[Diagnosis and treatment of early prostate cancer]

As the incidence of prostate cancer keeps rising in China, urological surgeons are more and more concerned about the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Despite the evidence that the prostate cancer screening program can help to decrease the mortality relevant to the disease, it is still controversial whether to start this program in China. Digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and ultrasound guided transrectal prostate biopsy remain to be the main approaches to the diagnosis of early prostate cancer. As for the treatment of the disease, emphasis has been laid on curative approaches, such as radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy. And close follow-up has been stressed, as this might facilitate the early finding of possible relapse and hence the prompt initiation of the second line therapy.