Prostatic Cancer in Aust-Agder County, Norway: Age, Stage, Grade and Mode of Presentation

Abstract

Two hundred and five patients (89 per 100000 men) with newly diagnosed prostatic cancer comprises all cases in the Aust-Agder County in Norway over a 5-year period. There were 36% stage TO MO, 19% T1-2 M0, 16% T3-4 M0 and 29% T0-4 MI. In patients with well differentiated disease (G1), 8% had distant metastases on presentation, whereas in the moderately differentiated tumors (G2) and the poorly differentiated tumors (G3) distant metastases occurred in 30% and 62%. respectively. A statistically significantly higher proportion of well differentiated (G1) tumors were observed in the younger age groups (<70 years). On presentation diagnosis was suspected on routine digital rectal examination in 9% of the patients, while 12% had symptoms on disseminated disease as mode of presentation. Of patients operated upon for apparently benign hyperplasia 13% had prostatic cancer.