Followup with your personal physician is essential.
There are several causes for an elevated PSA. Of course prostate cancer is one of them. However, before jumping to that conclusion, you have to consider other diseases.
The major causes of an elevated serum PSA concentration include:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Prostate cancer
- Prostatic inflammation
- Perineal trauma
The most common explanation for an elevated serum PSA is BPH because of the very high prevalence this condition in men over the age of 50 - BPH produces more PSA per gram than normal prostate tissue.
Prostatitis is also an important cause of an elevated PSA. Thus, many physicians will treat a man with an elevated serum PSA for prostatitis and then obtain a repeat serum PSA; a return of the PSA to normal is expected if prostatitis was solely responsible.
Any perineal trauma can increase the serum PSA. Mechanical manipulation of the prostate by cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, or TURP can also significantly affect the serum PSA.
Follow-up with a urologist is essential. There are diseases other than cancer that can elevate PSA and these need to be evaluated.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.