[Prostate cancer centres / prostate centres--certified by DKG or DVPZ]

In Germany, ambitious efforts for the implementation of well-defined quality standards in the diagnosis of and therapy for prostate cancer have resulted in the creation of certified centres over the past years. This development is in analogy to that of certified breast and intestinal centres. Concerning the prostate, there are two different models for the certification of centres. The model of the Dachverband der Prostatazentren e. V. (DVPZ) includes the most common kinds of dis-eases of the prostate, namely BPH, prostate cancer and prostatitis. On the other hand prostate cancer centres are certified by the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft (DKG). Among German urologists there is a controversial discussion concerning this process. The present paper gives a review of the two models and discusses the chances as well as the risks which come along with certified centres.