Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5587

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Dobson R.
More evidence suggests that PSA testing leads to “overdiagnosis” of cancer
BMJ 2006 Jul 21; 333:(7560):166
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/short/333/7560/166-a?etoc%3e

Abstract:

More research suggesting that the widespread use of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test leads to the overdiagnosis of prostate cancer was published last week (British Journal of Cancer 2006 Jul 11, doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603246).

“This study shows that a substantial minority of the observed excess of cases in recent years is likely to be due to PSA testing. A majority of the observed excess in the tested group is estimated to be overdiagnosis,” say the authors from Cambridge University and the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine.

Overdiagnosis was defined by the authors as the detection of prostate cancer through testing that otherwise would not have been diagnosed within the patient’s lifetime. The aim of the study was to estimate the extent to which any overdiagnosis could be put down to the use of the PSA test.

In the study, records of tests at Addenbrooke’s Hospital were . . .