Sensitivity and specificity of international prostate symptom score [IPSS] for the screening of Iranian patients with prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

We assessed the lower urinary tract symptoms [LUTS] in prostatic cancer patients and investigated the sensitivity and specificity of international prostate symptom score [IPSS] in the screening of these patients. A total number of 132 prostatic cancer patients as the case group who were confirmed by the pathologists and 101 noncancerous men as the control group, aged 50 or older, responded to a questionnaire which included seven questions regarding urination, named the International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]. Then, two groups were assessed and compared with each other and also the sensitivity and specificity of IPSS tool for screening of prostatic cancer patients were calculated. All participants filled out the questionnaire. 60 [59.4%] noncancerous men and 29 [22.0%] cases had mild LUTS, and 41 [40.6%] noncancerous men and 103 [78.0%] cases had moderate to severe LUTS. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of the IPSS tool were 78% and 59.4%, respectively. Urination status and problems could be easily assessed by IPSS and it is a sensitive and specific tool for screening of prostatic cancer patients. It appears that IPSS is a cost beneficial, sensitive, specific and easily-used screening tool to diagnose the prostate cancer cases. Therefore, it can be used more extensively by the health care providers as well as by men >/= 50 years old themselves