Resumo

CAMBIL MARTIN, Jacobo. Efectiveness of testicular self-examination and screening for an early detection of testicular cancer. Index Enferm [online]. 2005, vol.14, n.48-49, pp.33-36. ISSN 1699-5988.

Background. Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in men between the ages of 15 and 35, yet it is one of the more curable cancers. There are two methods to detect testicular cancer, testicular self-examination and screening by an ultra sound scan of the testes. Objective. To review the available evidence to explore what method is the best effective for an early detection of testicular cancer.Methodology. Databases from 1993 till 2003 were searched in English and Spanish language, through the ADITUS and FISTERRA Health Knowledge Portals. A search strategy was defined for every database. Quality assessment of the articles was measured using the hierarchy of evidence table of Cooke and Sackett. A data abstraction was obtained using the table of Beck, Hgler and Polit. A description of the studies was assessed with the table of Crombie. Findings. Seven studies were included, 5 were written in English, one in Spanish and other one in both languages. Almost all of the published articles was found in the english databases. Five articles reached the B grade and two the D grade of evidence. In general, the assessment of the selected articles was adequate and clear. Conclusions. There is no available evidence to know which method is the best effective for an early detection of testicular cancer. However, testicular self-examination and screening are effective methods for an early detection of this cancer.