EAU guidelines on prostate cancer

Objectives: To develop clinical guidelines for the management of patients with prostate cancer. Methods: Guidelines were compiled by a working panel based on current literature following a literature review using MEDLINE. Already published structured analysis from national and international guidelines was used, and panel consensus was employed when literature evidence was absent or of poor quality. Results: The full text of the guidelines is available through the EAU Central Office and the EAU website (www.uroweb.org). This article summarizes the main conclusions from the guidelines concerning the diagnosis and staging, treatment and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer. The diagnosis of prostate cancer should be based on histopathological or cytological examinations. N- and M-staging may be omitted in selected patients with a low serum prostate-specific antigen due to low risk of metastasis. Active treatment is warranted in most stages of prostate cancer but active monitoring is recommended for elderly patients with early stage tumours and is still optional in some other situations. Follow-up is based on a disease-specific history, serum-prostate-specific antigen supplemented by a digital rectal examination. Routine imaging is not necessary in asymptomatic patients. Conclusions: Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies in men. These guidelines have been drawn up to provide support in the management of this large group of patients. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.