Measurement of serum prostate specific antigen PSA is commonly used to evaluate the prostate gland in a variety of clinical settings. We examined the effects of prostatic manipulations, including digital rectal examination, prostate massage, transrectal ultrasonography and transrectal needle biopsy, on serum PSA levels in men. We detected no clinically significant difference between serum PSA levels obtained immediately before and at 5 or 90 minutes after rectal examination in 43 men.
We observed falsely increased PSA levels to greater than 4 ng. Transrectal needle biopsy caused an immediate increase in serum PSA in 92 of men. Biopsies taking 3 or fewer cores 7 patients resulted in a smaller increase in serum PSA mean 1.
Prostate size and the presence of cancer had no influence on the duration of PSA elevation following biopsy. We conclude that digital rectal examination, prostatic massage and ultrasonography have minimal effects on serum PSA levels in most patients. Abstract Measurement of serum prostate specific antigen PSA is commonly used to evaluate the prostate gland in a variety of clinical settings.
Publication types Research Support, Non-U.
