PSA Kinetics and Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy

PSA as a recurrence signal

After radical prostatectomy, PSA should fall to undetectable. Any sustained rise suggests biochemical recurrence, often before imaging shows disease.

Reading the trend

• PSA doubling time helps estimate aggressiveness; a short doubling time suggests faster progression.
• Time to recurrence after surgery also informs prognosis.

Next steps

Confirmed recurrence may prompt salvage radiation, sometimes with androgen-deprivation therapy. Staging with imaging refines where the recurrence is.