Novel treatment strategies to be reviewed at ‘Challenge the Experts’ in Davos, Switzerland

Thu, 12 Sep 2013

An update on what’s new in urology, review of difficult cases, novel management strategies in uro-oncology and critical debates on treatment issues are among the topics that will be examined at the European Urology Forum annually held in Davos, Switzerland.

One of the EAU’s longest-running annual meetings, the European Urology Forum will hold its 23rd edition from February 1 to 4, 2014, at its traditional venue in Davos with a scientific programme that will present and examine key challenges and management prospects in the treatment of a diverse number of aspects of urological diseases.

“The European Urology Forum keeps its tradition of providing participants a critical update on what's new in urology, state-of-the-art sessions and cases studies,” said course directors Professors Chris Chapple and Joan Palou.

Challenging the experts

The ‘Challenge the Experts” sessions, a series of presentations by mid-career academic urologists that aim to stimulate critical discussions on treatment management and look into future prospects will again be featured and has attracted the participation of five experts from Belgium, Finland, Romania and Germany.

Participants to the Challenge the Experts include Frank Van der Aa (Leuven, BE), Peter Bostrom (Turku, FI), Bogdan Geavlete (Bucharest, RO), Christian Gratzke (Munich, DE) and Axel Merseburger (Hannover, DE)

Facing a jury of seasoned experts who will provide a critique of each presentations, the five “challengers” are expected to tackle and present new treatment approaches on a wide range of urological conditions. Van der Aa will present on urethrolysis and secondary sling surgery after previous anti-incontinence surgery, functional outcome after urethroplasty and long-term results of sacral neuromodulation.

Bostrom, recipient of this year’s Crystal Matula Award, will focus on uro-oncology and will discuss surgery and chemotherapy, novel imaging (MRI & PET) in prostate cancer diagnosis, staging in testis cancer and epidemiology.

Geavlete will take up endoscopic vaporization in lower urinary tract pathology, new technologies in BPH endoscopic treatment and narrow band imaging (NBI) vision in urothelial cancer.

Gratzke will present on the topics ‘Cannabinoids – from bench to bedside,’ novel minimally-invasive treatment for male LUTS and aggressive surgical treatment of prostate cancer. Another expert from Germany, Merseburger will look into treatment options in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), medical therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the limits and possibilities of surgery in T3b RCC.

The meeting in Davos has drawn the participation on a regular basis of many urologists at all stages in their career path since it provides evidence-based timely updates, comprehensive discussion of urological issues, debates on treatment management, and for their younger colleagues the tips and tricks on endourology, case discussions, hands-on training and video presentations, among others, and set amidst a relaxing environment with opportunities for recreational activities outside of the academic sections.

For the scientific programme, speakers list and registration details, visit the meeting website at http://esudavos.uroweb.org