PSA screening 'accurate in majority of cases'

The majority of men with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are eventually diagnosed with prostate cancer, research has shown, which could leave them in need of home care.

Using PSA levels as a screening test has in past been criticised as a screening test because it sometimes leads to biopsies which indicate the disease is not present.

However, almost 70 per cent of men who had increasing PSA levels and normal biopsies eventually developed prostate cancer, according to research presented at the American Urological Association 2011 Annual Meeting.

Co-investigator Gregory Auffenberg said: "This underscores the importance of using a patient's individual PSA trend when deciding whether to pursue a prostate biopsy.

"It's not enough to only look at an individual PSA value when historical data is also available."

In other news, men who drink plenty of coffee could have a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, research published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has indicated.

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