METHOD FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER

• US 20090062645A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Nanke, Ralf, Fehre, Jens, Stetter, Martin
• Application Number:
  US12/203,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20090062645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4381 Prostate evaluation or disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

In a method for diagnosis and treatment of a patient with a tumor relating to prostate cancer, the following steps are implemented. A differential diagnosis of prostate cancer versus prostatitis and/or BPH is conducted on a patient using a cost-effective diagnosis method. If prostate cancer is diagnosed in the patient using a cost-effective measurement method, a characteristic value for the tumor aggressiveness of the prostate cancer is determined. A watchful waiting treatment is implemented with the patient given a characteristic value below a predeterminable first limit value. The size and position of the tumor is determined using a cost-effective method given a characteristic value above the first limit value. A cost-effective ultrasonic theranosis or a conventional therapy is conducted for a size below a second predeterminable limit value. The presence of metastases in the patient is checked, with a cost-intensive method generating image information, for a size above the second limit value. A metastasis treatment is implemented in the event that metastases are present. In the event that no metastases are present, a tumor treatment based on the aforementioned image information generated is implemented.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosis and treatment of a patient having a tumor associated with prostate cancer, comprising the steps of:

(a) implementing a differential diagnosis with regard to the patient using an economical diagnosis method to differentiate an occurrence of prostate cancer from prostatitis and/or BPH;

(b) if prostate cancer is diagnosed in said patient, using an economical measurement method to identify a characteristic value representing a tumor aggressiveness of the prostate cancer;

(c) implementing a watchful weighting treatment with regard to the patient if said characteristic value is below a predetermined first value;

(d) determining a size and position of the tumor using an economical method if said characteristic value is above said first value;

(e) implementing an economical ultrasound theranosis or another therapy if said size of said tumor is below a second value;

(f) detecting a presence of metastases in said patient with an economical method to generate image information if said size is above said second value;

(g) implementing a metastases treatment if metastases are detected in step (f); and

(h) if no metastases are detected in step (f), implementing a tumor treatment based on the image information generated in step (f).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising, as said economical method in step (d), implementing said economical method from step (f) to determine the size and position of the tumor and to check for the presence of metastases and to generate said image information.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising additionally testing said patient for concentrated or distributed metastases in step (g) and implementing a chemotherapy if distributed metastases are detected and implementing a resection if concentrated metastases are detected.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising implementing a chemotherapy after said resection.