title: [Is the mass screening for prostate cancer justifiable?].
abstract: In Hungary, prostate cancer is a major public health problem, therefore screening should be considered to reduce the number of deaths. Screening tests are available, i.e. prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital-rectal examination, nevertheless their sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value are far from being perfect. Evidences from non-randomized screening trials suggest possible benefit but randomized controlled trials are still needed for conclusive evidence. The screening might cause more harm than good due to overdiagnosis and overtreatment as a result of limited specificity of the test. According to authors' point of view, opportunistic screening as part of diagnostics of patients having symptoms indicative of prostatic disorder is fully justified but mass screening of population of average risk should not be introduced until supportive evidence is available from the ongoing randomized-controlled screening trials.
authors.affiliation: Országos Tisztifoorvosi Hivatal, Budapest. dobrossy@freemail.hu
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Döbrossy
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budai
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cornides
mesh_terms: D051517:Digital Rectal Examination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen