One problem in the management of
prostatic cancer is that about half of the patients with this disease have metastatic lesions at first diagnosis and therefore tend to be given palliative rather than radical
therapy. We report here a patient with stage D
prostatic cancer who was treated with a single regimen of
estramustine phosphate (
Estracyt). The patient was a 63-year-old man who was admitted to Keio University Hospital because of sudden onset of
double vision. Under a presumptive diagnosis of
brain tumor, he underwent thorough examination including brain CT, Ga and bone scan and basic blood tests, which revealed an extraordinarily high level of
acid phosphatase. He was therefore referred to our urological division for investigation of possible
prostatic cancer. On the basis of the results of urological examinations, a diagnosis of
prostatic cancer, stage D, was confirmed. Accordingly, radical surgery was not indicated and instead he was started on oral
Estracyt, to which he responded well. He has been enjoying a comfortable life to date, over one and a half years after initial referral.