Testosterone replacement therapy has been much debated in recent months, in light of two studies linking the treatment to increased risk of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke, prompting an FDA investigation into TRT’s safety and widespread criticism from members of the urologic community. In this article, Ajay Nehra, MD, discusses those studies, evolving attitudes toward “low T,” and the importance of individualizing treatment.
The “embarrassment of riches” of therapeutic options for advanced prostate cancer fortunately continues, encouraging us all to strive for lessening the incidence and impact of prostate cancer-specific mortality.
Men are being too easily enticed lately into ill-advised use of testosterone supplementation. Even men with only minimal, vague complaints are promised a hormonal fountain of youth and ageless virility. Many potential candidates seem to be under the misconception that “T” replacement will boost or energize their natural testicular production. In fact, exogenous testosterone suppresses testicular function.
In malpractice cases that involve the occurrence of a known complication during a procedure, the issues usually raised are informed consent for the procedure and the timely recognition and appropriate treatment of the complication.
Other questions addressed in this installment of "Coding Q&A" include understanding the Physician Quality Reporting System and avoiding being denied payment for lab tests based on medical necessity.
Important developments that could have an impact on urology practices include an attempt by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide more flexibility for providers in how they use certified EHR technology to meet meaningful use requirements and be eligible for program payments as well as proposed revisions to the FDA's “Guidance for Industry: Distributing Scientific and Medical Publications on Unapproved New Uses-Recommended Practices.”
In the August 2014 installment of "Speak Out," urologists weigh the pros and cons of shortening medical training.
By their very nature, financial markets rise and fall constantly, with an ever-present potential for gain or loss. The key is to have a plan in place in advance of large market selloffs or large market increases.
Web analytics refers to collecting, analyzing, and using data about how users interact with your website to optimize that interaction for the benefit of your business. Here is what you need to know.
Increasing daily temperature appears to be associated with an increased risk of kidney stones, results of a recently published multicenter study suggest.
Diagnosing physicians-urologists in particular-significantly influence decision making in men with low-risk prostate cancer as well as the type of treatment selected, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Urologist Christine N. Lajeunesse, MD, who survived the shooting at Urology Nevada 7 months ago, tells a local TV station that her recovery is progressing and that she’s only angry she didn't get to tell the shooter “that he missed.”
In our “Best of AUA” report, Urology Times’ editors and writers present the AUA annual meeting’s take-home messages in 15 therapeutic areas.
Androgen deprivation therapy provides no survival benefit in older men with localized prostate cancer at 15 years, newly published research shows.
The widespread diffusion of minimally invasive robotic surgery for prostate cancer has been associated with an increase in the risk of adverse events, according to a recent study.
Philippe E. Spiess, MD, MS, presents the take home messages on penile, testis, and urethral cancer from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Andrew C. Peterson, MD, presents the take home messages on trauma/reconstruction/diversion from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Matthew D. Dunn, MD, presents the take home messages on stone disease/endourology from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Wassim Kassouf, MD, CM, presents the take home messages on bladder cancer from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Jeremy M. Blumberg, MD, presents the take home messages on transplantation/vascular surgery from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Landon Trost, MD, presents the take home messages on sexual function/dysfunction from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including studies of clostridium collagenase histolyticum (CCH [XIAFLEX]).
Adonis K. Hijaz, MD, presents the take home messages on female urology/incontinence/urodynamics from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including studies on mesh outcomes and the overactive bladder treatment mirabegron (Myrbetriq).
Manish A. Vira, MD, presents the take home messages on minimally invasive surgery from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Richard K. Lee, MD, MBA, presents the take home messages on BPH/LUTS from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Jesse D. Sammon, DO, presents the take home messages on outcomes analysis from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Monish Aron, MD, presents the take home messages on kidney cancer from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
K.C. Balaji, MD, presents the take home messages on basic science research from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Tobias S. Köhler, MD, MPH, presents the take home messages on infertility/andrology from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.
Michael C. Gong, MD, PhD, presents the take home messages on prostate cancer from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including new findings about enzalutamide (XTANDI).
I consider urology to be a very unique field, one that I am lucky to be part of. Recently, though, I have begun to wonder whether the medical community (not necessarily the urology community) has been too quick to embrace the widespread use of testosterone replacement therapy.