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William Palmer
Anatomic Pathology Institute
Oakland, CA 94618

: >>  Would like to know what is considered the normal reading for a PSA
: >> test.

: >I do the biopsies on these folks in my path lab. I am not worried until
: >the reading is about 10-12. I.e. I do not find ca very often if it between
: >5-10.
: >Bill Palmer

: Whoops. You forgot the units. The values are quite different from my
: local path lab!

: Another point to remember is that PSA can be boosted by a recent rectal
: exam, which is a common procedure prior to taking {*filter*} for a PSA. It's
: not a large increase (so the pathologists tell me), but it might just tip
: a result from one bracket to another.

: regards,
: Chris Lawson

Chris,
        There was a large study published in JAMA about a year or two ago
showing that rectal exams did not (contrary to prior belief) affect the
PSA measurement.  If it's important to you, I could look up the exact
citation.
        Eric Chevlen, MD

Another point to remember is that PSA can be boosted by a recent rectal
exam, which is a common procedure prior to taking {*filter*} for a PSA. It's
not a large increase (so the pathologists tell me), but it might just tip
a result from one bracket to another.

regards,
Chris Lawson

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