Is PSA Level Of 17 A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Wed, 21 Dec 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 Answered on

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : i have an infection that is making my psa go up what can i do. i have already had proton treatments and psa has been .2 but is now 17

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Could be due to infection secondary to Enlarged Prostate

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for your query,based on the facts that you have posted it appears that you have UTI with raised PSA of 17 secondary to Enlarged Prostate

I shall be happy if you can post me few more details to help me in making comments on your problem.
1) Do you have any voiding urinary symptoms like frequency for urination ,urgency.nocturia etc which are most common due to enlarged prostate which is very common at this age .

Raised PSA could be due to one of the two following reasons .
1)Infection secondary to Enlarged prostate .
2) Cancer of the prostate

You need to consult qualified Urologist for clinical and digital rectal examination and get following basic
tests done to confirm the diagnosis.
1) Urine routine and culture.
2) Ultrasound scanning of abdomen and pelvis .

I would suggest you to start taking Cefixime and Nitrofurantoin twice daily and later on switch on to appropriate antibiotics as per culture report .Take these medications for 2 -3 weeks and repeat PSA after three weeks and if it is still above the normal value of 4 you will have to do Ultrasound Guided Multi-Core Biopsy of Prostate .

It is the standard international protocol about whenever there is persistent raising levels of PSA it is presumed to be due to Cancer of Prostate unless proved otherwise by doing Prostate Biopsy .

Further treatment will depend upon result of these tests and final diagnosis.

Hope I have answered your query ,please feel free to ask if you have more questions ,I shall be happy to help you
Thanks and Regards.
Dr.Patil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (23 hours later)

I,m taking Cipro and have been for two months and the psa went down from 20 to 17. That test was a month ago im scheduled for another psa right after the new year. do I still need to take the meds you recommended? What other test beside a biotsipy do i need to take?

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can continue taking medications till you get the results of PSA test .

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for follow up .

Continue taking antibiotic till you get your PSA test done .

The need for Biopsy will be decided on the recent PSA values .

Thanks and Regards.
Dr.Patil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar