Cancer Research Lab

Men with false-positive prostate cancer screening results report increased cancer-related worry and more problems with sexual function, despite having negative biopsy findings, according to researchers.

Because of this, lead investigator Dr. David A. Katz said, “the psychological consequences of screening are non-trivial and should be accounted for in evaluating the risks and benefits of screening in the general population.”

Using data collected in a telephone survey, Dr. Katz, of the VA Iowa City Health Care System, and colleagues, further evaluated 109 men who had had abnormal prostate cancer screening tests, but negative biopsy findings, and 101 men with normal screening results, who served as controls.

The false-positive patients rated their concern about having prostate cancer as 4.5 on a 5-point scale. This was significantly higher than the 3.9 rating given by controls. These patients also perceived their risk of prostate cancer as being significantly greater than did controls.

In addition, 19% of the patients reported that sexual function was a “moderate to big” problem, compared with 10% of controls, researchers report in the February issue of Urology.

Summing up, Dr. Katz noted that “although it is often difficult to integrate counseling about screening into busy primary care practices, men need to understand the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening, and in particular, the limitations of the PSA test.”

“To reduce patient anxiety,” he concluded, “men with abnormal test results should receive prompt work-up and should be offered counseling if they have persistent worry despite having a negative prostate biopsy.”