Laparoscopic versus open nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma?

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Pienten munuaiskasvainten ylidiagnostiikasta ylihoitoon : Voidaanko ketju katkaista?

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Renal function remains after unilateral total and contralateral partial nephrectomy : an experimental study in pigs using 99mTc-DTPA

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Digital rectal examination in prostate cancer screening at PSA level 3.0-3.9 ng/ml : long-term results from a randomized trial

Objective To evaluate digital rectal examination (DRE) as a predictor of prostate cancer (PC) at serum PSA level 3.0-3.9 ng/ml. We compared the PC incidence rates of men with different screening test results in this PSA range and analyzed DRE in comparison with free/total PSA ratio as an additional screening test. Materials and methods Using data from the FinRSPC trial, PC incidence rate ratios (IRR) for groups defined by the secondary screening test results (DRE vs. free/total PSA) were calculated for 17-year follow-up, using adjustment for age, family history of PC and place of residence. Screening test performance was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio. Results The IRR for men with a positive DRE compared to those with a negative result was 1.40 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.96), while the IRR for men with a positive free/total PSA result compared to those with a negative one was 1.62 (95% CI 1.08-2.43). The estimated sensitivity was 0.15 (95% CI 0.11-0.20, 40/270) for DRE and 0.32 (95% CI 0.23-0.41, 36/113) for free/total PSA, and the specificity 0.91 (95% CI 0.88-0.93, 419/461) for DRE and 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.90, 134/158) for free/total PSA. Conclusions Our results do not support utility of DRE as a screening test for PC at serum PSA level 3.0-3.9 ng/ml, while the results regarding free/total PSA determination were more encouraging and reconfirm the decision to switch from DRE to free/total PSA.Peer reviewe

Costs in Different States of Breast Cancer

Background/Aim: This cross-sectional study estimated direct cancer-related health care, productivity and informal care costs for a six-month period for different states of breast cancer (BC). Patients and Methods: A total of 827 BC patients answered a questionnaire enquiring about informal care, work capacity, and demographic factors. Direct health care resource use and productivity costs were obtained from registries. Mutually exclusive groups were formed based on disease state and time from diagnosis: primary treatment (first six months after diagnosis), rehabilitation (>six months after diagnosis), remission (>1.5 years after diagnosis), and metastatic. Results: Mean total costs were: primary treatment (sic)22,876, rehabilitation (sic)3,456, remission (sic)1,728, and metastatic (sic)24,320. Mean direct health care costs were: primary treatment (sic)11,798, rehabilitation (sic)2,398, remission (sic)1,147, and metastatic (sic)13,923. Mean productivity costs varied between 18-39% and indirect costs (productivity and informal care costs) between 31-48% of the total costs. Conclusion: Direct medical costs were highest, but indirect costs constituted up to half of the total costs and are essential when estimating the total cost burden, as many patients are of working age.Peer reviewe

Costs of screening for prostate cancer : Evidence from the Finnish Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer after 20-year follow-up using register data

Objectives: Few empirical analyses of the impact of organised prostate cancer (PCa) screening on healthcare costs exist, despite cost-related information often being considered as a prerequisite to informed screening decisions. Therefore, we estimate the differences in register-based costs of publicly funded healthcare in the two arms of the Finnish Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (FinRSPC) after 20 years. Methods: We obtained individual-level register data on prescription medications, as well as inpatient and outpatient care, to estimate healthcare costs for 80,149 men during the first 20 years of the FinRSPC. We compared healthcare costs for the men in each trial arm and performed statistical analysis. Results: For all men diagnosed with PCa during the 20-year observation period, mean PCa-related costs appeared to be around 10% lower in the screening arm (SA). Mean all-cause healthcare costs for these men were also lower in the SA, but differences were smaller than for PCa-related costs alone, and no longer statistically significant. For men dying from PCa, although the difference was not statistically significant, mean all-cause healthcare costs were around 10% higher. When analysis included all observations, cumulative costs were slightly higher in the CA; however, after excluding extreme values, cumulative costs were slightly higher in the SA. Conclusions: No major cost impacts due to screening were apparent, but the FinRSPC's 20-year follow-up period is too short to provide definitive evidence at this stage. Longer term follow-up will be required to be better informed about the costs of, or savings from, introducing mass PCa screening. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Biodegradable self-reinforced polyglycolic acid spiral stent in prevention of postoperative urinary retention after visual laser ablation of the prostate-laser prostatectomy

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A randomized study to compare biodegradable self-reinforced polyglycolic acid spiral stents to suprapubic and indwelling catheters after visual laser ablation of the prostate

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