Treatment of localized prostate cancer and use of nomograms among urologists in the West Africa sub-region.

INTRODUCTION

there is a high incidence of prostate cancer among men of African descent. The disease tends to occur at an early age with a tendency to be aggressive. The objective was to determine the practice of urologists in the West African sub-region regarding treatment of localized prostate cancer, the use of nomograms and their perception of the usefulness of nomograms.

METHODS

this was a cross-sectional study that involved urologists practicing in the West African sub-region attending urology and surgery conferences of the "Société Internationale d´Urologie", West African college of surgeons and the Ghana association of urological surgeons. A structured questionnaire was used that sort to ascertain the treatment modalities used for localized prostate cancer and the use of nomograms in the sub-region. The study period spanned the years 2018 and 2019.

RESULTS

fifty-six urologists practicing in eleven West African countries responded. Fifty percent had been in practice for less than 5 years. Sixty eight percent (38/56) had been involved in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy was widely available and the treatment modality most used 94.7% (36/38). Nomograms was used by 57.9% of them (22/38) with the Partin tables being the most commonly used nomogram (34.2%). No Locally developed nomogram for treatment of localized prostate cancer was identified.

CONCLUSION

radical prostatectomy is the commonest treatment modality used for the management of localized prostate cancer in the West Africa sub-region. Majority of the urologists used nomograms with the Partin tables being the most used.