Editing CUA: Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance (2015) (section)

===== Background =====

* '''Active surveillance (AS) differs from watchful waiting or observation''' in intent and follow-up testing.
** '''The intent of watchful waiting or observation is to avoid active intervention in patients with limited life expectancy by providing delayed non-curative therapy for patients who experience metastatic progression.'''
** '''The intent of AS is curative, allowing the option of active treatment for those patients on AS who are reclassified to higher risk or who show disease progression.''' AS involves regular follow-up testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE), repeat prostate biopsy, and use of prostate imaging, when indicated
* '''The term “low-risk” prostate cancer as used in this guideline is defined as the risk status for patients who have Gleason score ≤6, PSA <10, and ≤ stage T2a'''
* The Working Group and Expert Panel defined the target populations for AS recommendations by Gleason score ≤6 and also Gleason score 3+4