A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of prostate specific antigen.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prostate cancer is the fourth commonest cancer in the UK, and the incidence is rising. The reference standard for diagnosing this condition is prostate biopsy, an invasive procedure. This study systematically reviews recent literature on tPSA accuracy. The time period was restricted to ensure that the estimates referred to contemporary tPSA tests and prostate cancer reference standards. The focus of this review was restricted to European populations as tPSA levels are known to vary by population group.

Methods

Medline was searched (from 01/1998 to 01/2008) and Embase (from 01/1998 to 01/2008), which returned 3087 citations. These were assessed by 6 reviewers, who shortlisted 54 of possible relevance. 2 reviewers assessed each using the following inclusion criteria

SUBMITTER: Harvey P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2753579 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature