Introduction: Systematic transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) biopsy has been the standard diagnostic tool for prostate cancer (PCa) but is subject to limitations, such as a high false-negative rate of cancer detection. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) prior to biopsy is emerging as an alternative diagnostic procedure for PCa. The PRECISE study found that MRI followed by a targeted biopsy was more accurately able to identify clinically significant cancer than TRUS biopsy.
Methods: PRECISE study patients recruited in Ontario between January 2017 and November 2019 were linked to various Ontario provincial administrative databases available at the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences (ICES ) to determine health resources used, associated costs, and hospitalizations in the 14 days after biopsy. Costs are presented in 2021 CAD.
Results: A total of 281 males were included in this study, with 48.4% of the patients in the TRUS biopsy group, 28.1% in the MRI+, and 23.5% in the MRI- group. Twenty-one patients (15%) from the TRUS biopsy group were seen at a hospital in the 14 days after their biopsy compared to fewer than five patients (6%) from the MRI+ group. The mean per person per year (PPPY) costs for the TRUS and all MRI groups (MRI- and MRI+) were $7828 and $8525, respectively.
Conclusions: Patients in the TRUS biopsy group experienced more hospital encounters compared to patients who received an MRI prior to their biopsy. This economic analysis suggests that MRI imaging prior to biopsy is not associated with a significant increase in costs.
Introduction: Management of testicular cancer requires a complete evaluation to confirm the localized stage and effective treatment according to guidelines to ensure the best outcome. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate practices at each stage of care in patients with a localized testicular tumor. The secondary objective was to evaluate the oncological prognosis of these patients according to the modalities of care.
Methods: We conducted a multicenter practice evaluation study with retrospective collection and evaluation of patient records. The study was conducted in two French departments (population pool of 2 million inhabitants) between January 1, 2010, and January 31, 2015, enabling a five-year followup of patients. Patients presenting with stage I testicular tumor according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification were included in the analysis.
Results: A total of 226 records were analyzed; 93% of patients underwent bilateral scrotal ultrasound and 93.25% had a chest-abdomen-pelvis computed tomography scan. A total of 29.65% of patients had a preoperative tumor marker assay in accordance with guidelines; 94% of patients had a total orchiectomy, with a median time of 15 days. At the end of the followup period, 17 patients had suffered a recurrence of their disease. Providing adjuvant care in accordance with guidelines reduced the risk of recurrence in patients with a seminomatous tumor.
Conclusions: Our study showed heterogeneity in compliance with guidelines for evaluation and effective treatment of patients with a localized testicular tumor. Some essential practices, such as assays of tumor markers and fertility preservation for patients over 40 years, were not well carried out. Adjuvant management of localized tumors appears to be an important predictor of recurrence.
Introduction: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is commonly diagnosed in the workup of urinary tract infections or hydronephrosis in children. Traditionally, VUR severity is graded subjectively based on voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) imaging. Herein, we characterized the association between age, sex, and indication for VCUG, by employing standardized quantitative features.
Methods: We included renal units with a high certainty in VUR grade (>80% consensus) from the qVUR model validation study at our institution between 2013 and 2019. We abstracted the following variables: age, sex, laterality, indication for VCUG, and qVUR parameters (tortuosity, ureter widths on VCUG). High-grade VUR was defined as grade 4 or 5 The association between each variable and VUR grade was assessed.
Results: A total of 443 patients (523 renal units) were included, consisting of a 48:52 male/female ratio. The median age at VCUG was 13 months. Younger age at VCUG (<6 months) was associated with greater odds of severe VUR (odds ratio [OR] 2.0), and there was a weak correlation between age and VUR grade (ρ=-0.17). Male sex was associated with increased odds of high-grade VUR (OR 2.7). VCUGs indicated for hydronephrosis were associated with high-grade VUR (OR 4.1) compared to those indicated for UTI only. Ureter tortuosity and width were significantly associated with each clinical variable and VUR severity.
Conclusions: Male sex, younger age (<6 months), and history of hydronephrosis are associated with both high-grade VUR and standardized quantitative measures, including greater ureter tortuosity and increased ureteral width. This lends support to quantitative assessment to improve reliability in VUR grading.