Emmeli Palmstedt: Reducing the risks of overdiagnosis in prostate cancer
PSA screening can save lives but also leads to many men being diagnosed and treated unnecessarily. In her research, Emmeli Palmstedt has examined ways to reduce the risks of overdiagnosis.
EMMELI PALMSTEDT
Dissertation defense: 26 September 2025 (click for details)
Doctoral thesis: Studies on overdiagnosis in prostate cancer screening
Research area: Urology
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
What is the background of your thesis?
“Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in men. One way to reduce mortality from prostate cancer is screening with PSA testing, which is a blood test. Screening can also detect small tumors that otherwise would never have been discovered or caused symptoms. This is called overdiagnosis and can occur because PSA levels can be elevated for benign reasons,” says Emmeli Palmstedt, resident in surgery at Skaraborg Hospital and doctoral student at The Institute of Clinical Sciences, and continues:
“A negative aspect of overdiagnosis is that otherwise healthy men become cancer patients. Another is that patients undergo treatment unnecessarily for a tumor that never would have caused problems.”
Findings that may improve care
What is your research about in brief?
“I have examined and highlighted different aspects of overdiagnosis in prostate cancer screening in order to reduce its negative consequences.”
What are the most important research findings and what practical benefits could they provide?
“We have shown through long-term evaluation of active surveillance (follow-up with testing and examination instead of immediate treatment of prostate cancer) that it is a safe strategy to use to reduce consequences of overdiagnosis. Another finding is that few men know and understand what overdiagnosis is, which means there is a need for more information before PSA testing.”
Joy and challenges in research
What has been most rewarding and most challenging about your doctoral project?
“One of the most enjoyable aspects of all the studies was producing results from the data we had collected and processed. The more challenging part has been the submission processes when submitting an article for publication in a journal.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg