S3 guidelines for diagnostics and therapy of prostate cancer

The S3 guidelines on the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the different stages of prostate cancer initially published in 2009 were updated in 2011 for the first time. The interdisciplinary consensus findings offer optimal conditions for a broad acceptance even outside the urological community. During the update in 2011, clinically relevant and controversially discussed key questions were prioritized, for example the recommendations concerning early detection and those concerning new diagnostic procedures. Furthermore, treatment recommendations on high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and external and interstitial radiotherapy were revised. Evaluation of the new treatment options for castration-resistant disease was another area of activity. In the years ahead, new data are awaited mainly on the treatment of advanced disease but also on prostate cancer screening and on active surveillance which will require a continuous further development of these guidelines.