Prostatic carcinoma

Abstract

Prostatic carcinoma is the most common cancer in men. Intensified screening has increased the number of prostate carcinomas detected early; however, screening effectiveness is still insufficient. Although modern diagnostic imaging procedures offer improved accuracy, they are not able to answer all questions. The use of biomarkers in the future could optimize diagnosis further. Surgery and radiotherapy offer a chance of cure in local carcinoma. The quality of prostatectomy depends primarily on the expertise and experience of the surgeon, while the efficacy of radiotherapy depends on precision and radiation dose. Disease progression following primary therapy is detected early by increased PSA (prostate-specific antigen). Depending on primary therapy, local recurrence can be successfully treated using radiotherapy, surgery or drug therapy. In the case of generalized disease, certain chemotherapeutic procedures can be considered. Clinical management of prostate carcinoma, however, remains controversial. © 2008 Springer Medizin Verlag.