A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF PRACTICING UROLOGISTS - CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AND CLINICALLY LOCALIZED PROSTATE-CANCER

Purpose: Our aim was to define the spectrum of urological care for ben ign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and clinically localized prostate canc er. Materials and Methods: In 1995 a random sample of 394 American uro logists was surveyed with a response rate of 67%. Results: Respondents reported seeing a median of 240 BPH patients during the preceding 12 months, and they had prescribed alpha-blockers for 70 and finasteride for 15. They had performed a median of 25 transurethral prostatectomie s but few other operations for BPH. Almost all urologists routinely us ed digital rectal examinations and prostate specific antigen tests for BPH diagnosis. The next most common studies were American Urological Association symptom scores and uroflowmetry. Pressure-flow studies wer e rarely done. Respondents reported seeing a median of 35 new patients with prostate cancer during the last year, and performing a median of 90 prostate biopsies and 13 radical prostatectomies. Respondents had referred a median of 10 patients for external beam radiotherapy but fe w patients received brachytherapy or cryotherapy. Urologist staging pr actices varied considerably. Conclusions: These data provide a picture of current practice regarding the management of BPH and prostate canc er.