Unravelling the prostate-specific antigen controversy: a West of Scotland perspective.

Background: The use of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a screening tool for prostate cancer in asymptomatic men is hugely controversial in the light of randomised controlled trials failing to demonstrate a benefit without risk of significant overtreatment. However, PSA can be used as a tool to risk assess disease progression in men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic enlargement (LUTS/BPE). The aim of this study was to canvas the opinions of West of Scotland Urologists regarding the use of PSA in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.