European urology
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To determine the efficacy, safety and feasibility of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse after radical prostatectomy or with an incidental prostate cancer (pT1B) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). ⋯ These results indicate that IAD is an effective and feasible therapy in patients with early stages of prostate cancer. Larger trials are necessary to confirm these encouraging results. Therefore, a European prospective, randomized, multicenter study (RELAPSE study) has been started to compare IAD with continuous androgen blockade in terms of time to tumor progression, safety and quality of life in patients with PSA relapse after radical prostatectomy.
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Comparative Study
Prostate cancer screening in Tyrol, Austria: experience and results.
This article summarizes the experience and results of different prostate carcinoma screening projects using total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and percent free PSA as the initial test. ⋯ (1) of the 21,079 volunteers, 1,618 (8%) had elevated PSA levels. Of these men, 778 (48%) underwent biopsies; 197 biopsies were positive for prostate carcinoma and 135 underwent radical prostatectomy. Ninety-five were found to be organ-confined. (2) A PSA cut-off of 2.5 ng/ml in men aged 45-49 years and of 3.5 ng/ml in men aged 50-59 years resulted in an 8% increase in the detection rate of organ-confined disease. (3) Of the 2,272 men, 284 had elevated PSA levels and prostate carcinoma was detected in 62 men. All patients underwent radical prostatectomy and histologic examination revealed organ-confined tumor in all but 8 men. (4) Ninety-eight of 340 men had biopsies positive for carcinoma; 28 of these patients (28.5%) had carcinoma that originated in the transition zone only. (5) In the retrospective study, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that by using a percent free PSA of 18% as a biopsy criterion, 37% of the negative biopsies could be eliminated although 94% of all carcinomas would still be detected. In the first prospective study, 106 of 158 men with elevated PSA levels <10.0 ng/ml were further evaluated and 37 prostate carcinomas were detected. By using a % free PSA of <22% as a biopsy criterion, 30% of the negative biopsies could be eliminated although 98% of the carcinomas would still be detected. In the second prospective study, 120 of 465 men with total PSA levels between 1.25 and 6.49 ng/ml and a % free PSA <18% were further evaluated and 27 (22.5%) were found to have prostate carcinomas. (6) Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for PSA transition zone density showed that by using a PSA transition zone density of >22 ng/ml/cm3 as a biopsy criterion, 24.4% of negative biopsies could be avoided without missing a single carcinoma. (7) In the prescreening era the incidence of T1a grade 1 and 2 carcinomas was 3.1% and the incidence of T1a grade 3 and T1b carcinoma was 2.3% whereas in the years after the establishment of PSA-based screening the incidence was 4.6 and 1.03% respectively. (8) The rate of organ-confined tumors increased from 28.7% in 1993 to 65.7% in 1997. (9) In this evaluation a new approach to proceed with a prostate biopsy based upon the individual risk of having prostate cancer rath
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Comparative Study
Usefulness of history-taking, physical examination and diagnostic scoring in acute renal colic.
The accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of acute renal colic was studied in connection with the survey of acute abdominal pain by the Research Committee of the World Organization of Gastroenterology. The diagnostic efficiency of various clinical symptoms, signs and tests have not previously been analyzed in the diagnosis of acute renal colic, and therefore the study is of potential importance. ⋯ The results clearly show that acute abdominal pain with normal appetite, short duration of pain (10) are indicative of acute renal colic, and therefore, in this particular clinical question, careful history-taking and physical examination are of utmost importance. In our study, the DS system performed well considering the simple nature of its structure. However, to minimize the risk to the patient, we recommend that the DS is used only as an aid in decision-making when there is uncertainty as to the diagnosis of acute renal colic and the need for immediate treatment. In addition, the possibility of obstructive pyelonephritis in combination with renal colic should be considered clinically.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Requirement of analgesia for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and efficacy of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug: piroxicam.
In this study, the requirement of analgesia and the analgesic efficacy of a long-acting nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), piroxicam, were investigated in patients with renal stone disease treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ⋯ We considered that analgesic agents should be used to control the pain in second-generation lithotriptors. Piroxicam has clinically significant effects on the pain and also antiinflammatory effects, inhibits ureteric activity, and helps in stone passage.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
What are the parameters for predictive selection of patients requiring anesthesia for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy?
Additional anesthesia is required to minimize the tolerable pain level in efficiently performed extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) with electrohydraulic and electromagnetic sources. In order to assess optimum anesthesia for each patient undergoing a standardized ESWL protocol, pain measurement and scoring were carried out. We attempted to determine the individual type and amount of analgesia prior to treatment. ⋯ The TP and MTP levels are lower in patients requiring stronger analgesia. The determined parameters are suitable for patient preselection and individual assessment of anesthesia prior to ESWL. It may be assumed that 50% of patients administered intravenous opioids are overtreated. Routine pain measurement for patient depends on the individual pain tolerance level. A third phase of this study recruiting a large number of patients will contribute to the confirmation of these results.