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Dr. Heather Mannuel’s Bio | Q&A Archive
Prostate-specific antigen; Prostate cancer screening test
Normal values vary with age. Older men typically have slightly higher PSA measurements than younger men. Men with a larger prostate will also have higher PSA values.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
A high PSA level has been linked to an increased chance of having prostate cancer. However, a high PSA level does not mean that you definitely have prostate cancer. A high PSA level only identifies patients at higher risk of having prostate cancer. People at higher risk may need to have more tests.
A PSA of 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) is abnormally high for most men and may indicate the need for a prostate biopsy.
Keep in mind that although PSA testing is an important tool for detecting prostate cancer, it is not foolproof.
Greater-than-normal PSA levels may indicate:
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