1987 Volume 37 Issue 2 Pages 179-195
From 1981 to 1985, a mass screening for prostatic diseases among men over 50 years old was carried out in 3 cities, 8 towns and 7 villages in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The total number of persons examined was 5, 770. Digital rectal examination and measurement of serum prostatic acid phosphatase activity were performed for 5, 770 men. About 40% of the total persons examined was diagnosed as benign prostatic hypertrophy. Prostatic biopsy was recommended to men who were found of abnormalities by digital rectal examination or measurement of serum prostatic acid phosphatase activity. Prostatic cancer was detected in 54 men (0.94%). Out of 54 men, 28 men (52%) were found by clinical or pathological methods to have stage B condition of the disease. Serum prostatic acid phosphatase is not useful to detect early stage of prostatic cancer, but is useful to find out metastatic advanced prostatic cancer which should not be overlooked. The cost of detecting one cancerous prostate tumor was approximately ¥700, 000. These results apparently indicate the importance and the necessity of mass screening examination which include digital rectal examination and serum prostatic acid phosphatase activity measurement in order to detect prostatic cancer.
