Richard Mayhew

Pathological outcome and biochemical recurrence‐free survival after radical prostatectomy in African‐American, Afro‐Caribbean (Jamaican) and Caucasian‐American men: an international comparison

Whats known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Current state of prostate cancer treatment in Jamaica

Prostate cancer is the commonest cancer in Jamaica as well as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. One report suggested that Jamaica has the highest incidence rate of prostate cancer in the world, with an age-standardised rate of 304/100,000 per year. The Caribbean region is reported to have the highest mortality rate of prostate cancer worldwide. Prostate cancer accounts for a large portion of the clinical practice for health-care practitioners in Jamaica. The Jamaica Urological Society is a professional body comprising 19 urologists in Jamaica who provide most of the care for men with prostate cancer in collaboration with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and a palliative care physician. The health-care system is structured in two tiers in Jamaica: public and private. The urologist-to-patient ratio is high, and this limits adequate urological care. Screening for prostate cancer is not a national policy in Jamaica. However, the Jamaica Urological Society and the Jamaica Cancer Society work synergistically to promote screening as well as to provide patient education for prostate cancer. Adequate treatment for localised prostate cancer is available in Jamaica in the forms of active surveillance, nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy, external beam radiation, and brachytherapy. However, there is a geographic maldistribution of centres that provide prostate cancer treatment, which leads to treatment delays. Also, there is difficulty in affording some treatment options in the private health-care sectors. Androgen deprivation therapy is available for treatment of locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer and is subsidised through a programme called the National Health Fund. Second-line hormonal agents and chemotherapeutic agents are available but are costly to most of the population. The infrastructure for treatment of prostate cancer in Jamaica is good, but it requires additional technological advances as well as additional specialist services.

Bone mineral density in Jamaican men on androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

BackgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been reported to reduce the bone mineral density (BMD) in men with prostate cancer (CaP). However, Afro-Caribbeans are under-represented in most studies. The aim was to determine the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on the bone mineral density (BMD) of men with prostate cancer in Jamaica.MethodsThe study consisted of 346 Jamaican men, over 40 years of age: 133 ADT treated CaP cases (group 1), 43 hormone-naïve CaP controls (group 2) and 170 hormone naïve controls without CaP (group 3). Exclusion criteria included metastatic disease, bisphosphonate therapy or metabolic disease affecting BMD. BMD was measured with a calcaneal ultrasound and expressed in S.D. units relative to young adult men (T score), according to the World Health Organization definition. Patient weight, height and BMI were assessed.ResultsMean ± sd, age of patients in group 1 (75± 7.4 yrs) was significantly greater than groups 2 and 3 (67 ± 8.1 yrs; 65±12.0 yrs). There was no significant difference in weight and BMI between the 3 groups. . The types of ADT (% of cases, median duration in months with IQR) included LHRH (Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone) analogues (28.6%, 17.9, IQR 20.4), oestrogens (9.8%, 60.5, IQR 45.6) anti-androgens (11.3%, 3.3, IQR 15.2) and orchiectomy (15.7%, 43.4, IQR 63.9). Unadjusted t score of group 1, mean ± sd, (-1.6± 1.5) was significantly less than group 2 (-0.9±1.1) and group 3 (-0.7±1.4), p <0.001. Ninety three (69.9%), 20 (45%) and 75 (42%) of patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively were classified as either osteopenic or osteoporotic (p<0.001). Adjusting for age, there was a significant difference in t scores between groups 1 and 2 as well as between groups 1 and 3 (p<0.001). Compared with oestrogen therapy and adjusting for duration of therapy, the odds of low bone mineral density (osteopenia or osteoporosis) with LHRH analogue was 4.5 (95%CI, 14.3 to 3.4); with anti-androgens was 5.9 (95%CI, 32.7 to 5); with orchiectomy was 7.3 (95%CI, 30 to 5.8) and multiple drugs was 9.2 ((95%CI, 31 to 7.1).ConclusionsADT is associated with lower BMD in Jamaican men on hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.

Bilateral complete ureteral duplication with calculi obstructing both limbs of left double ureter.

Highlights • First report of complete ureteral duplication with stones obstructing both limbs.• Ureters are smaller and contained terminally within common adventitial sheath.• Small and unyielding ureters make ureteroscopic intubation and passage difficult.• Pre-stenting improves ureteral compliance and causes passive dilation of ureter.• Recommend routine pre-stenting in this scenario to improve ureteroscopic access.

