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Screening: The Prostate Cancer Debate

Screening: The Prostate Cancer Debate ]oumalof MANAGED CARE EDITORIAL Screening: the prostate cancer debate Brian W. Ellis Editor Screening, where appropriate, should be a key PSA blood test are relatively simple. If either is component of any disease management programme. suspicious then the next step is trans rectal ultrasound At first sight, prevention and early detection would (TRUS) and multiple biopsies. It is at this stage that seem to be laudable goals in the management of any the screening acquires morbidity; up to 3.4% of disease. Programmes for the early detection of breast, patients develop sufficiently severe complications cervical and colorectal cancer have all shown benefit. (usually haemorrhage or infection) to require hospital However, a recent press conference held at the Royal admission and 0.4% deaths have been reported.' If College of Surgeons of England (February 1997) these techniques reliably detected all cancers with highlighted the uncertainties of screening in the case no false positives, there would probably be few of prostate cancer. In 1996 two studies were doctors or patients who would not accept the risk. commissioned by the NHS Research and There are no screening programmes for any other Development Health Technology Assessment disease that can claim 100% specificity and sensitivity; Programme.F http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Managed Care SAGE

Screening: The Prostate Cancer Debate

Journal of Managed Care , Volume 1 (2): 3 – Jun 1, 1997
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References (4)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 1997 SAGE Publications
ISSN
1363-9595
DOI
10.1177/136395959700100201
Publisher site
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Abstract

]oumalof MANAGED CARE EDITORIAL Screening: the prostate cancer debate Brian W. Ellis Editor Screening, where appropriate, should be a key PSA blood test are relatively simple. If either is component of any disease management programme. suspicious then the next step is trans rectal ultrasound At first sight, prevention and early detection would (TRUS) and multiple biopsies. It is at this stage that seem to be laudable goals in the management of any the screening acquires morbidity; up to 3.4% of disease. Programmes for the early detection of breast, patients develop sufficiently severe complications cervical and colorectal cancer have all shown benefit. (usually haemorrhage or infection) to require hospital However, a recent press conference held at the Royal admission and 0.4% deaths have been reported.' If College of Surgeons of England (February 1997) these techniques reliably detected all cancers with highlighted the uncertainties of screening in the case no false positives, there would probably be few of prostate cancer. In 1996 two studies were doctors or patients who would not accept the risk. commissioned by the NHS Research and There are no screening programmes for any other Development Health Technology Assessment disease that can claim 100% specificity and sensitivity; Programme.F

Journal

Journal of Managed Care – SAGE

Published: Jun 1, 1997

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