Voluntary screening program for prostate cancer: detection rate and cost

South Med J. 1994 Aug;87(8):785-8. doi: 10.1097/00007611-199408000-00003.

Abstract

In a community-wide screening program conducted in Jacksonville, Florida, 564 participants received free screening for prostate cancer. Frequency of positive results of prostate-specific antigen measurement and digital rectal examination was comparable to that found in similar programs in other communities. The estimated cost for each participant was $231, and the cost to discover each cancer was $7,240. If one also includes initial therapy in cost estimates, then the cost per participant was $520, and the cost to find and treat each patient was $16,300. The value of screening for prostate cancer must be judged by treatment outcome and underlying costs.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy / economics
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma / economics
  • Carcinoma / prevention & control
  • Carcinoma / therapy
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Florida
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening* / economics
  • Mass Screening* / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Examination / economics
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / economics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen