An elevated PSA, which normalizes, does not exclude the presence of prostate cancer

Boddy, J. L., Pike, D. J., Al-Hayek, S., Shaida, N. and Malone, P. R. (2005) An elevated PSA, which normalizes, does not exclude the presence of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, 8 (4). pp. 349-352. ISSN 1365-7852 doi: 10.1038/sj.pcan.4500819

Abstract/Summary

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of prostate cancer in patients who have an elevated referral prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which subsequently falls to within their normal age-specific reference range prior to prostate biopsy. The study demonstrated that of the 160 patients recruited, 21 (13%) had a repeat PSA level which had fallen back to within their normal range. Five of these 21 patients (24%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer following biopsy, two of whom had a benign prostate examination. The study, therefore, demonstrates that normalisation of the PSA level prior to biopsy does not exclude the presence of prostate cancer even when the prostate feels benign.