Inconclusive bone scan in men with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: what next?

Primeau, Charlotte; Paterson, Catherine; Nabi, Ghulam

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of inconclusive bone scans and down-stream imaging and clinical follow-up generated, including subsequent treatment outcomes in men affected by inconclusive bone scans with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer. Data Sources: Retrospective study of clinical data for a Scottish population of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the intermediate and high-risk groups. Conclusion: Of the 1,246 patients included, initially 81 men were identified as having an inconclusive bone scan result following multidisciplinary team discussion. After further imaging, 24 patients remained inconclusive for metastasis. Of these, two patients received no treatment; one because of a watchful waiting decision, and one because of death. Of the 13 patients receiving radical treatment (laparoscopic radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy), three patients showed relapse (23%) indicating presence of microscopic disease and failure of radical treatment alone for these patients. Implications for Nursing Practice: This paper will assist nurses and multidisciplinary team members in understanding how patients diagnosed with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer with inconclusive bone scan results are subsequently imaged and managed in the current health care system. This raises awareness amongst nursing staff of disease recurrence and the possibility of downstream multimodality treatment for these men with inconclusive bone scans.

Citation

PRIMEAU, C., PATERSON, C. and NABI, G. 2020. Inconclusive bone scan in men with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: what next? Seminars in oncology nursing [online], 36(4), article ID 151046. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2020.151046

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 18, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 18, 2020
• Publication Date: Aug 31, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jul 28, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2021
• Journal: Seminars in oncology nursing
• Print ISSN: 0749-2081
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-3449
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 151046
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2020.151046
• Keywords: Radionuclide scan; Skeletal scintigraphy; Prostatic cancer; Metastatic; Metastasis
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/951764