Via practica 3/2010

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is (PC) is a common malignant disease with an incidence ranging from 214 cases per 1000 males in Europe. Furthermore, PC is currently the second most common cause of cancer death in men. 1000 to 1200 PC are diagnosed in Slovakia annually. There are three well-established risk factors for PC: age, heredity and ethnical origin. Thus, there is currently no evidence for introducing widespread, population-based, screening programmes for early PC detection in all men above 50 years. The main diagnostic tools used to look for evidence PC include: digital rectal examination (DRE), serum concentration of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Diagnosis depends on the presence of carcinoma in prostate biopsy cores or in operative specimens. Histopathological confirmation of PC must be performed. The goal of radical prostatectomy (removal of the entire prostate gland between the urethra and the bladder, with resection of both seminal vesicles), or external beam radiation is eradication of the disease in initial phase (localised on prostate gland only). These abbreviated guidelines on prostate cancer are endorsed by the EAU working group on oncological urology. Recommended criteria are based on evidence, effectiveness, clinical reliability and cost benefit and present in this article.

Keywords: prostate cancer, classification, diagnosis, treatment