Comparison of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging, clinical prognostic factors and nomograms in the local staging of prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Aims And Background: To determine retrospectively the role of endorectal magnetic resonance in the staging of prostate cancer. The aim of the study was to assess whether it is possible to identify a group of patients with prostate cancer, chosen for certain prognostic factors, eligible for radiotherapy that could take advantage of endorectal magnetic resonance in staging and therapy management.

Methods: Between January 2002 and December 2005, 143 patients with biopsy proven prostate cancer underwent endorectal magnetic resonance.

Combining independent studies of diagnostic fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography and computed tomography in mediastinal lymph node staging for non-small cell lung cancer.

Aims And Background: A meta-analysis of diagnostic test performance was conducted to compare the results of relevant studies reporting diagnostic accuracy values for mediastinal staging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This paper deals with the two most accurate imaging techniques currently in use: positron emission tomography (PET) with FDG and computed tomography (CT). A statistical pooling method was used to perform a quantitative meta-analysis aimed at demonstrating the potential advantage of one of these two methods.