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[When should bone scanning be carried out in prostatic cancer?]
C Pertusa Peña1, A Albisu Tristán, R Llarena Ibarguren
1Servicio de Urología, Hospital de Cruces, Vizcaya.
Actas Urologicas Espanolas
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Bone scans are essential for detecting prostate cancer metastasis, especially before radical prostatectomy. Routine bone scans are not recommended for patients already undergoing medical therapy for disseminated tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
Background:
- Prostate adenocarcinoma frequently metastasizes to bone.
- Radical surgery for prostate cancer is regaining favor, necessitating accurate staging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of diagnostic methods for detecting bone metastasis in prostate cancer.
- To guide the appropriate use of bone scans in managing prostate cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Bone scan as a primary diagnostic tool for metastasis.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels as a predictive marker.
- Clinical evaluation for suspected bone involvement.
Main Results:
- Bone scans are the simplest and most effective method for detecting bone metastasis.
- PSA levels are highly predictive but can be unreliable if the tumor doesn't express the antigen.
- Routine bone scans are mandatory for patients considered for radical prostatectomy.
Conclusions:
- Bone scans are crucial for staging prostate cancer, particularly before considering radical prostatectomy.
- Periodic bone scans are not indicated for patients on medical therapy for disseminated disease unless targeting specific resistant metastases.
- Bone scans are used to verify metastasis when PSA levels rise or clinical symptoms arise post-prostatectomy.