Prognostic value of bone scan in patients with metastatic prostate cancer treated initially with androgen deprivation therapy

Purpose: We analyzed whether classifying bone prostate cancer metastases correlates with survival in patients treated primarily with androgen deprivation. Materials and Methods: We identified 86 patients with bone metastases who were followed between September 1988 and September 1999. Only those treated initially with androgen deprivation as monotherapy were included in this study. Clinical, pathological and radiological information were obtained by patient chart review. The 86 patients were divided into 2 groups according to metastasis grade on bone scan at diagnosis. Group 1 included patients with metastases on the axial skeleton and group 2 included those with bone metastases on the appendicular skeleton. In addition to our classification, we stratified patients according to the Soloway and Crawford et al classifications, and analyzed survival. Results: There were no statistical differences in the groups with axial versus appendicular metastases in terms of patient age, biopsy Gleason score, serum prostate specific antigen or clinical stage. Median survival was 53 and 29 months in patients with axial and appendicular bone metastases, respectively. Those with axial disease had better survival than those with appendicular bone metastases (p = 0.048). No statistical difference was observed when grading bone scan according to the Soloway and Crawford et al classifications. Conclusions: Classifying bone scans according to the site of metastases (axial versus appendicular) had many advantages. It is easy to understand and helps urologist better predict the patient prognosis. Axial metastases carries a better prognosis than appendicular metastasis.