Urologists defend PSA test for early detection of prostate cancer

Many urology associations are firing back against a report issued by The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that recommended against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer. The USPSTF argues that the PSA test has a high incidence of false-positive results which can lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments. As a result, “The USPSTF concludes that there is moderate certainty that the benefits of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer do not outweigh the harms.” Several of the nation’s urology associations, including the American Urological Association (AUA) and the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU), are calling the recommendation “irresponsible” and “misleading”. A press release issued by the AACU said the survival rate from prostate cancer has improved largely due to PSA screenings. Before urologists performed the PSA screens, the survival rate was 53%. It is now over 97%. The AACU also disagrees with the USPSTF’s recommendation that only patients who present with prostate cancer symptoms should undergo PSA screening because many men do not show symptoms until late in the course of the illness.