Screening program for prostate cancer at a university hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
Implementation of a pilot screening program for prostate cancer among Saudi patients that would serve as a nucleus for a Kingdom-wide screening program.


METHODS
A prospective study on 1,213 Saudi males between 50-80 years of age who attended the Outpatient Department at King Fahd Hospital of King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during a period of 18 months (April 2001-October 2002). They were included at random from different clinics including the urology clinic. Free and total prostate specific antigen (PSA), and digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate were performed in all patients. Patients with abnormal DRE or PSA were scheduled for transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate.


RESULTS
Abnormal DRE or PSA were present in 84 out of 1,213 patients. Only 63 patients agreed to have TRUS and ultrasound guided biopsies. Prostate cancer was confirmed in 14 out of 1,192 patients who completed the study (1.17%).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of prostate cancer among Saudi men in this hospital based study is low. A population based screening for prostate cancer may reveal the incidence of this disease.
Taha
Saud A
SA
Department of Urology, King Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Kamal
Baher A
BA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen