title: Cancer surveillance in patients receiving long-term hemodialysis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Surgery P. Valdoni & Dottorato di ricerca Chirurgia nelpaziente emodializzato, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palestini
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucandri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sterpetti
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Filina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orefici
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
mesh_terms: 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