Is the biopsy Gleason score important in predicting outcomes for patients after radical prostatectomy once the pathological Gleason score is known?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether specific preoperative variables might better predict the concordance between biopsy and radical prostatectomy (RP) Gleason grade, and to assess the effect of the biopsy Gleason score (bGS) when controlling for the pathological GS (pGS) on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing RP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1989 and 1998, 1088 men had RP at our institution, with a median follow‐up of 56 months. To evaluate the independent effect of bGS within categories of pGS, we stratified the sample by pGS (three categories; ≤6, 7, 8–10). Within each stratum we constructed Kaplan‐Meier plots of recurrence‐free survival by bGS (in the same three categories), assessing the significance of the differences among the three curves by the log‐rank test.

RESULTS

Overall, only 41.1% of patients had exactly concordant findings between bGS and pGS; concordance rates did not differ significantly when stratified by preoperative variables. On multivariate analysis, a change in the pGS compared with the bGS had a significant, independent effect on recurrence rates, specifically a 15% change in risk for a one‐unit change in GS (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

There was only modest agreement between the bGS and the pGS; the bGS continued to have independent prognostic influence after RP and assignment of the pGS.     

Lung biopsy: is it necessary?

OBJECTIVE: Lung biopsy is associated with substantial mortality rates. We reviewed our experience with this operation, primarily in patients with immunocompetence, to determine whether the results justify the continued performance of this procedure. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all diagnostic lung biopsies performed at 3 university-affiliated hospitals between July 1, 1992, and December 31, 1998. RESULTS: There were 75 patients: 25 patients were treated electively, 17 were treated on an urgent basis, 27 patients on an emergency basis, and the urgency was unclear in 6 patients. Significant beneficial therapeutic changes were made in 15 of 25 elective procedures (60%), in 16 of 17 urgent procedures (94%), and in 11 of 27 emergency procedures (41%; P =.001). Significant beneficial therapeutic changes consisted of immunosuppression in 13 of 15 (87%) patients treated on an elective basis, in 9 of 16 (56%) treated on an urgent basis, and in 9 of 11 (82%) treated on an emergency basis in whom therapy was altered (P =.14). Operative death was 0 of 25 for elective operations (0%), 3 of 17 for urgent operations (18%), and 14 of 26 for emergency operations (54%). Multivariable analysis of operative death showed urgency to be the only significant predictor of death (P =.002). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with immunocompetence, elective and urgent lung biopsies have acceptable operative mortality rates and frequently result in important beneficial therapeutic changes. Consequently biopsies are appropriate in these patients. Emergency biopsies are associated with high operative mortality rates and rarely result in a therapeutic change other than immunosuppression. These patients should not undergo lung biopsy if they are in stable condition and should be treated empirically with immunosuppression without operation if their condition is deteriorating.     

Gleason score 7 prostate cancer on needle biopsy: is the prognostic difference in Gleason scores 4 + 3 and 3 + 4 independent of the number of involved cores?

PURPOSE: We addressed whether Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7 and 4 + 3 = 7 cancers on needle biopsy behave differently and whether this behavior is independent of the number of cores involved by cancer. If it is not an independent predictor of prognosis, one may report Gleason score 7 cancer with the number of positive cores without regard to whether the primary pattern was 3 or 4. This practice would remove a source of poor interobserver reproducibility when grading prostate cancer on needle biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 537 patients with Gleason score 7 tumors on biopsy. The results of patient preoperative digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurement and age were used to predict 4 outcomes based on assessment of the corresponding radical prostatectomy specimens, including 1) pathological stage (organ confined, focal extraprostatic extension, nonfocal extraprostatic extension or seminal vesicle-lymph node involvement), 2) organ confinement (yes/no), 3) Gleason score and 4) surgical margin status (positive/negative) RESULTS: Multivariate regression of postoperative Gleason score groups against all 5 input variables (3 + 4 versus 4 + 3, number of positive cores, PSA, age and digital rectal examination) yielded a statistically significant positive correlation with preoperative PSA (p <0.001) and preoperative Gleason scores of 4 + 3 versus 3 + 4 on biopsy (p <0.001). Pathological stage correlated with preoperative PSA (p <0.001), Gleason score 4 + 3 disease (p = 0.016), positive digital rectal examination (p <0.001) and 3 or more positive cores (p = 0.016). Positive surgical margins were predicted only by preoperative PSA (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Because the biological behavior of biopsy Gleason score 3 + 4 or 4 + 3 of Gleason score 7 cancer differs regardless of the number of cores involved, future nomograms predicting pathological stage would benefit from examining 3 + 4 and 4 + 3 disease separately.     

