Used to diagnose prostate cancer in conjunction with a digital rectal exam is called?

• A. Paracentesis
• B. Prothrombin Time
• C. PKU test
• D. PSA (prostate specific antigen)

Answer: (D)

PSA testing is a blood test used alongside a digital rectal exam to help detect prostate cancer. It measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, a protein produced by prostate cells. When cancer or other prostate conditions are present, PSA levels can rise, so checking PSA together with a digital rectal exam increases the chance of spotting abnormalities early. It’s not perfect—PSA can be elevated for reasons other than cancer, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis, and factors like recent ejaculation or recent procedures can affect results—so an elevated PSA often leads to further testing, such as a biopsy, to confirm cancer. The other options relate to different procedures (paracentesis for ascites, prothrombin time for blood clotting, PKU newborn screening) and are not used to diagnose prostate cancer.