Informed prostate cancer risk-adjusted testing: a new paradigm.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? There is now clear evidence that prostate-specific antigen testing will reduce death from prostate cancer and this data can be used to define those subgroups of men that most stand to benefit from prostate cancer screening. This will help minimise over-detection and improve information provided, so men can provide informed consent. We feel that risk-adjusted screening guidelines, such as the one proposed in the present article, should become the new standard for prostate cancer testing, which will hopefully resolve some of the confusion held by patients and clinicians alike. Currently there is significant confusion and polarisation about prostate cancer screening for both patients and physicians alike., We propose a risk-adjusted testing programme, which would lead to fewer patients who need to be tested and treated to save a life and also eliminate inappropriate prostate-specific antigen testing in the elderly and patients with severe co-morbidities where there is no clear benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]