Urological cancer Flashcards
Which age group is usually effected by prostate cancer? Are individuals with prostate cancer usually symptomatic?
70 years and above
Usually asymptomatic
Prostate cancer does not have a screening program, why?
If screening programme was to be present PSA test would used for screening but it is inadequate
Controversy over using Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
May not be an adequate screening test as significant numbers of false negatives and false
positives
PSA has age dependent cut offs
PSA is most useful in monitoring response to treatment
How is a diagnosis for prostate cancer confirmed?
Transurethral Ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy
What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)- give examples
Symptoms from metastatic disease - Bone pain (esp in back) spinal cord compression, anaemia
Locally advanced disease can lead to rectal symptoms and renal failure due to
urinary tract outflow obstruction
Which region of the prostate does prostate cancer most often present?
In the peripheral zone
In a digital rectal exam, how would prostate cancer differ for BPH?
Prostate cancer- Hard, irregular, asymmetrical, fixed
BPG- Enlarged, smooth, elastic
Prostate cancer is usually asymptomatic but when symptoms do present it is due to 3 main pathological events, what are these?
Enlarged prostate- leading to LUTS
Local invasion of cancer
Metastasis of cancer
What are the symptoms associated with the local invasion of prostate cancer?
Urinary obstruction and incontinence
Haematuria and haematospermia
Haematochezia
Erectile dysfunction
What are the symptoms associated with metastasis of prostate cancer?
Bone pain (esp back) Anaemia (lethargy) Unintentional Weight loss and anorexia Spinal cord compression Pelvic, testicular and lower back pain Pathological spontaneous pone fractures
Before a patient has a PSA test, what must happen first?
They must be counselled on what a PSA test is and the positive and negative aspects of having the test. They should be guided towards useful websites that provide the patient with reliable information.
Which other conditions can cause a raised PSA test?
BPH Acute urinary retention UTI Prostatitis Catheter Vigorous exercise Digital rectal exam Ejaculation
If a patient does choose to have a prostate screen which 2 tests/ examinations are offered?
PSA test
Digital rectal exam
When should a patient be referred to urological cancer specialists? (2 week wait pathway)
If there PSA levels are abnormal or rising - above age specific range
Prostate feels abnormal on DRE
In someone presenting with an abnormal PSA and DRE examination- which investigations would you conduct to further investigate prostate cancer?
FBC U and E LFT Bone profile Multiparametric MRI
Biopsy (transurethral ultrasound guided biopsy or transperineal)
Free: total PSA ratio
PSA density
Done if the biopsy shows signs of intermediate or high grade disease
Bone scan
Staging CT
Which 3 aspects are used in the staging of prostate cancer? Describe the results for each stage
PSA
Gleason
TNM (tumour size, nodes, metastasis)
Low risk = PSA <10, Gleason <6, TNM TI-T2a
Intermediate risk = PSA 10-20, Gleason 7, TNM T2b
High risk= PSA >20, Gleason 8-10, TNM >T2c
What is the Gleason score?
Prostate cells have distinct patterns as they change from normal cells to tumour cells.
These patters are assigned a number from 1 -5. 1= Prostate cells 5= highly mutated cells.
one Gleason grade to the most predominant pattern in the biopsy and a second Gleason grade to the second most predominant pattern.
The maximum Gleason grade is 10
When is localised therapy appropriate for prostate cancer patients? What are the available treatment options for localised therapy?
No extensive disease
PSA < 30
Low Gleason Score
Active surveillance (low risk patients)
Surgery (radical proctectomy or trans urethral resection)
Radiotherapy (Radical radiotherapy)
Cryotherapy- freezing and thawing of prostate cells to kill malignant
tissue
Adjuvant Androgen deprivation therapy may be combined with radical therapies, particularly those with intermediate or high risk disease receiving radiotherapy
Docetaxel chemotherapy may be used in patients with non-metastatic high risk disease
What is the specific criteria for cancer therapy?
Life expectancy > 15 years
(<75 years)
PSA < 15
No comorbidities- other diseases
Which types of radiotherapy treatment are available for prostate cancer patients?
External beam
Brachytherapy- implanting radioactive seeds into
prostate
They can be used together
Before a PSA test men should not have what?
Active or recent UTI (last 6 weeks)
Ejaculated for 48 hours
Engaged vigorous exercise for 48 hours
Had a urological intervention in the past 6 weeks
When should PSA test be offered in asymptomatic patients?
Men over 50
Which symptoms would require a PSA test?
Lower urinary tract symptoms (e.g. nocturia, frequency, hesitancy, urgency or retention)
Visible haematuria
Unexplained symptoms that may be explained by advanced prostate cancer (e.g lower back pain, bone pain, weight loss).
Erectile dysfunction.
If a patient has a normal DRE and a normal PSA does that exclude prostate camcer?
No - In this case clinical discretion must be used and the patient may require further clinical review
What is the first line investigation technique in those with suspected prostate cancer?
Multiparametric MRI
Which score is used in assessing the risk of prostate cancer using a Multiparametric MRI?
Likert score - a 5-point score based upon the radiologists impression of the scan
- Clinically significant cancer highly unlikely to be present
- Clinically significant cancer is unlikely to be present
- Chance of clinically significant cancer is equivocal
- Clinically significant cancer is likely to be present
- Clinically significant cancer is highly likely to be present
Following a Multiparametric MRI when is a prostate biopsy most likely going to be offered to the patient?
patients with a Likert score of 3 or greater