title: Changes in preoperative characteristics in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy--a 16-year nationwide analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Danish attitude for diagnosis and treatment of early localized prostate cancer (PCa) has historically been conservative. Denmark introduced radical prostatectomy (RP) as the last of the Nordic countries in 1995. However, a rapid increment in the Danish incidence of PCa is indicative of a shift in attitude with increasing opportunistic PSA testing. This had led to an increasing number of RPs being performed in Denmark. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in preoperative characteristics over time for the complete cohort of 6489 men who underwent RP between 1995 and 2011. Our hypothesis was that an increasing amount of men undergo RP for lower risk PCa.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients operated from 1995 to 2011 were identified via patient files and registries. Changes over time in age at surgery, preoperative PSA, clinical T-category, biopsy Gleason score (GS), and D'Amico classification are described. Tests for statistically significant changes were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age increased from 61.4 to 64.8 years (p < 0.0001) during the 16-year period. Median PSA declined from 11.5 to 7.9 ng/ml (p < 0.0001). Distribution of biopsy GS changed significantly, especially after 2005. Biopsy GS = 7 was found in 20.2% of the patients in 2005 compared to 57.1% in 2011. The proportion of T1 disease increased from 32% to 56%. Significant changes in percentage of patients according to the D'Amico classification were found. After 2005 the proportion of intermediate-risk patients increased significantly. The proportion of patients age 70 or above increased from 2% to 13% in the period studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant preoperative stage- and Gleason grade migration was found in this complete Danish nationwide cohort of patients undergoing RP during the past 16 years. This effect is most likely attributed to an increasing use of PSA as marker for early prostate cancer diagnosis in Denmark and new international guidelines for Gleason grading and scoring.
authors: Copenhagen Prostate Cancer Center and Department of Urology, Rigshospitalet. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen N , Denmark.
authors: Martin Andreas
authors: MA
authors: Røder
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Brasso
authors: Ib Jarle
authors: IJ
authors: Christensen
authors: Jørgen
authors: J
authors: Johansen
authors: Niels Christian
authors: NC
authors: Langkilde
authors: Helle
authors: H
authors: Hvarness
authors: Steen
authors: S
authors: Carlsson
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Jakobsen
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Borre
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Iversen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*