Tumours of the Urinary System 1 (Prostate Cancer and Testicular Cancer) Flashcards
prostate cancer
where is the prostate gland?
what is the commonest cancer in men?
prostate
what is the aetiology and risk factors of prostate cancer?
• Age
• Race/Ethnicity - African or Afro-Caribbean men living in Western countries vs East Asian or Asian men living in Western countries
• Geography - Northwest Europe/North America/Caribbean/ Australia vs Asia/Africa/Central & South America
• Family history - first degree relative 2x risk, HPC1; BRCA1 & 2
where do most prostate cancers start?
Most prostate cancers start in the peripheral zone
80% of newly diagnosed prostate cancers are __________
localised
are most asymptomatic or symptomatic?
Mostly asymptomatic (i.e. do NOT have cancer-specific symptoms)
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosed through opportunistic PSA testing (not screening!)
Diagnostic triad of PSA, digital rectal examination and TRUS-guided prostate biopsies
PSA is prostate specific but not necessarily cancer-specific
localised prostate cancer:
what are the presenting symptoms in local disease?
weak stream
hesitancy
sensation of incomplete emptying
frequency
urgency
urge incontinence
UTI
localised prostate cancer:
what are the presenting symptoms in locally invasive disease?
haematuria
perineal and suprapubic pain
impotence
incontinence
loin pain or anuria resulting from obstruction of the ureters
symptoms of renal failure
haemospermia
rectal symptoms including tenesmus
metastatic prostate cancer:
presenting symptoms in distant metastases
bone pain or sciatica
paraplegia secondary to spinal cord compensation
lymph node enlargement
lymphoedema, particularly in the lower limbs
loin pain or anuria due to obstruction of the ureters by lymph nodes
metastatic prostate cancer:
presenting symptoms in widespread metastases
lethargy (e.g. due to anaemia, uraemia)
weight loss and cachexia
MCQ: 1. What is the commonest mode of presentation for prostate cancer?
a. Frank haematuria
b. Asymptomatic (i.e. incidentally noted)
c. Acute urinary retention
d. Symptoms of benign prostatic enlargement and obstruction
e. Bone pain
B
Screening leads to ___________ and ____________ of harmless cancers
over-diagnosis
over-treatment
How to avoid under-treatment of aggressive cancers?
Answer: Ad-hoc PSA testing!!
what is PSA?
Prostate-specific antigen
- Kallikrein serine protease - liquifies semen
- Produced by glands of prostate - may leak into serum
- Normal serum range 0-4.0 mg/mL
Age-related range - Levels increase with age:
- < 50 years : 2.5 is upper limit
- 50-60 years : 3.5 is upper limit
- 60-70 years : 4.5 is upper limit
- >70 years : 6.5 is upper limit
what may cause elevations in PSA?
- UTI
- chronic prostatitis
- instrumentation (e.g. catheterisation)
- physiological (e.g. ejaculation)
- recent urological procedure
- BPH
- prostate cancer
what is PSAs half life?
2.2 days
What is the probability of cancer based on PSA?
Levels of PSA and cancer probability (PPV):
0-1.0: 5%
- 0-2.5: 15%
- 5–4.0: 25%
- 0-10: 40%
>10: 70%