what is a high psa level

A high PSA level is an elevated level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland, and when there is a problem with the prostate gland, it releases more PSA. A high PSA level can be a sign of prostate cancer, but it can also indicate noncancerous problems such as prostate enlargement and inflammation. However, many noncancerous conditions can also increase the PSA level, so determining what a high PSA score means can be complicated. There is no specific normal or abnormal level for PSA in blood, and the higher the PSA level, the more likely it is that a man has prostate cancer. However, its possible to have a high PSA without prostate cancer, or a low PSA with prostate cancer. If a screening test shows an elevated PSA level, further testing may be needed to arrive at a diagnosis.