PSA screening for prostate cancer: The current controversy - a viewpoint

Prostate cancer is an important health problem. Randomized trialshave not yet proven whether or not screening with prostate-specificantigen measurements reduces morbidity or mortality. The potentialfor overtreatment of prostate cancers not destined to causefuture mortality, the uncertainty about the benefits of aggressivetreatment of screen-detected cancers, and the relatively highcosts of prostate cancer screening programs are all areas ofconcern. A shared approach to decisions about screening individualpatients pending better evidence is one strategy for cliniciansto consider in dealing with this controversial problem. mass screening, prostatic neoplasia, prostate-specific antigen