TRENDS IN TREATMENT OF LOCALIZED PROSTATE-CANCER BY RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY - OBSERVATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION-ON-CANCER NATIONAL-CANCER-DATABASE, 1985-1990
C. Mettlin et al., TRENDS IN TREATMENT OF LOCALIZED PROSTATE-CANCER BY RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY - OBSERVATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION-ON-CANCER NATIONAL-CANCER-DATABASE, 1985-1990, Urology, 43(4), 1994, pp. 488-492
Objective. Tumor registry data were studied to assess the magnitude an
d nature of the trend toward increased use of radical prostatectomy fo
r the treatment of newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer. Methods.
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons National
Cancer Data Base aggregates data from hospital tumor registries locat
ed throughout the United States. Data from this resource on 4,531 pati
ents treated in 1985, 25,028 treated in 1988, and 21,697 treated in 19
90 were reviewed. Results. The data indicate that selection of radical
prostatectomy increased markedly over this interval. Use of radical p
rostatectomy was greatest in younger men in every year studied. The pr
oportion of patients treated by radical prostatectomy was greatest in
the western United States and least in New England and the mid-Atlanti
c region. Radical prostatectomy was associated with patients' socioeco
nomic status and race as well as with the hospital's caseload of patie
nts with cancer. Conclusions. The pattern of care for localized prosta
te cancer is changing significantly. Further research is needed to ass
ess whether these variations reflect differences in access to care or
patterns of patient preference.