulted in an increase in prostate cancer detection, its routine use has been questioned because of a lack of specificity. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether year-to-year fluctuations in PSA levels are due to natural variation and render a single PSA test result unreliable. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective analysis of an unscreened population of 972 men (median age, 62 years) participating in the Polyp Prevention Trial (1991-1998). Five consecutive blood samples were obtained during a 4-year period and were assessed for total and free PSA levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Abnormal PSA test result based on a PSA level higher than 4 ng/mL; a PSA level higher than 2.5 ng/mL; a PSA level above the age-specific cutoff; a PSA level in the range of 4 to 10 ng/mL and a free-to-total ratio of less than 0.25 ng/mL; or a PSA velocity higher than 0.75 ng/mL per year. RESULTS: Prostate biopsy would have been recommended in 207 participants (21%) with a PSA level higher than 4 ng/mL; in 358 (37%) with a level higher than 2.5 ng/mL; in 172 (18%) with a level above the age-specific cutoff; in 190 (20%) with a level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and a free-to-total ratio of less than 0.25 ng/mL; and in 145 (15%) with a velocity higher than 0.75 ng/mL per year. Among men with an abnormal PSA finding, a high proportion had a normal PSA finding at 1 or more subsequent visits during 4-year follow-up: 68 (44%) of 154 participants with a PSA level higher than 4 ng/mL; 116 (40%) of 291 had a level higher than 2.5 ng/mL; 64 (55%) of 117 had an elevated level above the age-specific cutoff; and 76 (53%) of 143 had a level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and a free-to-total ratio of less than 0.25 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: An isolated elevation in PSA level should be confirmed several weeks later before proceeding with further testing, including prostate biopsy.
CONTEXT: Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is frequently used in early detection programs for prostate cancer. While PSA testing has resulted in an increase in prostate cancer detection, its routine use has been questioned because of a lack of specificity. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether year-to-year fluctuations in PSA levels are due to natural variation and render a single PSA test result unreliable. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective analysis of an unscreened population of 972 men (median age, 62 years) participating in the Polyp Prevention Trial (1991-1998). Five consecutive blood samples were obtained during a 4-year period and were assessed for total and free PSA levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Abnormal PSA test result based on a PSA level higher than 4 ng/mL; a PSA level higher than 2.5 ng/mL; a PSA level above the age-specific cutoff; a PSA level in the range of 4 to 10 ng/mL and a free-to-total ratio of less than 0.25 ng/mL; or a PSA velocity higher than 0.75 ng/mL per year. RESULTS: Prostate biopsy would have been recommended in 207 participants (21%) with a PSA level higher than 4 ng/mL; in 358 (37%) with a level higher than 2.5 ng/mL; in 172 (18%) with a level above the age-specific cutoff; in 190 (20%) with a level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and a free-to-total ratio of less than 0.25 ng/mL; and in 145 (15%) with a velocity higher than 0.75 ng/mL per year. Among men with an abnormal PSA finding, a high proportion had a normal PSA finding at 1 or more subsequent visits during 4-year follow-up: 68 (44%) of 154 participants with a PSA level higher than 4 ng/mL; 116 (40%) of 291 had a level higher than 2.5 ng/mL; 64 (55%) of 117 had an elevated level above the age-specific cutoff; and 76 (53%) of 143 had a level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and a free-to-total ratio of less than 0.25 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: An isolated elevation in PSA level should be confirmed several weeks later before proceeding with further testing, including prostate biopsy.
Authors: Jonathan I Izawa; Laurence Klotz; D Robert Siemens; Wassim Kassouf; Alan So; John Jordan; Michael Chetner; Alla E Iansavichene Journal: Can Urol Assoc J Date: 2011-08 Impact factor: 1.862
Authors: Behfar Ehdaie; Bing Ying Poon; Daniel D Sjoberg; Pedro Recabal; Vincent Laudone; Karim Touijer; James Eastham; Peter T Scardino Journal: BJU Int Date: 2015-10-26 Impact factor: 5.588
Authors: Jae Young Joung; Kang Su Cho; Han Soo Chung; In-Chang Cho; Jung Eun Kim; Ho Kyung Seo; Jinsoo Chung; Weon Seo Park; Moon Kyung Choi; Kang Hyun Lee Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2010-08-12 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: Donna Pauler Ankerst; Jonathan Gelfond; Martin Goros; Jesus Herrera; Andreas Strobl; Ian M Thompson; Javier Hernandez; Robin J Leach Journal: J Urol Date: 2016-03-12 Impact factor: 7.450