[Mass screening or early detection of cancer of the prostate by echography]

Mass screening of prostatic cancer by transrectal ultrasonography would result in between 600 and 2,500 negative biopsies for one positive biopsy, depending on the quality of the ultrasonographic image obtained. It is clear that such a procedure is not profitable. Early detection of prostatic cancer is profitable in a male population over the age of 50 with benign prostatic enlargement. For one positive biopsy, there would be 7 to 25 negative biopsies. In our opinion, a 4 to 16% yield justifies endorectal ultrasonography to look for a malignant prostatic tumor and is fully justified in men scheduled to undergo surgery on an adenoma of the prostate.