Current trends in diagnostic and therapeutic principles for prostate cancer in Japan

Koji Okihara, Takumi Shiraishi, Osamu Ukimura, Yoichi Mizutani, Akihiro Kawauchi, Tsuneharu Miki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. This study aimed to clarify characteristics of the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in Japan. Methods. In September 2005, questionnaire surveys were mailed to Japanese urologists (response rate, 43%; 474/1090) who were listed as voting members (VMs) of the Japanese Urological Association (JUA); the questionnaire surveys were also mailed to professors and chairmen (PCs) of urology departments at Japanese national, public, and private universities who were also VMs of the JUA (response rate, 76%; 68/90). The questionnaires asked about beliefs and practices regarding prostate cancer management. Results. The answers of the VMs and PCs to the questionnaire were very similar. About 60% of these urologists answered that they did not set an age limit for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and about 40% answered that they did not set an age limit for prostate needle biopsy in individuals with an intermediately elevated PSA level. The age limit for radical prostatectomy (RP) was set at 75 years by 69% (322/470) of the VMs and 66% (45/68) of the PCs. The order of priority of factors considered for the selection of RP for early prostate cancer was radicality, including tumor grade (mean, 1.97); patient's wish for radical surgery (mean, 2.47); comorbidity (mean, 2.72); and age (mean, 2.81). Conclusion. There are trends in diagnostic and therapeutic principles for prostate cancer which are characteristic of Japan, and these trends are associated with the recent rapid extension of life expectancy in that country.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)239-243
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2008

Keywords

  • Management
  • PSA testing
  • Prostate cancer
  • Questionnaire

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Hematology
  • Oncology

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