[Prostate cancer screening using prostate specific antigen (PSA) in Tokatsu Hospital--examination of lost-to-followup cases].

We studied the usefulness of prostate cancer screening using prostate specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density (PSAD). In the first year of this screening (1995), we detected prostate cancer in 11 out of 550 (1.7%) subjects. Only 33 of the 47 (70%) subjects whose PSA values were greater than the cut-off value could be followed the following year. The remaining 14 subjects could not be followed mainly because of absence of urination difficulty at that time. The international prostate symptom score (I-PSS) sum and the quality of life (QOL) score at the screening in the unfollowed group were significantly lower than those in the followed group. The subjects who must be followed and whose QOL score and I-PSS sum are low at the time of screening need more careful and persuasive explanation from the urologist on the importance of long-term follow-up.