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Review
. 2012;65(1):4-6.
doi: 10.5173/ceju.2012.01.art1. Epub 2012 Mar 19.

PSA mass screening: is there enough evidence?

Bernardo Rocco  1 , Angelica Grasso  1 , Roman Sosnowski  2 , Paolo Guido Dell'orto  3 , Giancarlo Albo  3 , Erik Castle  4 , Rafael Coelho  5 , Vip Patel  6 , Alex Mottrie  7
Affiliations
Review

PSA mass screening: is there enough evidence?

Bernardo Rocco et al. Cent European J Urol. 2012.

Abstract

Prostate cancer plays an important role in widely understood aspects of men's health, and is becoming a growing problem in terms of public life. Prostate cancer is one of the most common neoplasms among men. Male patients can live with prostate cancer for a long time so it is important to offer appropriate males adequate diagnostic tools and treatments. Prostate cancer and PSA potentially represent a "pair" of a disease and an appropriate indicator to be used in mass screening, but regardless of that there is still active debate about it. Extensive use of PSA screening has modified epidemiology of the diseases. Randomized controlled studies provided sufficient results regarding a reduction in mortality through PSA mass screening, while all agreed on risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. New and accurate screening tools are necessary, along with adequate counseling and risk stratification.

Keywords: PSA; prostate cancer; prostate cancer screening.

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