Cancer surveillance in patients receiving long-term hemodialysis.
BACKGROUND
Cancer incidence in patients submitted to chronic hemodialysis still remains a subject of debate: there is evidence for increased risk, but the results are still controversial. Adoption of a specific surveillance protocol would appear useful.


METHODS
In our Department we prospectively followed patients subject to long-term hemodialysis for a 10-year period, having adopted strict inclusion criteria. The protocol of surveillance included available, low cost and low-invasive examinations.


RESULTS
The cancer incidence among our study group was significantly higher than expected (1.58%), similar to that reported in the literature, with prevalence of cancer of the kidney (2 patients), prostate, corpus uteri and colon (1 patient each).


CONCLUSIONS
Through following the surveillance protocol, all patients were able to undergo radical oncological surgery, with prevalence of early stage disease at histopathological examination. Our data support the adoption of such protocols for cancer surveillance in hemodialysis units.
Palestini
Massimo
M
University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Surgery P. Valdoni & Dottorato di ricerca Chirurgia nelpaziente emodializzato, Roma, Italy.
Lucandri
Giorgio
G
Sterpetti
Antonio
A
Izzo
Luciano
L
Orefici
Filina
F
Cavallaro
Antonino
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy