Mathew Hall, MD, radiation oncologist, City of Hope National Medical Center, discusses the impact of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening recommendations.

In 2012 The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) finalized a recommendation that stated that PSA screening was unnecessary in all men. To determine if this recommendation is correct, Hall and his team measured PSA in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk groups of men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Their study looked at data from 2005 to 2013 on age, race, PSA, Gleason score, t-stage, and presence or absence of metastatic disease. The data analyzed came from 87,500 men from cancer centers throughout the country.

They found that prior to 2011 there was a slow but significant decline in the number of men with prostate cancer diagnosed with a PSA score greater than 10. After 2011, when the USPSTF recommendation was first introduced, this percentage increased at 3% per year.

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Mathew Hall, MD, radiation oncologist, City of Hope National Medical Center, discusses the impact of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening recommendations.  

Dr. Mathew Hall on the Impact of PSA Screening Recommendations 

Mathew Hall, MD, radiation oncologist, City of Hope National Medical Center, discusses prostate cancer screening.

Not all men will benefit from prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, says Hall. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) states that there is no good evidence that supports the use of PSA screening in all men; however, it is unknown if there is a group of high-risk men who will benefit from this screening.

Before deciding what is right for a patient, oncologists should discuss the risks and benefits of screening. If a diagnosis of prostate cancer is made, it is also important to explain the risks and benefits of treatment to patients.

Mathew Hall, MD

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Dr. Mathew Hall on the Impact of PSA Screening Recommendations

Dr. Mathew Hall on Risks and Benefits of PSA Screening