Symptom Finder - Acid Phosphatase Elevation
ACID PHOSPHATASE ELEVATION
An elevated acid phosphatase level usually points to metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. However, because other tissues can produce acid phosphatase, the clinician should consider liver disease, hematologic disorders, Gaucher disease, and Niemann–Pick disease in the differential diagnosis. In addition, diseases of the bone such as osteogenic sarcoma and Paget disease may cause an elevation in acid phosphatase level.
Approach to the Diagnosis
Clinically the prostate should be examined and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test ordered. If either one or both of these are positive, an urologist should be consulted for prostate biopsy. A skeletal survey is ordered. If the survey results are unremarkable, a bone scan should be done.
Other Useful Tests
1. CBC
122
2. Sedimentation rate
3. Chemistry profile (metastatic carcinoma, Paget disease)
4. Protein electrophoresis (malignancy)
5. Liver profile (Gaucher disease, other liver disease)
6. Sonogram of the prostate (prostate carcinoma)
7. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (metastatic malignancy)
An elevated acid phosphatase level usually points to metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. However, because other tissues can produce acid phosphatase, the clinician should consider liver disease, hematologic disorders, Gaucher disease, and Niemann–Pick disease in the differential diagnosis. In addition, diseases of the bone such as osteogenic sarcoma and Paget disease may cause an elevation in acid phosphatase level.
Approach to the Diagnosis
Clinically the prostate should be examined and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test ordered. If either one or both of these are positive, an urologist should be consulted for prostate biopsy. A skeletal survey is ordered. If the survey results are unremarkable, a bone scan should be done.
Other Useful Tests
1. CBC
122
2. Sedimentation rate
3. Chemistry profile (metastatic carcinoma, Paget disease)
4. Protein electrophoresis (malignancy)
5. Liver profile (Gaucher disease, other liver disease)
6. Sonogram of the prostate (prostate carcinoma)
7. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (metastatic malignancy)