Controversies in cancer screening: focusing on colorectal cancer recommendations.

摘要

Screening recommendations for common malignancies, such as cervical, breast, and prostate cancer, have been questioned in the past year, and vigorous professional, public, and private debates have ensued. For breast cancer screening, mammography recommendations have been rethought, most notably by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.1 Their recommendations support the use of mammography, but changes have been suggested regarding the ages to begin and end screening, as well as the frequency of the screening studies. Whereas for breast cancer very few have questioned a benefit of mammography in the appropriate population and situation (however, for opposing viewpoints, see Zahl et al), the case is different regarding prostate cancer screening. The use of prostate-specific antigen as a screening tool has been studied and found to be of questionable benefit. In certain clinical situations it might even lead to more harm than benefit.