Treatment of localized prostate cancer and use of nomograms among urologists in the West Africa sub-region

INTRODUCTION: there is a high incidence of prostate cancer among men of African descent. The disease tends to occur at an early age with a tendency to be aggressive. The objective was to determine the practice of urologists in the West African sub-region regarding treatment of localized prostate cancer, the use of nomograms and their perception of the usefulness of nomograms. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study that involved urologists practicing in the West African sub-region attending urology and surgery conferences of the “Société Internationale d´Urologie”, West African college of surgeons and the Ghana association of urological surgeons. A structured questionnaire was used that sort to ascertain the treatment modalities used for localized prostate cancer and the use of nomograms in the sub-region. The study period spanned the years 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: fifty-six urologists practicing in eleven West African countries responded. Fifty percent had been in practice for less than 5 years. Sixty eight percent (38/56) had been involved in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy was widely available and the treatment modality most used 94.7% (36/38). Nomograms was used by 57.9% of them (22/38) with the Partin tables being the most commonly used nomogram (34.2%). No Locally developed nomogram for treatment of localized prostate cancer was identified. CONCLUSION: radical prostatectomy is the commonest treatment modality used for the management of localized prostate cancer in the West Africa sub-region. Majority of the urologists used nomograms with the Partin tables being the most used.