Prostate Cancer - Annotated Bibliography Example

Diagnosing Pro Cancer: An Annotated Bibliography College Diagnosing Pro Cancer: An Annotated BibliographyAndriole, G., Djavan, B., Fleshner, N., & Schröder, F. (2006). The Case for Prostate Cancer Screening with Prostate-Specific Antigen. European Urology Supplements, 5(12), 737 – 45. The article reviews the role of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in detection of prostate cancer and questions its role in mass screening of general population. The authors look into the clinical status of reduction in current threshold of PSA from 4.

0 ng/ml to 3.0 ng/ml for further screening, but caution an over-diagnosis and over-treatment. PSA may or may not be the valid marker for prostate cancer in the second screening, but the authors call for primary practicable preventive interventions during the intervals. The authors conclude that large-scale randomized studies are warranted to determine the long-term impact of PSA screening on prostate cancer mortality.Bangma, C.H., Roemeling, S., & Schröder, F.H. (2007). Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of early detected prostate cancer.

World J Urol, 25(1), 3-9.Early detection or screening programs have led to over-diagnosis, followed by over-treatment of indolent prostate cancers. The authors attempt to draw a line between diagnostic testing and screening, based on review of literature. Since current screening regimen results in over half the cases to be over-diagnosed, its acceptability as a nationwide screening program is questioned in this article. Given the limitation of PSA being the sole marker for prostate cancer, the authors call for more histologic, serum and urine based markers for prostate cancer diagnosis and advocates management of such cancers through active surveillance.

The authors support idea of risk stratification for screening on prostate cancer at an early age.Falzarano, S. M., & Magi-Galluzzi, C. (2010). Staging prostate cancer and its relationship to prognosis. Diagnostic Histopathology, 16(9), 432-38.In this literature reviewed article, the authors aim to establish a clinic-pathologic data which can lay the foundation for future clinical trial in homogenous population. The cornerstone to prostate cancer prognosis lies in the accurate pathology reporting backed by meaningful interpretation from experienced pathologists and reviewers.

According to the authors, pathologic staging is essential to predict the likelihood of distant disease recurrence and to accurately measure the chances of cure. Since pathological sub-staging does not convey prognostic information at certain stages of cancer, the authors favor the clinical and pathological staging with involvement of novel markers of lethal prostatic cancer. The authors expect that more meaningful clinical and pathological indicators of tumor aggressiveness be identified. Murthy, G.D., Byron, D.P., & Pasquale, D. (2004). Underutilization of digital rectal examination when screening for prostate cancer.

Arch Intern Med, 164(3), 313-16.The authors, based on their retrospective study, are of the opinion that prostate cancer screening is controversial; and that the digital rectal examination (DRE) is not utilized to its potential. They believe this is due to the perception amongst health care providers that PSA is a superior test, and that DRE will not complement the PSA test. Their study however proves otherwise, especially when the PSA levels are normal. This research article also finds that female providers and physician extenders prescribe more DRE tests than male providers and physicians.

The authors would like to see the effect of DRE screenings on mortality rates in future.