This study found that conversations between patients and primary care doctors about prostate cancer screening are surprisingly rare, despite national guidelines recommending shared decision-making before screening. MUSC researchers reviewed the records of 600 men ages 45 to 69 years and found that only 6% had a documented discussion about prostate cancer screening in their medical records. However, when those conversations occurred, men were far more likely to undergo prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.

The findings were especially notable among Black men, who face a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer. Nearly 85% of Black men who had a documented screening discussion went on to receive a PSA screening test, compared with 36% who did not have such a conversation.

Lead author Nicholas Shungu, M.D., said the study highlights an important gap between screening guidelines and what happens in everyday clinical practice. The research suggests that shared decision-making discussions not only help patients to understand the benefits and limitations of screening but also increase the likelihood that men will choose to be screened.

Pre-retrieval imaging is moving liver transplantation toward a more precise and less invasive era.