Patterns of prostate cancer treatment by clinical stage and age

Objectives. This study analyzed prostate cancer treatment rates by age and clinical stage and contrasted these with rates by most accurate stage. Methods. We determined surgery and radiation rates by most accurate and cli nical stage by using 1996 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Results. Treatment rates by clinical stage vs best stage differ significant ly. For example, surgery rates for stages B, C, and D are 37%, 78%, and 13% by most accurate stage but 33%, 6%, and 1% by clinical stage. Treatment pa tterns by clinical stage vary substantially by age. Conclusions. Treatment patterns should be described by clinical stage rathe r than most accurate stage, and they vary by age.