Objective: To investigate changes in the incidence and treatment of prostate cancer over the period in which new diagnostic tools were introduced and the attitude towards treatment was changing.
Patients and methods: Information on the extent of disease and treatment of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer within the Rotterdam region was retrieved from the Rotterdam Cancer Registry.
Results: In the period 1989-95, 4344 patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer and the age-standardized incidence increased from 62 to 125 per 100 000 men. This increase mainly comprised tumours localized to the prostate, while the incidence of advanced cancers remained stable. The proportion of poorly differentiated tumours decreased from 33% in 1989 to 24% in 1995. In the same period the number of patients receiving radiotherapy increased from 80 to 258, while the annual number of radical prostatectomies rose from 17 to 159. Radiotherapy was the preferred type of treatment in patients over 70 years of age, whereas radical prostatectomy was used more frequently in younger patients with localized tumours.
Conclusion: While the value of screening for prostate cancer remains in debate, incidence and treatment patterns are changing rapidly. Information on patterns of care is needed to interpret future mortality data and to plan resources for adequate health care.