PSA, Total

Test Code: 5363

CPT Code(s): 84153

Methodology: Immunoassay (IA)

Limitations: Based on solid evidence, screening with PSA and/or DRE detects some prostate cancers that would never have caused important clinical problems. Current prostate cancer treatments, including radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy, result in permanent side effects in many men. The most common of these side effects are erectile dystunction and urinary incontinence. Whatever the screening modality, the screening process itself can lead to adverse psychological effects in men who have a prostate biopsy but do not have identified prostate cancer. Prostatic biopsies are associated with complications, including fever, pain, hematospermia/hematuria, positive urine cultures, and rarely sepsis. Lower PSA levels are associated with obesity.

Clinical Significance: Elevated serum PSA concentrations have been reported in men with prostate cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and inflammatory conditions of the prostate.

Additional names: Prostate Specific Antigen