Oregon Urology Institute

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Know how to understand your results

PSA Results

Doctors usually recommend further testing for men with a total PSA level of 2.5 or more nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/ml). This cut-off level has been set by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a large network of cancer experts who establish industry wide standards.

The change in your PSA level over time, PSA velocity, is very important. Even if your PSA is 4.0 ng/ml or below, an increase of 50% or more in one year may indicate prostate cancer. If your PSA is above 4.0 ng/ml, an increase of 75% or more in one year could indicate an aggressive case of the disease.

The PSA level considered 'normal' can also vary depending on your age, and ethnicity. Talk to your doctor if your PSA test results are above 2.5 ng/ml or the following cut-off levels:

Age	Caucasion or Hispanic	African American	Asian
40 to 49	2.5	2.0	2.0
50 to 59	3.5	4.0	3.0
60 to 69	4.5	4.5	4.0
70 to 79	6.5	5.5	5.0

Body Mass Index, a measure of obesity, may also be a factor. The relationship between obesity and lower PSA levels may cause doctors to miss early prostate cancer cases in overweight men.

Elevated PSA levels do not necessarily indicate prostate cancer, only that you should undergo further testing or closer observation. Elevated PSA levels can also be caused by an enlarged prostate or prostatitis.

As PSA levels increase, so do the odds that it's due to prostate cancer. About 25% of men with a PSA level from 4-10 have prostate cancer. About 67% of men with a PSA above 10 have the disease.

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