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Prostate cancer

Last reviewed: 21 Oct 2024
Last updated: 12 Jul 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE)
  • nocturia
  • urinary frequency
  • urinary hesitancy
  • dysuria
  • hematuria
  • weight loss/anorexia
  • lethargy
  • bone pain
  • palpable lymph nodes
Full details

Risk factors

  • age >50 years
  • black ethnicity
  • Northwest European, Caribbean, Australian, New Zealand, North American, and Southern African populations
  • positive family history/genetic factors
  • high levels of dietary fat
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
  • prebiopsy multiparametric MRI
  • prostate biopsy
Full details

Tests to consider

  • prebiopsy biomarker testing
  • testosterone
  • LFTs
  • CBC
  • renal function
  • bone scan (technetium-99)
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-PET/CT
  • PSMA-PET/MRI
  • genetic and molecular testing
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

very low-risk disease

low-risk disease

favorable intermediate-risk disease

unfavorable intermediate-risk disease

high-risk or very high-risk disease

ONGOING

nonmetastatic disease: postradical prostatectomy

nonmetastatic disease: postexternal beam radiation therapy

nonmetastatic disease: castration-resistant

metastatic disease: castration-sensitive

metastatic disease: castration-resistant

Contributors

Authors

Timothy J. Wallace, MD, PhD

Radiation Oncologist

Department of Radiation Oncology

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

VA

Disclosures

TJW declares that he has no competing interests.

Mitchell S. Anscher, MD, FACR, FACRO, FASTRO

Professor Emeritus

Department of Radiation Oncology

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

VA

Disclosures

MSA declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Emma Alexander, MBBS

Clinical Oncology Registrar

St Luke's Cancer Centre

Royal Surrey Hospital

Guildford

Surrey

UK

Disclosures

EA has received consultation fees from the following organizations: Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, Sanofi-Aventis, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Corporation, American Urological Association, National Institutes of Health, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Hartford County Medical Association. EA owns shares in Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Johnson and Johnson, and General Electric Corporation.

Peter Albertsen, MD

Medical Director

UConn Medical Group

University of Connecticut Health Center

Farmington

CT

Disclosures

PA declares that he has no competing interests.

Patrick C. Walsh, MD

University Distinguished Service Professor of Urology

Professor Emeritus of Urology

Brady Urological Institute

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore

MD

Disclosures

PCW declares that he has no competing interests.

James Kearns, MD

Assistant Professor of Urology

NorthShore University HealthSystem

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

JK declares that he has no competing interests. JK is an author of an article cited in the topic.

  • Differentials

    • Benign prostatic hyperplasia
    • Chronic prostatitis
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  • Guidelines

    • NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: prostate cancer
    • Salvage therapy for prostate cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO guideline
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  • Patient information

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    Routine screening for prostate cancer

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  • Calculators

    Prostatism Symptom Score

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  • Videos

    Male urethral catheterization: animated demonstration

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