Clinical Issues for Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Prostate cancer, with its remarkably high prevalence, frequently creates clinical problems in terms of screening and diagnosis, as well as identifying the optimal window for treatment. Moreover, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, despite being easy to perform, is routinely carried out without the patient’s informed consent. Although PSA-based screening for prostate cancer can reduce cancer-specific mortality, informed decision-making is mandatory; however, the clinician’s daily routine often neglects this critical discussion before performing a PSA blood test. This narrative review discusses the main questions regarding PSA screening and provides information on the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological aspects of prostate cancer.

Keywords

• prostate cancer mortality
• prostate cancer prevalence
• prostate cancer screening
• prostate-specific antigen (psa)