The substance known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is produced by the prostate gland. Counting the number of these antigens in the bloodstream has become an accepted indicator for detecting prostate cancer and other abnormalities.

Standard PSA Numbers

The traditional PSA count cutoff for diagnosing possible prostate problems has been 4 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). This number is used to determine any benign or malignant conditions that might exist, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) and prostate cancer.

Normal PSA Numbers

PSA numbers below 4 ng/ml are considered to be normal, but they don't necessarily rule out the presence of problems.

Elevated PSA Numbers

PSA numbers above 4 ng/ml suggest that more diagnosis might be required. PSA numbers between 4.1 and 9.9 ng/ml will likely motivate the caregiver to order other tests to determine if more serious conditions exist.

Other Factors

Age can be an issue in PSA numbers. Younger men have smaller prostates, so their PSA count will be lower. Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) or an enlarged prostate will cause PSA numbers to fluctuate, which can produce inaccurate results.

Prostate Cancer Detection

An elevated PSA count suggests the need for a digital rectal examination and a possible biopsy. It should be noted that in certain studies, men who had a PSA count below 4 ng/ml actually had malignant tumors present.

Source:

National Cancer Institute: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

American Medical Association: PSA Count Variables