[Mass screening guidelines for prostate cancer: Should they be utilized in France?]

At present, clinical practice guidelines for prostate cancer screening are controversial in France. The French National Agency for Health Care Quality does not recommend screening for prostate cancer. In contrast, since 2002 the French Urological Association has been supporting screening. However, both support selected screening for men with risk factors, despite there having been no assessment to date of whether the screening is justified. In 2002, Prostatic Specific Antigen prescriptions increased by 22% over one year and PSA was the first prescription for cancer markers. The history of the pros and cons for prostate cancer screening is summarized. Prostate cancer does not qualify under the World Health Organization's criteria for screening.

At the present time, prostate cancer mass screening cannot be recommended. Pitfalls for Clinical Guidelines enforcement are discussed.