Clinically significant prostate cancer is rarely missed by ablative procedures of the prostate in men with prostate specific antigen less than 4 ng/ml Journal Article


Authors: Meeks, J. J.; Maschino, A. C.; McVary, K. T.; Sandhu, J. S.
Article Title: Clinically significant prostate cancer is rarely missed by ablative procedures of the prostate in men with prostate specific antigen less than 4 ng/ml
Abstract: Purpose: Laser vaporization of the prostate is widely used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms. It may decrease the hospital cost and morbidity associated with transurethral resection of the prostate. However, prostate cancer may go undetected because tissue is not taken at laser vaporization. To our knowledge the rate of clinically significant prostate cancer missed by laser vaporization has not been assessed to date. We determined the rate of clinically significant prostate cancer detected by transurethral resection of the prostate compared to the estimated number of cancers missed by laser vaporization. Materials and Methods: A total of 74,505 men diagnosed with stage T1 prostate cancer between 2004 and 2006 were identified from the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) program in the United States. The total number of laser vaporizations and transurethral resections were calculated based on Medicare claims for the same period. Clinically significant cancer was defined as that with a Gleason score of 7 or greater in men 40 to 75 years old. Results: If prostate specific antigen screening were used uniformly (excluding men with prostate specific antigen greater than 4 ng/ml), only 1 of 382 transurethral resections of the prostate would identify clinically significant prostate cancer for a total of 390 in the American population in 3 years. Based on Medicare reported laser vaporization use a total of only 163 clinically significant cancers would be missed in more than 60,000 procedures. Conclusions: The incidence of T1a and T1b prostate cancer remains low and few patients have clinically significant prostate cancer. When prostate specific antigen screening is used, the number of clinically significant tumors missed by ablative procedures is low (average of 0.26% of all procedures) and can be identified by prostate specific antigen screening. © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.
Keywords: prostate-specific antigen; prostatic neoplasms; prostate; laser therapy; transurethral resection of prostate
Journal Title: Journal of Urology
Volume: 189
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0022-5347
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2013-01-01
Start Page: 111
End Page: 115
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.08.093
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 23164392
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 2 January 2013" - "CODEN: JOURA" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Jaspreet Sandhu
    138 Sandhu
  2. Joshua James Meeks
    17 Meeks