by 
The Curious Bag
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Doctor's recommendations for checking PSA blood levels in men vary, according to the National Cancer Institute. There are some who encourage such screenings, while others caution against them. The reason behind this is that it is unclear if benefits of PSA screening outweigh the risks related to diagnostic tests and treatments.
Definition
PSA stands for prostate specific antigen, a special protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. A PSA blood test measures the level of PSA found in a blood sample.
Significance
While high levels of PSA may be at times indicative of prostate cancer, there are other factors that may increase PSA such as an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) or simply age.
Accuracy
The PSA test therefore is not an entirely reliable test for detecting prostate cancer and its results should be interpreted with caution. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration however has approved the PSA test along with the digital rectal exam to help detect prostate cancer in men 50 years or older.
Considerations
The only definitive way to confirm or rule out prostate cancer is a biopsy. During a biopsy tissue samples from the prostate gland are removed and viewed under a microscope.
Expert Insight
Deciding whether a man needs a PSA blood test comes down to the age, race and family history, along with his doctor's recommendations, according to the National Cancer Institute.
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