Relevance of total PSA and free PSA prescriptions

Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2018 Dec 1;76(6):659-663. doi: 10.1684/abc.2018.1392.

Abstract

The total PSA testing has been frequently criticized for its effectiveness in the early detection of prostate cancer. These widely resumed in and out of the medical community have led to a decrease in prescriptions. Recommendations against the use of PSA for screening have been issued in France and in most countries. In the US, the significant decline in total PSA use since 2004 has led to an increase in advanced cancer diagnosis, which has led the authorities to back down. The US preventive services task force (USPSTF) now recommends that men between the ages of 55 and 69 make an individual decision about prostate cancer screening with their clinician. The purpose of this work is to summarize the good practices for the use of the total and free PSA with the views of these last data.

Keywords: PSA; cancer; early detection; prostate; tumor markers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Early Detection of Cancer / standards
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'* / standards
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'* / statistics & numerical data
  • Prescriptions* / standards
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / analysis*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / epidemiology

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen