Only a quarter of men who undergo biopsies actually have prostate cancer which has prompted the development of a new diagnosis method. A mathematical formula is used to calculate the man’s risk. The elements looked at are age, digital rectal exam, ultrasound and elevated presence of blood protein (PSA), PSA blood level relative to size of prostate. Thus, men with large prostates may be deemed to have a low risk. This system is 92% accurate and may save 200,000 unnecessary biopsies from being done. This would lead to huge health savings. Biopsies carry a risk of bleeding and are expensive and painful.
Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Ivanhoe Newswire
About: Need for unnecessary prostate cancer may be reduced with new risk assessment technique
Date: 26 November 2004
Source: Ivanhoe Newswire
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