AboutNeha Dahiya MD Expertise I can help patients understand their lab report results, help them with queries regarding what pretest preparation is required. How often a follow up test needs to be done. What does a particular tissue biopsy report mean in everyday English. I can explain the biopsy or cytology procedure. I can deal with Histopathology / cytology / clinical pathology and clinical chemistry queries. Helping in this manner will be my contribution to the community.
Experience I am a pathologist and director of clinical laboratory services. I have been a practicing pathologist for last 9 years in a 350 bed multi specialty hospital laboratory.
Organizations Indian association of pathologists and microbiologists.
MIAC - Member International Academy of Cytology
International association of Pathologists - indian division
Indian association of Cytology
Question I am 56 with a PSA of 5 ng/ml and PSA free .36 (I trust it means 36%, right?). The tests were done according to Roche ECLIA Methodology.
Answer Hello Ram:
PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml are considered borderline. This increases the chances of cancer, however does not indicate that you have cancer as mild elevations are normal with age / benign prostate enlargement / prostate infection etc.
In borderline values to decide if a biopsy is required free PSA estimation is advised. There isn't agreement on this value but many physicians take 25% as the cut off.
For free PSA levels below 25% and a borderline PSA a biopsy is recommended.
At this point your results do not indicate any need for concern. This can be the baseline value and further evaluations will take this into consideration. It is advisable to continue having the tests from the same lab and on the same equipment to maintain continuity as there are minor variations in values between labs and equipment of different vendors.