Does prostate biopsy Gleason score accurately express the biologic features of prostate cancer?

PURPOSE: To correlate Gleason grading in prostate biopsies with the final Gleason score in radical prostatectomy specimens, and to investigate predictors for concordance and preoperative undergrading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of 303 patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy between 1992 and 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Prostate biopsy and surgical specimen Gleason scores and correlative clinical data were recorded, and a multivariate analysis model was applied. RESULTS: Data were available in 293 cases (97%). The preoperative biopsy predicted the prostatectomy Gleason score accurately in 51% and undergraded them in 41% of the patients. Accuracy rates were significantly higher for Gleason scores 7-10 compared to low Gleason scores (2-4), concordance 90% and 6%, respectively (P < 0.01). Moreover, accuracy rates were higher in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) higher than 10 ng/ml (85% vs. 40%; P < 0.01) and prostate glands smaller than 55 g (68% vs. 38%; P < 0.01). In 233 patients, the biopsy Gleason score did not include 4 or 5 components. Upgrading to 4 or 5 in 1 of the components was noted in 32 patients (14%). Multivariate analysis revealed that upgrading is associated with preoperative serum PSA (odds ratio 1.05; P < 0.05) and the percentage of positive cores in the biopsy (odds ratio 1.47; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy Gleason scores of 2-4, low PSA, and a low percentage of positive cores in the biopsy can predict the biopsy driven biologically significant undergrading of 1 of the components of the Gleason score that may adversely affect therapeutic decisions.     

Magnetic resonance arthrography for femoroacetabular impingement surgery: is it reliable?

Background

Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) is commonly used to demonstrate injury to the labrum and hyaline cartilage in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic correlation between MRA and findings at arthroscopic and open surgery.

Materials and methods

MRA reports of 41 hips with symptomatic FAI were reviewed and compared with subsequent intraoperative findings (n = 21 surgical dislocations and n = 20 therapeutic hip arthroscopies). Each case was assessed for the presence of a cam deformity, a cartilage lesion of the femoral head, an os acetabuli, an injury to the labrum and injury to the acetabular cartilage. Results were collected prospectively in a cross-table and analysed retrospectively for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV in the presence of reported cam-type deformity or an os acetabuli were 100 %. In the presence of cartilage lesions of the femoral head, the values were 46, 81, 55 and 73 %, respectively. For labral tears, the values were 91, 86, 97 and 67 %. In the presence of acetabular cartilage injuries, the values were 69, 88, 78 and 81 %, respectively.

Conclusions

MRA appears to be an efficacious imaging modality in the evaluation of labral tears, cam-type impingement lesions and os acetabuli of the hip. MRA is less efficacious in the diagnosis of cartilage abnormalities in the hip, both femoral and acetabular. Researchers should focus on further improvements in imaging techniques in order to give reliable preoperative information to the surgeon.     

The Pauwels classification for intracapsular hip fractures: is it reliable?

The Pauwels classification for the femoral neck fracture is still broadly used in literature and clinical practise. However, this classification has never been tested for its reliability in terms of inter-observer agreement. We assessed whether or not it is reliable to use the Pauwels classification in pre-operative planning.Ten observers classified 100 intra-capsular femur fractures. The inter-observer agreement was calculated using the multi-rater Fleiss’ kappa.The Pauwels classification showed an inter-observer agreement of κ0.31 (0.01).Classification of intra-capsular hip fractures according to the Pauwels classification using the Pauwels angle is unreliable and its use should be avoided.     

Triggered electromyography for placement of thoracic pedicle screws: is it reliable?

Reliable electromyography (EMG) thresholds for detecting medial breaches in the thoracic spine are lacking, and there is a paucity of reports evaluating this modality in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This retrospective analysis evaluates the ability of triggered EMG to detect medial breaches with thoracic pedicle screws in patients with AIS. We reviewed 50 patients (937 pedicle screws) undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with intraoperative EMG testing. Postoperative CT scans were used for breach identification, and EMG values were analyzed. There were 47 medial breaches noted with a mean threshold stimulus of 10.2 mA (milliamperes). Only 8/47 breaches stimulated at 2–6 mA. Thirteen of the forty-seven screws tested at an EMG value ≤6 mA and/or a decrease of ≥65% compared with intraosseously placed screws. The sensitivity and positive predictive value for EMG was 0.28 and 0.21. A subanalysis of T10–T12 screws identified six of seven medial breaches. Using guidelines from the current literature, EMG does not appear to be reliable in detecting medial breaches from T2 to T9 but may have some utility from T10 to T12.     

Is the bladder a reliable witness for predicting detrusor overactivity?

PURPOSE: We determined how well the symptoms of OAB syndrome correlate with urodynamic DO using International Continence Society definitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included adult males and females 18 years or older who attended a tertiary referral center for urodynamics from February 2002 to February 2004. Patients were selected based on OAB syndrome symptoms (urgency, urgency urinary incontinence and frequency). The percent of patients who had symptoms alone or in combination and DO was calculated. RESULTS: There was a better correlation in results between OAB symptoms and the urodynamic diagnosis of DO in men than in women. Of men 69% and 44% of women with urgency (OAB dry) had DO, while 90% of men and 58% of women with urgency and urgency urinary incontinence (OAB wet) had DO. Stress urinary incontinence seems to have accounted for the decreased rates in women since 87% of women with urgency urinary incontinence also had the symptom of stress urinary incontinence. The ICS definition does not specify what constitutes abnormal voiding frequency. Analysis of results showed that increasing voiding frequency did not have any effect on increasing the accuracy of diagnosis of DO except in women with 10 or more daytime micturition episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The bladder is a better and more reliable witness in men than in women with a greater correlation between OAB symptoms and urodynamic DO, more so in the OAB wet than in OAB dry patients.     

Should a Gleason score be assigned to a minute focus of carcinoma on prostate biopsy?

The grading system for prostate carcinoma devised by Gleason is a strong prognostic indicator. The primary and secondary patterns are combined to give a tumor score, referred to as Gleason score or sum. Gleason scores on biopsy correlate with the prostatectomy Gleason scores, and in combination with pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal examination results, predict tumor stage and lymph node status. However, when only a minute focus of tumor is present on biopsy, the Gleason score is assigned by doubling the Gleason pattern. The goal of this study was to determine if a Gleason score assigned to a minimal focus of adenocarcinoma had predictive value. Paired biopsies and prostatectomy specimens from 963 cases of men with clinically localized prostate cancer were examined. Minimal tumor on biopsy was defined as less than 1 mm or 5% involvement of one biopsy core; excluded from this definition were biopsies where two Gleason patterns could be identified and/or tumor was seen on more than one biopsy core. Terms often used to describe these lesions include "single minute focus of carcinoma" or "adenocarcinoma, too small to give a Gleason grade." One hundred five cases (10.9%) met the above criteria for minimal carcinoma. The correlation of Gleason scores between biopsies and prostatectomy specimens overall was good with exact agreement for 57% of cases and a difference of +/-1 unit in 92% of cases. The correlation for the minimal tumors on biopsy and prostatectomy was slightly worse with exact agreement in 52.4% (55 of 105) and a difference of +/-1 unit in 87.6% (92 of 105). The majority of minimal tumors (83.8% or 88 of 105) were assigned a Gleason score of 6. A total of 31.8% of these 88 cases were upgraded and 5.7% were downgraded. Multivariate analysis on all cases looking for predictors of tumor stage found biopsy Gleason score, perineural invasion, pretreatment prostatic-specific antigen, and digital rectal examination all predicted higher tumor stage with odds ratios of 1.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.27; p = 0.0001), 2.06 (95% CI, 1.43-2.95; p = 0.0001), 1.08 (95% CI, 1.05-1.11; p = 0.0001), and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.04-1.91; p = 0.0289), respectively. In a model restricted to the 105 cases with minimal carcinoma, pretreatment prostatic-specific antigen was the only independent predictor of higher tumor stage with an odds ratio of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.01-1.31; p = 0.0380); Gleason score was not found to significantly predict higher tumor stage (odds ratio, 1.156; p = 0.6680). The results of this study confirm that biopsy Gleason score in most cases predicts prostatectomy Gleason score and tumor stage. However, for cases with minimal tumor on biopsy, the assigned Gleason score did not predict tumor stage. To properly convey this uncertainty to clinicians, a cautionary note should accompany Gleason scores derived from a minimal focus of carcinoma.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for the T1 (thin) melanoma: is it necessary?

