Richard G. Middleton

Prostate Cancer Clinical Guidelines Panel Summary Report on the Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE The American Urological Association convened the Prostate Cancer Clinical Guidelines Panel to analyze the literature regarding available methods for treating locally confined prostate cancer, and to make practice policy recommendations based on the treatment outcomes data insofar as the data permit. MATERIALS AND METHODS The panel searched the MEDLINE data base for all articles from 1966 to 1993 on stage T2 (B) prostate cancer and systematically analyzed outcomes data for radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy and surveillance as treatment alternatives. Outcomes considered most important were survival at 5, 10 and 15 years, progression at 5, 10 and 15 years, and treatment complications. RESULTS The panel found the outcomes data inadequate for valid comparisons of treatments. Differences were too great among treatment series with regard to such significant characteristics as age, tumor grade and pelvic lymph node status. The panel elected to display, in tabular form and graphically, the ranges in outcomes data reported for each treatment alternative. CONCLUSIONS In making its recommendations, the panel presented treatment alternatives as options, identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each, and recommended as a standard that patients with newly diagnosed, clinically localized prostate cancer should be informed of all commonly accepted treatment options.

Prostate size in hypogonadal men treated with a nonscrotal permeation-enhanced testosterone transdermal system

OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of testosterone replacement using a nonscrotal testosterone transdermal (TTD) system on prostate size and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in hypogonadal men. METHODS As part of an open-label, multicenter study, prostate volume as measured by transrectal ultrasound and PSA were assessed in 29 hypogonadal men during treatment with intramuscular testosterone enanthate (+TE), followed by 8 weeks of androgen withdrawal (-T), and then during 1 year of therapy with Androderm Testosterone Transdermal System, a nonscrotal permeation-enhanced TTD system (+TTD). RESULTS Mean prostate volume decreased significantly from the +TE period (17 g) compared with the -T period (14 g) (P < 0.001). Prostate volume increased significantly from the -T period compared with the +TTD period (18 g) (P < 0.001). Maximum prostate size, comparable to that measured during +TE (P = 0.125), was reached by month 3 of +TTD therapy; prostate volume did not increase further during the remaining 9 months of +TTD therapy. Prostate volume correlated with age (P < 0.01) during all three periods of observation (+TE: r = 0.69; -T: r = 0.64; and +TTD: r = 0.55). No patient developed symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia during the treatment period. PSA levels decreased during androgen withdrawal compared with levels measured during +TE treatment (P < 0.001) and rose with resumption of androgen therapy with TTD (P < 0.006). However, PSA levels during +TTD replacement remained significantly lower (P < 0.001) than during +TE replacement. CONCLUSIONS Physiologic testosterone replacement in hypogonadal men was achieved using the TTD system. Prostate size during therapy with TTD was comparable to that reported for normal men. In these men treated with TTD, PSA levels were also within the normal range.

Patient Survival and Local Recurrence Rate Following Radical Prostatectomy for Prostatic Carcinoma

From 1970 to 1980, 153 patients with stages A2, B1 and B2 prostatic cancer and proved negative pelvic lymph nodes underwent radical prostatectomy (84 underwent radical perineal and 69 underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy). Seventeen patients were lost to followup. Of 136 patients who were followed for 5 years or until death 128 (94 per cent) were alive at 5 years, including 118 (87 per cent) who were without evidence of recurrence. Patients with microscopic invasion of the prostatic capsule have a better outcome at 5 years than those with microscopic involvement of the seminal vesicles. Only 46 of the patients could be assessed at 10 years or had died 6 to 10 years postoperatively. Results at 10 years are considered preliminary, since many more patients will reach the 10-year milestone within the next few years.

COMA FROM HYPONATREMIA FOLLOWING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF PROSTATE

Even though hyponatremia may occur following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), only 14 patients of a large TURP population deteriorated to a comatose state as a result of hyponatremia. These patients were generally older, with larger prostates, and longer resection times than the average for transurethral resection of the prostate. They also consistently had serum sodium levels postoperatively of near 120 mEq./L. or below. It was noted that obtundation can occur immediately or be delayed several hours. Even though no deaths occurred, awareness of the possibility of post-TURP hyponatremia and prompt treatment with hypertonic saline were shown to reduce morbidity significantly.

