Palliation: Relief of symptoms.
PAP: Prostatic acid phosphatase.
PAP: An enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PAP in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy, although this test has been largely replaced by prostate-specific antigen. Synonyms: Prostatic Acid Phosphatase, PSAP.
Pathologic stage: Burden and extent of cancer based on examination of surgical specimens under the microscope by a pathologist.
Pathologist: Doctor who specializes in tissue and blood analysis. Example: Surgical pathologist examines biopsies and surgical specimens under the microscope, and communicates the findings to the treating doctor or surgeon.
Penile: Relating to the penis.
Penile Implant: Device intended to restore erections.
Perineal: Relating to the area between the anus and scrotum in men; area between the anus and vagina in women.
Perineal Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of the prostate through the perineum.
Perineum: Area between the anus and scrotum in men; area between the anus and vagina in women.
Peripheral Zone: Anatomic region of the prostate adjacent to the rectum in which most cases of prostate cancer develop.
PIN: Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia; tumor formation within the prostatic epithelium which is considered the pre-invasive form of prostate cancer.
Ploidy: Measure of the amount of DNA in cells. If abnormally high, ploidy suggest genetic abnormality, one measure of malignancy and cancer aggressivenes. Synonym: DNA ploidy.
Positive Margin: Edge of a surgical specimen that is involved with the disease process. Example: The apex of the prostate has a positive margin after radical prostatectomy (involved with cancer).
Primary: Original site of cancer.
Primary Therapy: The first and major therapy.
Prognosis: Prediction of outcome.
Prognostic Factor: Any type of evidence that predicts outcome.
Progression: Worsening or recurrence of cancer.
Prostate: Male pelvic gland that produces fluid for sexual function.
Prostatectomy: Removal of the prostate.
Prostate-specific Antigen: Kallikrein enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PSA in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy. Synonym: PSA.
Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen: A protein produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. The presence of this protein on the membrane or surface of the cells allows its recognition by specific antibodies, a property that is exploited by antibody imaging techniques to visualize prostate cancer (see Prostascint). Synonyms: PSM, PSMA.
Prostatic Acid Phosphatase: An enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PAP in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy, although this test has been largely replaced by prostate-specific antigen. Synonyms: PAP, PSAP.
Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Tumor formation within the prostatic epithelium which is considered the pre-invasive form of prostate cancer. Synonym: PIN
Prostatic Urethra: Anatomic segment of the urethra that is surrounded by the prostate.
Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate.
Prosthesis: Replacement device for missing or faulty body part.
PSA: Kallikrein enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PSA in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy. Synonym: Prostate-specific Antigen.
PSA density: Level of PSA after accounting for volume of the prostate. Synonym: PSAD.
PSA Velocity: Rate of change in level of PSA over time.
PSAD: Level of PSA after accounting for volume of the prostate. Synonym: PSA density.
PSM: A protein produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. The presence of this protein on the membrane or surface of the cells allows its recognition by specific antibodies, a property that is exploited by antibody imaging techniques to visualize prostate cancer (see Prostascint). Synonyms: Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen, PSMA.
PSMA: A protein produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. The presence of this protein on the membrane or surface of the cells allows its recognition by specific antibodies, a property that is exploited by antibody imaging techniques to visualize prostate cancer (see Prostascint). Synonyms: Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen, PSM.