Clinical usage of different guidelines in routine management, therapy and follow-up of patients with renal cell cancer in Germany

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the usage of different guidelines and to estimate the impact of changed recommendation in routine management, therapy and follow-up of patients with renal cell cancer (RCC).

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 600 urologists in Germany. Twenty seven percent of them were included in the analysis. The questions were about the practice setting, surgical and medical treatment of RCC, follow-up modalities, knowledge and usage of RCC guidelines. Results were correlated with the recommendations of the EAU-guideline.

Results: Sixty eight percent of the urologists were office based. Sixty percent were located in bigger cities. Ninety-eight percent of the colleagues reported to be knowledgeable about the EAU-guidelines, 62% reported to know the American Urological Association, 59% DGU/AWMF, 19% National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 19% European Society for Medical Oncology, 13% Onkopedia, and 3% British Association of Urological Surgeons-guidelines. Eighty-seven percent reported that partial nephrectomy (Nx) was performed in tumours with diameter <4 cm. Forty-one percent per formed a radical Nx for tumours that were 4–7 cm. Follow-up of RCC was done in 99%. Fifty-nine percent underwent an abdominal CT scan after 6 months. Thirty-nine percent got a chest X-ray done. Among those with metastatic RCC, only 84% were offered systemic therapy. First-line therapy was predominantly advocated using sunitinib.

Conclusion: Almost all urologists know and use the EAU-guidelines. Other guidelines are rarely used. Follow-up is performed in discordance with the EAU-recommendations. Interestingly, only 84% with metastatic disease are introduced to systemic therapy.