[Transrectal prostatic biopsy management policy for patients older than 50 years in relation to PSA values elaborated by a mathematical decision tree].
OBJECTIVE
To decide the action politics (to perform or not transrectal prostatic biopsy) for a PSA cut point of 4 and 10 ng/ml through the construction of a mathematical decision tree.


METHODS
We calculate the usefulness of the biopsy through a subjective score, from 0 to 10, established after a survey of the 20 staff members of the health-care area, applying an global analysis with creation of total profile cards through an orthogonal design.


RESULTS
The main usefulness of prostate cancer screening would be not to perform transrectal prostatic biopsies when PSA is lower than 4 ng/ml.
Santos Arrontes
Daniel
D
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Santa Bárbara, Ciudad Real, España. danielsantosarrontes@yahoo.es
Cortés Aránguez
Ignacio
I
Begara Morillas
Francisco
F
Fernández Arjona
Manuel
M
de Castro Barbosa
Fernando
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019090:Case Management; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003663:Decision Trees; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011050:Policy Making; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen