ABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the diagnostic gain of transrectal real-time elastography (RTE) compared to transrectal B-mode ultrasonography (US) in the detection of tumors in patients suspected of having prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients suspected of having prostate cancer on the basis of clinical and biochemical evaluation underwent transrectal US, RTE and transperineal prostate biopsy. RESULTS: Biopsy was considered the gold standard. Analysis related to the total number of patients showed a B-mode US sensitivity of 56%, specificity 80%, positive predictive value (PPV) 70% and negative predictive value (NPV) 67%. Analysis related to the total number of biopsy cores showed sensitivity 33%, specificity 92%, PPV 69% and NPV 73%. In the patient-related analysis, RTE sensitivity was 51%, specificity 75%, PPV 64% and NPV 64%, while the core-related analysis showed sensitivity 36%, specificity 93%, PPV 72% and NPV 74%. Comparison of B-mode US and RTE diagnostic accuracy in the detection of tumors located in the peripheral zone of the prostate gland showed a significant difference. Analysis related to the total number of biopsy cores harvested in the peripheral zone of the prostate gland showed a B-mode US sensitivity of 48%, specificity 81%, PPV 75% and NPV 58%, whereas RTE achieved the following values: sensitivity 66%, specificity 78%, PPV 77%, and NPV 67%. CONCLUSIONS: RTE is a valid addition to B-mode US, and RTE reached a higher accuracy than B-mode US in the evaluation of the peripheral zone of the prostate gland and in the selection of appropriate biopsy sites.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Adult soft tissue sarcomas in general, and those arising from the urological organs in particular, are a group of rare tumours with a generally poor prognosis, only a few studies are available. We report our experience with this type of tumours in a multicenter study carried out in a single region of Central Italy (Tuscany). METHODS: Pre-treatment and follow-up data were obtained from 22 adult patients, all residing in Tuscany, treated consecutively between 1984 and 2002 for primary or locally recurrent genito-urinary sarcomas in 8 urology departments in the area. All cases were classified according to the French Federation of Cancer Center System Grading Scheme for Adult Sarcomas (FFCC) and Broders System. The crude survival probability was estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences between patient sub-groups were assessed by the log rank test. RESULTS: The study series included 18 males and 4 females. The mean age at diagnosis was 61+/-21.5 years (range: 15.3-89.1). The most common site was paratesticular (n=9, 40.9%), followed by kidney (n=8, 36.4%), prostate (n=3, 13.6%) and penis and bladder (1 case each, 4.6%). 15 cases (68.2%) were classified as FFCC III, and 16 (72.7%) as Broders IV. The most common histological type was leiomyosarcoma (8 cases, 36.7%), followed by liposarcoma (6, 27.3%), rhabdomyosarcoma (3, 13.6%) and other histological types (5, 22.7%). At the last follow-up (mean: 3.66+/-3.25 years; range 0.15-10.0), 11 of the 22 patients (50%) were still alive. The overall survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 85.9%, 62.0% and 48.8%, respectively. There were no significant differences in survival according to sex, age or histological type. When we compared paratesticular vs. kidney and prostate cancer cases, a significant difference in survival emerged (p=0.02). According to size and grade of the tumour we also found a significant difference in survival (p=0.0006 and p=0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our representative series, 3 tumor parameters (site, size and grade) appeared to represent the most important prognostic factors in adult genitourinary sarcomas.
