Prostate Cancer Screening Using PSA as a Screening Tool in a Tertiary Health Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, South Eastern, Nigeria

Abstract

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer among Nigerian men. There is, therefore, the need to screen men at high risk of prostate Cancer to reduce Morbidity and Mortality.

This study was a 5-year prospective study to screen patients at risk attending surgical outpatients' clinics at Abia State Specialist Hospital Umuahia over a 5 year period spanning from Jan 2011 to Dec 2015.

Those who met the Inclusion Criteria were counseled about prostate cancer screening, and consent was obtained for PSA measurement. The screening was done, and those who had more than 10 ng per ml of abnormal PSA were further evaluated using digital rectal examination and prostate biopsy. A total of 3718 men were screened within the said duration, with the year 2015 having the more significant number of having 866 men screened, 320 with PSA greater than 10ng per ml. From the study, we found that PSA screening increased prostate cancer awareness and was used as a veritable screening tool in Umuahia, Abia State.