Screening and early detection of prostate cancer will decrease morbidity and mortality from prostate cancer: the argument against.

The ability of prostate specific antigen, digital rectal examination and transurethral ultrasound, either individually or in combination, to detect unsuspected prostate cancer is beyond doubt. Early detection programmes have revealed prostate cancer in 6% of men over 50 years of age. Most are stage T1c, or confined to the prostate but, protagonists claim that, on the basis of size, they are 'clinically significant'. Mortality from this disease should be reduced by their treatment. Available statistics suggest that the lifetime incidence of 'screen-detected' cancers will far exceed the likelihood of dying from prostate cancer. Given the current operative mortality of total prostatectomy and the physical and psychological morbidity of screening, biopsy and treatment, it is far from certain that mortality or morbidity from prostate cancer will be decreased. Long-term outcome data for T1c prostate cancer do not exist. Is the likelihood of prostate cancer death the same for prostate-specific antigen thresholds of 2, 3 or 4 ng/ml, or from tumours found in 1 of 6, or 1 of 12 needle biopsies? None of this is known. European men deserve the benefit of scientifically based information before being exposed to another North American fashion. Prospective randomised trials investigating mortality, quality of life and cost benefit are the only solution.