The use of sentinel lymph node biopsy for the T1 melanoma is controversial. Recent reports have demonstrated that certain T1 melanomas are at increased risk for early regional metastases and late recurrence when compared with all thin melanomas. The purpose of this study was to review the authors' experience with wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy for certain patients with T1 melanoma. A retrospective analysis of 34 patients with T1 melanoma was completed over a 3-year period. Indications for sentinel lymph node biopsy included a Breslow thickness of less than or equal to 1 mm a Clark level of III or IV tumor ulceration, or tumor regression. Twenty-four patients met these criteria (13 men and 11 women). Mean age was 47.6 years (range, 23-88 years). Mean tumor thickness for all patients was 0.69 mm (range, 0.3-1.0 mm), 0.61 mm for the Clark level III patients (N = 15), and 0.72 mm for the Clark level IV patients (N = 9). Tumor ulceration was present in 1 patient and histological regression was present in 2 patients. Regional lymph node metastases were confirmed histologically in 2 of 24 patients (8.3%) in whom the thickness of the melanoma was 0.9 mm and 1 mm. Both patients have died of metastatic melanoma. No recurrence has been demonstrated in the remaining 22 patients at the 2 to 5-year follow-up. Current indications for sentinel lymph node biopsy for patients with T1 melanoma include tumors associated with Clark level IV or V invasion, ulceration, regression, a positive deep margin on initial biopsy, or previous melanoma. Acral lentiginous melanoma associated with at least a Clark level III invasion warrant sentinel lymph node biopsy. Superficial spreading or nodular melanoma larger than 0.9 mm should include sentinel lymph node biopsy regardless of other associated histological factors.     

Transfer function index: is it a reliable method for vein graft surveillance?

Introduction: Duplex ultrasound scanning is currently the best available non‐invasive method for vein graft surveillance. However, it is expensive and its results are highly operator dependent. The aim of the present study is to compare, another non‐invasive method of graft surveillance, the transfer function index (TFI), with duplex ultrasound scanning in identifying significant stenoses in infrainguinal saphenous vein bypass grafts. Methods: Initially a retrospective pilot study was carried out between 1 January and 30 June 2002. Patients were identified from the vascular surgical operation database. The ultrasound report and TFI result of each patient were reviewed. Then a prospective comparative study was carried out between 1 July and 31 December 2002. Duplex ultrasound and TFI studies were undertaken at the 3 month interval. Comparisons were made between the accuracy and predictive value of ultrasound versus TFI in assessing significant graft stenosis. Results: In the present retrospective study TFI measurement was significantly lower in the at‐risk grafts than in the normal grafts (P = 0.001). In the prospective group TFI was again found to be significantly lower in the at‐risk group (mean TFI 0.86) than in the normal group (mean TFI 1.064, P = 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the TFI were 92% and 97%, respectively. The accuracy of TFI was calculated to be 98%. Conclusion: TFI is an accurate non‐invasive method of vascular graft surveillance. TFI can be carried out in the vascular clinic and is quick and inexpensive. Normally TFI could replace duplex ultrasound surveillance, with ultrasound being reserved for those with an abnormal TFI.     

Information on the World Wide Web--how useful is it for parents?

Aim

An enormous amount of information about pediatric surgical conditions is available on the World Wide Web (www). Our aim was to ascertain how many parents accessed the www and how useful they found the exercise.

Method

Over a 2-month period, all parents attending the surgical outpatient clinics were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding Internet use in seeking more information about their child's condition. Parents were able to tick more than one option to the questions.

Results

A total of 271 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. There were 53% of responders who had accessed the www. Of this group, 93% used a computer at home, with 60% using the Internet daily. The most popular search engine used was Google (75%). There were 90% who used their child's condition as keyword(s), with 21% using their child's symptoms. The most popular information sought is as follows:

Topics	%
More information	89
Long-term outcome	61
Medical treatment	56
Complications	48

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