Pelvic Lymph Node Metastasis from Prostatic Cancer: Influence of Tumor Grade and Stage in 452 Consecutive Patients

During the last decade 452 patients have undergone pelvic lymphadenectomy as a staging procedure for apparently localized prostatic cancer. Of these patients 105 (23 per cent) had pelvic node metastasis. Node involvement occurred in no patient with a stage A1, 24 per cent with stage A2, 12 per cent with stage B1, 28 per cent with stage B2 and 53 per cent with stage C tumor. Correlation with tumor grade revealed nodal metastasis in 10 per cent of the patients with well differentiated tumors, 24 per cent with moderately differentiated lesions and 54 per cent with poorly differentiated tumors. The incidence of positive nodes is low enough to preclude lymphadenectomy in patients with stage A1 (0 per cent) and well differentiated stage B1 tumors (4 per cent), and high enough to assume metastatic disease without lymphadenectomy in those with poorly differentiated stage C tumors (93 per cent). All other patients with apparently localized prostatic cancer should undergo a staging pelvic node dissection before definitive treatment.

Pelvic Lymphabenectomy for the Staging of Apparently Localized Prostatic Cancer

Staging pelvic lymphadenectomy has been done on 87 patients with clinically localized prostatic carcinoma. With this method nodal metastases can be discovered, although they are undetectable by any other means. There were 44 patients with negative pelvic lymph nodes by surgical staging subjected to radical prostatectomy. Only 6 patients (14 per cent) had microscopic invasion of the prostatic capsule and there was just 1 instance of microscopic seminal vesicle invasion in those with negative pelvic lymph nodes.

Implications of Volume of Nodal Metastasis in Patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate

We divided 73 cases of pelvic nodal metastases from prostatic cancer into subgroups based upon the volume and extent of nodal disease. Of the patients with gross nodal disease 15 per cent survived 5 years without progression compared to 27 per cent of those with microscopic involvement of more than 1 node and 44 per cent with a single positive node. On the other hand, 52 per cent of the patients with gross disease died of prostatic cancer within 5 years compared to 37 per cent of those with multiple microscopic nodes and 28 per cent with a single node. Although other variables also influence prognosis, the differences in survival demonstrable within these subgroups may have important implications regarding selection of therapy and interpretation of treatment results.

Accuracy of staging in A1 carcinoma of the prostate

The classification of patients with incidental carcinoma of the prostate into focal (Stage A1) or diffuse (Stage A2) subgroups depends primarily on the microscopic findings on tissue removed from transurethral resection (TUR) or open enucleation. However, these procedures sample only a portion of the entire prostate, and some patients staged A1 may have residual diffuse cancer that should properly be classified as Stage A2. This study is a review of 86 patients with Stage A1 cancer of the prostate in whom additional prostatic tissue was available because of repeat transurethral resection or radical prostatectomy. Only six patients (7%) were found to have diffuse cancer in the remaining prostatic tissue. Therefore, it appears that the classification of patients into Stage A1 or Stage A2 is generally accurate when based on the findings from initial TUR alone and that the incidence of understaging in this group is low. Repeat transurethral resection does not appear to contribute significantly to the accuracy of staging.

Repair of Rectourinary Fistulas Using a Posterior Sagittal Transanal Transrectal (Modified York-Mason) Approach: An Update

PURPOSE We report our experience with posterior sagittal, transanal, transrectal repair of rectourinary fistulas. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 16 fistula repairs was done in 15 patients. RESULTS Of the fistulas 13 occurred after a variety of prostatic procedures, 1 after Y-V plasty and 1 after pelvic trauma (2 repairs were attempted in the latter case). Six patients underwent repair without colostomy. No patient experienced fecal or anal complications and all repairs were successful. CONCLUSIONS Our surgical approach for repair of rectourinary fistulas is simple, effective, associated with minimal morbidity and cost-effective.

Age, genetic, and nongenetic factors influencing variation in serum sex steroids and zonal volumes of the prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia in twins

We have observed that hereditary and environmental factors have a substantial influence on the plasma content of sex steroids in normal male twins and in men of families with prostatic disease.