ABSTRACT

In this article, the current methods that are being used in the early detection of prostate cancer (P.Ca) is reviewed. P.Ca is an increasing medical problem in our country as well as in the rest of the world. The first aim in this tumor is to find the malignancy in organ confined stage in asymptomatic men and to cure them by radical means. lt is found that prostate spesific antigen (P.S.A.) is as accurate as digital rectal examination (D.R.E.) in detection of P.Ca. But these two methods do not always detect the same tumor, and therefore synchronic use of them is recommended. Transrectal ultrasound (T.R. U. S.) is more expensive and has less capacity of detection of P.Ca. Therefore this should be reserved for patients with abnormal D.R.E. and/or P.S.A. An algorithm is presented in which all three of the methods are be ing used in detection and follow-up of P.Ca. It is concluded that an annual examination is required for detection of early asymptomatic prostate cancer in men of 50 years of age and men of 40 years of age who have a familial history of prostate cancer.