Objective: Review of the Guidelines which have major impact on the urological field, in order to compare and to know their recommendations in the diagnosis and management of biochemical relapse after a healing treatment of prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy).
Methods: We review the Guidelines of the European Urological Association (EAU), the American Urological Association (AUA), of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and those of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), as well as the scientific evidence on which they are based.
Results: In this paper we state the complexity of the subject being dealt with and coincidences and differences among them. The definition of relapse varies depending on whether the patient has undergone either radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. Regarding treatment, in the first case early radiotherapy is the treatment of choice, but recommendations after radiotherapy are not so specific.
Conclusion: Clinical Guidelines represent a great aid in decision making for the professional. Guidelines give recommendations with a higher o lower degree of scientific evidence and must be evaluated regularly to include new evidences which are coming through.