Urology Times medical magazine has named the prostate cancer program at Kansas University Cancer Center one of 13 “Clinical Centers of Excellence” in the country.

It is the only prostate cancer center in Kansas or the Kansas City area to receive the honor.

The rankings were based on many factors, including comments from key opinion leaders and a survey of Urology Times readers. Centers also were judged on patient outcomes, quality improvement initiatives, patient satisfaction, research and referrals.

The magazine said the ranking “is designed to provide physicians with a valuable tool when considering where to refer challenging cases.”

Dr. Brantley Thrasher, chairman of the urology department, said the program offers the most advanced methods for the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer, including a combined PET/CT scanner, as well as three active and federally funded basic-science research labs in the area of advanced prostate cancer.