einstein (São Paulo). 01/Oct/2015;13(4):7-8.

Prostate cancer: what is the right message?

DOI: 10.1590/S1679-45082015ED3595

The general public and the non-specialist physicians watch a debate that, at least, leaves some doubts regarding management.

Several organizations have criticized the use of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) for early diagnosis of prostate cancer, based on the recommendation against this screening by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).⁽⁾ This statement was based on a study from the Unites States, which did not demonstrate reduced survival of prostate cancer patients, or that the use of PSA significantly increased the diagnosis of this tumor.⁽⁾ Moreover, many prostate biopsies are unnecessary considering that the PSA has low specificity. The diagnosis of indolent tumors that do not progress made PSA a major villain. This document, published in 2012, has already led to a decreased number of tests ordered by American clinicians.⁽⁾

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