Metastatic primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the genitourinary tract: A case report of an uncommon entity

Patient: Male, 59 Final Diagnosis: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of urinary bladder Symptoms: Dysuria • hematuria Medication: – Clinical Procedure: MRI • cystoscopy Specialty: Urology • oncology Objective: Rare disease Background: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the genitourinary tract are rare but distinct and important entities because they are very aggressive tumors and are usually advanced or metastatic at the time of diagnosis. A high index of suspicion must be held by the pathologist viewing the specimen, as it can easily be misdiagnosed as a high grade urothelial carcinoma. Specific, proven treatment algorithms have been formulated over the years for the latter, whilst neuroendocrine carcinomas of the genitourinary tract are rare and treatment regimes have not yet been proven to show a significant improvement in survival in the majority of cases, so accurate diagnosis is important. Case Report: We report the case of a 59-year-old man who presented with a short history of dysuria and frank hematuria. Imaging and cystoscopy revealed a large exophytic mass in the base of the urinary bladder, which extended into the bladder neck. Metastatic deposits were already present in his liver and vertebrae. Histology revealed a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Conclusions: A comprehensive review of the existing literature regarding this rare but aggressive tumor is presented, including advances in classification, pathogenesis, and treatment.

Ovarian Dermoid Cyst Causing Distal Ureteral Obstruction.

A case of a 45-year old woman with an ovarian dermoid cyst causing ureteric colic secondary to distal ureteral obstruction is reported. The dermoid cyst was observed on computed tomography to be adjacent to and compressing the distal left ureter and this was confirmed at surgical exploration. Following oophorectomy, the patients symptoms completely resolved and the excised ovarian cyst was confirmed on pathological evaluation to be a dermoid cyst. This appears to be the first reported case of ureteral obstruction caused by an ovarian dermoid cyst in the English medical literature.

A delayed foreskin-sparing approach to the management of penile fractures in uncircumcised Jamaican men.

Highlights • Suitable for uncircumcised men with a penile fracture without urethral injury.• An intentional delay of seven days is made before reassessment of the patient.• In true penile fractures a “rolling sign” at the fracture site is felt at day seven.• Focal incision over the fracture site under local anaesthesia is possible.• The delayed approach mitigates against negative surgical exploration.

MP64-20 PATHOLOGICAL UPGRADING AND UPSTAGING AT RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY IN JAMAICAN MEN WITH LOW RISK PROSTATE CANCER

Several studies suggest race-based health disparities in men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa), with African American males having poorer oncological outcomes. We sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of pathological upgrading and upstaging in Jamaican men with low-risk PCa treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). Data on 141 men who met the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria for low-risk PCa and underwent RP at a single institution were reviewed. All men had a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Pre-operative clinical and final pathological data were obtained. Data were summarised as means and standard deviations or percentages as appropriate. Bivariate analyses such as independent samples t-tests and chi-square tables were conducted and logistic regression models were estimated to predict upgrading (>Gleason 6) and upstaging (p ≥ T3).

Prostate Cancer Screening in Jamaica: Results of the Largest National Screening Clinic

Prostate cancer is highly prevalent in Jamaica and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Our aim was to evaluate the patterns of screening in the largest organized screening clinic in Jamaica at the Jamaica Cancer Society. A retrospective analysis of all men presenting for screening at the Jamaica Cancer Society from 1995 to 2005 was done. All patients had digital rectal examinations (DRE) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests done. Results of prostate biopsies were noted. 1117 men of mean age 59.9 ± 8.2 years presented for screening. The median documented PSA was 1.6 ng/mL (maximum of 5170 ng/mL). Most patients presented for only 1 screen. There was a gradual reduction in the mean age of presentation for screening over the period. Prostate biopsies were requested on 11% of screening visits; however, only 59% of these were done. 5.6% of all persons screened were found to have cancer. Of the cancers diagnosed, Gleason 6 adenocarcinoma was the commonest grade and median PSA was 8.9 ng/mL (range 1.5–1059 ng/mL). Older men tend to screen for prostate cancer in Jamaica. However, compliance with regular maintenance visits and requests for confirmatory biopsies are poor. Screening needs intervention in the Jamaican population.