Follow-up costs after external radiation for low risk prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Some routine follow-up costs for external radiation for prostate cancer might not be justifiable. To study this possibility, we reviewed the follow-up costs and clinical course of 36 consecutive, unselected patients treated with external beam radiation (EBRT) for low-risk prostate cancer at the University of Washington.


METHODS
Thirty-six consecutive patients with Stage T1/T2 prostate cancer and pretreatment prostate specific antigen (PSA) < 10 ng/ml were treated with EBRT with curative intent at the University of Washington from 1990 through 1996. All follow-up visits with each patient's urologist and radiation oncologist, and all laboratory tests were tabulated. Charges quoted in this report are based on University of Washington billing.


RESULTS
A total of 8 patients demonstrated biochemical evidence of tumor progression/persistence, none of whom has had any therapeutic intervention for progressive cancer. No patient had local disease progression by physical examination. One patient experienced a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade 3 bowel complication (obstruction), not detected on routine follow-up. The average combined PSA and physician follow-up charges for the first 2 years after therapy was $1,013.


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented here suggests that for low-risk prostate cancer (PSA < 10 ng/ml), frequent follow-up by physical examinations and PSAs during the first 2 years after therapy is not warranted.
Tralins
K
K
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle 98108-1597, USA.
Wallner
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000191:economics* / Q000532:radiotherapy
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen