Prostate specific antigen: the past, present and future.

AIM To review current data available on use of prostate specific antigen for screening healthy men for prostate cancer. METHODS Literature was reviewed and the guidelines from, American cancer Society, American Urologic Association was reviewed. RESULTS Current screening protocols lead to over diagnosis of prostate cancer. This often results in unnecessary biopsy procedures and treatments. CONCLUSION We must consider the benefit of screening and treatment with the harms of over diagnosis and over treatment. Newer imaging modalities like magnetic resonance imaging have to be evaluated further.