title: Screening and early detection of prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The value of routine screening for prostate cancer remains unknown because of the lack of randomized studies. Until such studies are completed, a sensible approach to screening is needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  One approach is to use the method of decision analysis to model the outcome of alternative screening strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By assessing the results in terms of their effect on life expectancy and prostate cancer mortality, it may be possible to select the policy that has the greatest potential benefit for the least cost.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago Hospital, Illinois.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Chodak
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D008403:Mass Screening; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*