Danish General Practitioners' Use of Prostate-Specific Antigen in Opportunistic Screening for Prostate Cancer: A Survey Comprising 174 GPs
Table 2
GPs response to whether or not they would measure PSA.
PSA indication, n (%)
Yes
No
Do not know
Case A
A 76-year-old man addresses his general practitioner for a general health checkup. He is healthy and has never been seriously ill. There are no changes in urinary symptoms and no family history of any illnesses.
0 (0.0)
96 (99.0)
1 (1.0)
Case B
A 55-year-old man walks into your general practice for an annual health checkup. He is healthy and physically active, has normal weight, and has never been seriously ill. He wants to have taken blood tests for “everything,” including blood glucose, PSA, cholesterol, and lever function tests. There is no family history of any illnesses.
21 (21.9)
53 (55.2)
22 (22.9)
Case C
A worried 42-year-old man walks into your general practice. Due to the increased media coverage and since his neighbor just has been screened for prostate cancer, he has now become worried and wishes a PSA test. He is healthy, has no lower urinary symptoms, and has no family history of any illnesses.
18 (18.6)
65 (67.0)
14 (14.4)
Case D
A 49-year-old man is worried because he has recognized that his urination is not as usual. He has to urinate more often and has to urinate at night. He feels more tired but is otherwise healthy. The prostate is not enlarged. His father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 68 years old.
93 (98.9)
1 (1.1)
0 (0.0)
Case E
A 78-year-old man walks into your general practice to measure PSA. His urinary stream has weakened and is slow to start. The patient reports having lower back pain. On the physical examination, the patient reports tenderness corresponding to L4 when you tap the area. The prostate is palpated moderately enlarged but firm, smooth, and elastic. There is no family history for any illnesses.
