Time to scrutinise prostate cancer tests

A lack of standardisation among PSA tests for prostate cancer is worrying medics and saw a patient at Connolly Hospital receive an artificially elevated reading.

THERE was a time when referring men for a biopsy on foot of concerns about the presence of prostate cancer was largely down to the discretion of the treating GP.

As Peter Ryan, consultant urologist at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork points out, it is well recognised that the test is controversial and that different PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing systems can give different results.