PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What lab test is recommended for prostate cancer screening?

1. Serum PSA (prostate-specific antigen)

2. Complete blood count

3. Liver function test

4. Thyroid-stimulating hormone

The correct answer is: Serum PSA (prostate-specific antigen)

Serum PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is the recommended lab test for prostate cancer screening because PSA is a protein produced by both normal and malignant cells of the prostate gland. Elevated levels of PSA in the blood can indicate the presence of prostate cancer, although high levels can also be caused by benign conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis. The PSA test is a valuable tool for assessing prostate health, particularly in men over the age of 50 or those with a family history of prostate cancer, allowing for early detection and monitoring of the disease. This focus on PSA measurements is part of routine screening guidelines in many countries for at-risk populations. Other options, while they are useful for different types of screenings and assessments, do not specifically target prostate cancer. For instance, a complete blood count provides information about overall health and can help identify various conditions like anemia or infection but does not screen for prostate cancer. Liver function tests assess liver health and can help diagnose liver diseases but are unrelated to prostate cancer screening. Thyroid-stimulating hormone is involved in assessing thyroid function, making it relevant for thyroid disorders but not for prostate cancer. Thus, the PSA test stands out as the vital lab test for this specific cancer screening.