Blacks treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer (PCa) are more likely to experience adverse events and incur higher costs compared with non-Hispanic white men; however, this does not translate into a difference in PCa-specific or all-cause mortality. This according to a study of 2,020 elderly black patients and 24,462 elderly non-Hispanic white patients with localized PCa who underwent RP. Researchers found:

• 59.4% of black patients underwent RP within 90 days of diagnosis vs 69.5% of white patients.

• Black patients had a 7-day treatment delay vs white patients.

• Black patients were less likely to undergo lymph node dissection, but had higher odds of postoperative emergency room visits within 30 days and after 30 days or more.

• Surgical treatment of black patients was associated with higher incremental cost.

• There was no difference in PCa-specific mortality or all-cause mortality.

Citation: Schmid M, Meyer CP, Reznor G, et al. Racial differences in the surgical care of Medicare beneficiaries with localized prostate cancer. [Published online ahead of print October 22, 2015]. JAMA Oncol. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.3384.