Rectal swab b/f biopsy with high PSA

by Terry
(Chicago, IL )

QUESTION: High PSA.


ANSWER: Hi Terri,

You have to know that rectal swab and the prostate biopsy, made with forceps are common cause of PSA elevation. This is very frequent of those, who have prostate problems from several months.

Remember that the PSA blood test is estimated before prostate biopsy, before putting a rectal swab and before rectal examination.

The reason why I’m telling you this is because the PSA (prostate specific antigen) is molecule found only related to the prostate. When the prostate is massaged, the prostatic tissue gets small damages, even microscopically small damages.

However, these damages are quite big for the PSA molecule to go out of the prostate. This is leading to an elevation of the PSA in the blood. The situation is similar, when there is a rectal swab inserted.

Regarding the prostate biopsy the situation is a little bit different. During a prostate biopsy, the doctors are taking small piece of your prostate.

This is damaging the integrity of the prostate, and the needle, with which is taken a piece of your prostate is making big enough whole for the PSA molecules to get out of the prostate and to enter the blood stream, leading to PSA elevation.

You have to know that these results are false negative, which means that they have to be avoided. Result like this, may lead the doctor to another wrong diagnose, which will be followed by wrong treatment.

Hope it helped! All the best!

Dr.Alba