The Effect of Cystoscopy on PSA Levels in Patients with Urologic Diseases

Background and Aims: There is controversy on change of Prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels after some urological procedures such as cystoscopy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of cystoscopy on PSA levels in patients with urologic diseases. Methods: In a before-after study, 190 patients with urologic diseases such as relapsing urinary tract infection (UTI), urinary incontinency, hematuria, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) follow up, DJ catheter removal and urinary retention were investigated. PSA levels were measured before and after cystoscopy. Results: Mean age of patients was 63±13 years. Mean duration of procedure was 2.5±1.2 minutes. Total PSA level increased in all groups after cystoscopy. More changes were found in patients with urinary retention (P<0.01). There was a relation between patients’ ages and primary and secondary PSA levels (P=0.0001). Moreover there was a statistically significant direct relation between the PSA levels and the duration of procedures in different groups of patients (P=0.001). Conclusions: Total PSA increases after cystoscopy and the level of PSA is higher in patients with urinary retention and change in level of PSA was higher in these patients. The results can have implications for the screening for prostate cancer patients.