An increase of what level of PSA within a year warrants referral?

Referral for further evaluation in the context of rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels typically hinges on the rate of increase. A rise of more than 0.75 ng/mL within a year is considered significant enough to warrant referral. This threshold is established based on clinical studies that have shown such increases can indicate potential malignancy or other prostate abnormalities that deserve more thorough investigation, such as imaging or biopsy.

This increase takes into account the baseline PSA levels and acknowledges that some minor fluctuations can occur due to benign conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis. Therefore, the > 0.75 ng/mL threshold acts as a clinical marker for when further diagnostics become critical to rule out or confirm malignancy.

In contrast, levels that are lower may not sufficiently convey a significant risk of prostate cancer, making them less critical for immediate referral.