Urology Clinic of Lake Charles, LA

Dr. Reed Fontenot, Jr.
Dr. Stacy McBroom
Dr. John Upshaw

News

July 18, 2008
Computerized Tomography Findings In Pediatric Renal Trauma - Indications For Early Intervention?
UroToday.com - The study out of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh evaluated CT scans for blunt renal trauma to see if they correlated with the need for operative intervention when urinary extravasation was present.

A total of 17 patients with grade IV blunt renal trauma and urinary extravasation were identified between 2000 and 2007. Each CT scan was reviewed to determine location, size and number of sites of extravasation, as well as the presence of contrast material in the ipsilateral ureter. These were then compared to the findings at the time of surgery - whether surgey included stent placement, percutaneous urinoma drainage, angiographic embolization and nephrectomy. Read entire article here.

July 15, 2008
Increased Risk Of Kidney Stone Disease Due To Global Warming, Predicts UT Southwestern Researchers
Global warming is likely to increase the proportion of the population affected by kidney stones by expanding the higher-risk region known as the "kidney-stone belt" into neighboring states, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT Dallas have found.

Dehydration is one of the risk factors linked to kidney-stone disease, and the paper suggests global warming will exacerbate this effect. The researchers predict that by 2050, higher temperatures will cause an additional 1.6 million to 2.2 million kidney-stone cases, representing up to a 30 percent growth in some areas. Read entire article here.

Information
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among men. In 2002 it is estimated that 30,200 men will die from prostate cancer and 189,000 men will be diagnosed (American Cancer Society Facts & Figures 2002). The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age with 75% of all prostate cancers being diagnosed in men over the age of 65.

Prostate Cancer Management
The critical focus for the treatment of prostate cancer is to treat those cancers where it is necessary, and not to treat those that do not need it.

Decisions about the best management of prostate cancer can be complex and depend upon the:

Pathology of the cancer (unlike other cancers, prostate cancer often progresses very slowly)
Stage of the disease (non-metastatic (localized or locally advanced), metastatic or hormone refractory)
Age and general health of the patients at diagnosis
The impact that treatment can have on quality of life, including sexual activity.
Patient's preference for treatment
PSA at diagnosis

Please visit the National Prostate Cancer Coalition for more information.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month
Vaccine-preventable disease levels are at or near record lows. However, we cannot take high immunization coverage levels for granted. To continue to protect America's children and adults, we must obtain maximum immunization coverage in all populations, establish effective partnerships, conduct reliable scientific research, implement immunization systems, and ensure vaccine safety.
Read more ....

Prostate Cancer

Overview

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the clinical term for a cancerous tumor on the prostate gland. As prostate cancer grows, it may spread to the interior of the gland, to tissues near the prostate, to seminal vesicles (sac-like structures attached to the prostate), and to distant parts of the body (e.g., bones, liver, lungs). Prostate cancer confined to the gland often is treated successfully.

Anatomy

The prostate gland is located in the pelvis, below the bladder, above the urethral sphincter and the penis, and in front of the rectum in men. It is made up of glandular tissue and muscle fibers that surround a portion of the urethra. The gland is covered by a membrane (prostate capsule) that produces prostate-specific antigen.

Incidence and Prevalence

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the United States. The ACS estimates that about 220,900 new cases will be diagnosed in 2003 and about 28,900 men will die of the disease. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer.

Prostate cancer occurs in 1 out of 6 men. Reports of diagnosed cases have risen rapidly in recent years and mortality rates are declining, which may be due to increased screening.

African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer, and Asian and Native American men have the lowest incidence. Rates for Asian and African men increase sharply when they emigrate to the United States, suggesting an environmental connection (e.g., high-fat diet, smoking).

The risk for developing prostate cancer rises significantly with age, and 60% of newly diagnosed cases occur in men over the age of 70.

Risk Factors

A family history of prostate cancer increases the risk. Other possible risk factors include the following:

55 years old and older
Diet high in saturated fat
Exposure to heavy metals (e.g., cadmium)
Race (African American)
Sedentary lifestyle
Smoking

Signs and Symptoms

Early prostate cancer usually is discovered during a routine digital rectal examination (DRE).

Symptoms are often similar to those of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Men observing the following signs and/or symptoms should see their physician for a thorough examination.

Blood in the urine or semen

Frequent urination, especially at night

Inability to urinate

Nagging pain or stiffness in the back, hips, upper thighs, or pelvis

Painful ejaculation

Pain or burning during urination (dysuria)

Weak or interrupted urinary flow