Decision Aids for Prostate Cancer Screening —The True Potential Remains Unknown

In 2009, routine prostate cancer screening using a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was described as “the controversy that refuses to die.”(p1351) Unfortunately, 10 years later, the controversy is still alive and thriving. Clinical trials have failed to resolve whether or to what degree screening using PSA tests help reduce prostate cancer –specific mortality, and it has long been clear that PSA screening tests increase the diagnosis of low-risk cancers and can lead to patient harm from potentially unnecessary biopsies and cancer treatment. As a result, many expert groups recommend shared decision-making (SDM) and informed patient c hoice for routine prostate cancer screening.
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research