Transrectal prostatic biopsy management policy for patients older than 50 years in relation to PSA values elaborated by a mathematical decision tree
Santos Arrontes, D.; Cortés Aránguez, I.; Begara Morillas, F.; Fernández Arjona, M.; de Castro Barbosa, F.
Archivos espanoles de urologia 58(5): 413-416
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0614 PMID: 16078782 Document Number: 591363
To decide the action politics (to perform or not transrectal prostatic biopsy) for a PSA cut point of 4 and 10 ng/ml through the construction of a mathematical decision tree. We calculate the usefulness of the biopsy through a subjective score, from 0 to 10, established after a survey of the 20 staff members of the health-care area, applying an global analysis with creation of total profile cards through an orthogonal design. The main usefulness of prostate cancer screening would be not to perform transrectal prostatic biopsies when PSA is lower than 4 ng/ml.