Diagnosis

Doctors use many tests to diagnose cancer and determine if it has metastasized. Some tests may also determine which treatments may be the most effective. For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of cancer. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis, but this situation occurs infrequently with prostate cancer. For example, this occurs when a patient has another medical problem that makes it difficult to carry out a biopsy, or when a person has a very high PSA level and a bone scan that indicates cancer. Imaging tests may be used to find out whether the cancer has metastasized. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

• Age and medical condition
  
  
• The type of cancer suspected
  
  
• Severity of symptoms
  
  
• Previous test results

In addition to a physical examination, the following tests may be used to diagnose prostate cancer:

PSA test. As described in Risk Factors and Prevention, PSA is a type of protein released by prostate tissue found in higher levels in a man's blood when there is abnormal activity in the prostate, including prostate cancer, BPH, or inflammation of the prostate. Doctors can look at features of the PSA value, such as absolute level, change over time, and level in relation to prostate size, to determine if a biopsy is needed. In addition, a version of the PSA test allows the doctor to measure a specific component, called the “free” PSA, which can sometimes help determine if a tumor is benign (noncancerous) or malignant.

DRE. This test is used to find irregularities in the prostate (see Risk Factors and Prevention). It is not very precise; therefore, most men with early prostate cancer have a normal DRE test.

If the PSA or DRE test results are abnormal, the following tests can confirm a diagnosis of cancer:

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). A doctor inserts a probe into the rectum that takes a picture of the prostate using sound waves that bounce off the prostate.

Biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis. To get a tissue sample, most often a surgeon uses TRUS and a biopsy tool to take very small slivers of prostate tissue. The sample removed with the biopsy is analyzed by a pathologist (a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease). This procedure is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, and the patient is given local anesthesia beforehand to numb the area.

To determine if cancer has spread beyond the prostate, doctors may perform the following imaging tests:

Bone scan. A bone scan uses a radioactive tracer to look at the inside of the bones. The tracer is injected into a patient’s vein. It collects in areas of the bone and is detected by a special camera. Healthy bone appears gray to the camera, and areas of injury, such as those caused by cancer, appear dark.

Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. A CT scan creates a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body with an x-ray machine. A computer then combines these images into a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities or tumors. Sometimes, a contrast medium (a special dye) is injected into a patient’s vein to provide better detail.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. A contrast medium may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a clearer picture.

Learn more about what to expect when having common tests, procedures, and scans.

Find out more about common terms used during a diagnosis of cancer.