| prostate-specific antigen | <tumour marker> A simple blood test used to detect prostate cancer in men. The test measures a specific antigen normally secreted by the prostate. If cancer is developing, the prostate secretes greater amounts of prostate-specific antigen. This test is recommended for men with an enlarged prostate and an increased risk of prostate cancer. It is an enzyme that is produced by epithelial cells of both benign and malignant prostate tissue. It is an important marker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is a single chain 31 kilodalton glycoprotein with 240 amino acid residues and 4 carbohydrate side chains that is a kallikrein protease. It is found in normal seminal fluid and produced by the prostatic epithelial cells. Elevated levels in blood serum are associated with prostatic enlargement and prostatic adenocarcinoma, and this allows early detection of cancer in many cases. In about 70% of cases, the rise is due to a cancerous condition. No large scale clinical studies have been completed to assess the impact of testing on survival from prostate cancer, and the medical and economic value of testing remain uncertain. Acronym: PSA Registry number: EC 3.4.21.77 (22 Sep 2002) |
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| nodular hyperplasia of prostate | Glandular and stromal hyperplasia occurring very commonly in the middle and lateral lobes of older men, forming nodules that may increasingly obstruct the urethra. Synonym: benign prostatic hypertrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inferolateral surface of prostate | The surface of the prostate facing the body of the pubis and the pelvic diaphragm. Synonym: facies inferolateralis prostatae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| isthmus of prostate | The narrow middle part of the prostate anterior to the urethra. Synonym: isthmus prostatae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elevator muscle of prostate | <anatomy> In the male, the most medial fibres of the levator ani (pubococcygeus) muscle that extend from the pubis into the fascia of the prostate. Synonym: musculus levator prostatae, elevator muscle of prostate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fascia of prostate | The condensation of pelvic visceral fascia that encloses the prostate gland. Synonym: fascia prostatae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| female prostate | Term sometimes applied to the periurethral glands in the upper part of the urethra in the female. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lobe of prostate | One of the lateral lobes (right or left) or the middle lobe or isthmus of the prostate; in the adult the lobes are ill-defined. Synonym: lobus prostatae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apatite calculus | A calculus in which the crystalloid component consists of calcium fluorophosphate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arthritic calculus | gouty tophus |
| biliary calculus | <gastroenterology, surgery> A solid formation in the gallbladder composed of cholesterol and bile salts. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood calculus | An angiolith or concretion of coagulated blood. Synonym: hemic calculus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| branched calculus | A calculus occurring in the renal pelvis, with branches extending into the infundibula and calices. Synonym: branched calculus, coral calculus, dendritic calculus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchial calculus | A hard concretion in a bronchus or bronchial tube. Synonym: bronchial calculus. Origin: broncho-+ G. Lithos, stone (05 Mar 2000) |
| calculus | A calcium salt concretion which forms on your teeth. Calculus deposits form on the teeth in areas which you do not floss or brush. If these concretions are left to build up on the tooth enamel, they will irritate the gum tissue, push it away from the tooth and promote progressive bone loss. Eventually the teeth can loosen and fall out. These deposits can be removed by a dentist or a dental hygienist on an annual to biannual basis. (renal) A solid concretion or stone which forms within the urinary tract (kidney). (27 Sep 1997) |