Value of screening of population for carcinoma prostate

ABSTRACT

Five hundred [500] asymptomatic individuals were screened for carcinoma of prostate. They were evaluated through history, physical examination, DRE and PSA. Patients with PSA> 10 ng/ml were subjected to transrectal ultrasound [TRUS]. TRUS guided transperineal biopsy was taken in individuals having more than 7mm focal defects. Results revealed that 47 individuals had raised serum PSA [> 10ng/ml] levels. TRUS was positive in ten patients. On histopathology five of them were found to have prostatic cancer. Carcinoma had infiltrated the proastatic capsule in all patients. Screening proved useless for the patients, as curative treatment was not possible. In this study the cost of detecting one case of prostatic cancer was Rs. 14,000 utilising Government facilities free of cost. So this screening is not cost effective, considering the poor socio-economic conditions of our country