Reversible Infertility Associated with Testosterone Therapy for Symptomatic Hypogonadism in Infertile Couple

PURPOSE: Androgen replacement therapy has been shown to be safe and effective for most patients with testosterone deficiency. Male partners of infertile couples often report significantly poorer sexual activity and complain androgen deficiency symptoms. We report herein an adverse effect on fertility caused by misusage of androgen replacement therapy in infertile men with hypogonadal symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 8 male patients referred from a local clinic for azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia between January 2008 and July 2011. After detailed evaluation at our andrology clinic, all patients were diagnosed with iatrogenic hypogonadism associated with external androgen replacement. We evaluated changes in semen parameters and serum hormone level, and fertility status. RESULTS: All patients had received multiple testosterone undecanoate (NebidoR) injections at local clinic due to androgen deficiency symptoms combined with lower serum testosterone level. The median duration of androgen replacement therapy prior to the development of azoospermia was 8 months (range: 4-12 months). After withdrawal of androgen therapy, sperm concentration and serum follicle-stimulating hormone level returned to normal range at a median 8.5 months (range: 7-10 months). CONCLUSION: Misusage of external androgen replacement therapy in infertile men with poor sexual function can cause temporary spermatogenic dysfunction, thus aggravating infertility.

Preoperative Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of pT0 Prostate Cancer in Radical Prostatectomy

PURPOSE: To analyze the preoperative clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with pT0 prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 702 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at our institution between January 2004 and July 2008 for clinically localized prostate cancer. If there was no evidence of residual tumor in the pathological specimen of the prostate, a patient was staged as pT0. Patients with pT0 disease were compared with a control group of patients who were operated on during the same period. RESULTS: Overall, 9 (1.3%) patients were staged as pT0 on the pathologic examination. Significant differences were observed between the pT0 group and the control patients in the biopsy Gleason score (p=0.004), the number of positive cores on biopsy (p=0.018), the tumor length of positive cores (p30 cm3. Whereas 8 of the 9 (88.9%) pT0 patients showed all of these characteristics, only 55 of the 693 (7.9%) control patients fulfilled the criteria. The combination suggested above afforded a sensitivity of 88.8% and a specificity of 92.1% for the prediction of pT0 status. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of pT0 prostate cancer seen on RP was 1.3%. A combination of clinicopathological features, incorporating a biopsy Gleason score, the number of positive biopsy cores, tumor length on biopsy, and prostate volume, was useful to predict pT0 stage on RP.

Analysis of the Learning Curve for Laparoscopic Renal Surgeries in Children

PURPOSE: To guide pediatric urologists to start laparoscopic renal surgery in children, we analyze our experience with various laparoscopic renal surgeries to highlight the surgical outcomes and the degree of completion of specific laparoscopic skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 51 children who underwent laparoscopic renal surgery by a single surgeon between March 2002 and July 2008 (25 nephrectomies, 12 nephroureterectomies, 10 heminephrectomies, 3 heminephroureterectomies, and 1 heminephrectomy in a horseshoe kidney). We compared the degree of completion of specific laparoscopic skills as well as operative parameters such as operative time, estimated blood loss, and complication rate. RESULTS: All laparoscopic renal surgeries were completed as planned without open conversions. In the nephrectomy group (nephrectomy+nephroureterectomy), the mean operative time decreased after 10 cases (239 minutes vs. 145 minutes, p<0.001). A decrease in mean estimated blood loss was also noted after 10 cases (119 vs. 32 ml, p<0.05). The complication rate decreased after 20 cases (30% vs. 4%, p<0.05). In all patients, the completion rates for specific laparoscopic skills were 98% for trocar insertion, 80% for removal of a pathological lesion, 82% for retroperitoneal insufflation, and 73% for refluxing ureterectomy and suturing. The overall completion rate increased after 18 cases (79% vs. 91%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Operative time and blood loss in pediatric laparoscopic renal surgery are rapidly improved with experience. Improvement in the complication rate and specific laparoscopic skills require more time. We recommend that pediatric urologists beginning laparoscopic surgery try complex surgeries such as heminephrectomy or heminephroureterectomy after they have surmounted the learning curve of easy surgeries such as nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Single Center Experience of 610 Cases

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the outcomes and complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) at a single institute with a large series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 610 patients who underwent PCNL between March 1995 and June 2008 for staghorn calculi in 139 (22.8%), partial staghorn calculi in 104 (17.0%), renal pelvis stone in 222 (36.4%), proximal ureter calculi in 60 (9.8%), and calculi within a caliceal diverticulum in 85 (13.9%) patients. Stone-free status was defined as no visible residual calcification or remnant calcification smaller than 4 mm in diameter (clinically insignificant residual fragment) on a plain KUB (X-ray examination of the kidney, ureter, and bladder) image. Characteristics of the stones, operation time, stone-free rate, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Initial stone burden was 665.9+/-600.6 mm2. Average operation time was 103.2+/-58.6 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 7.9 days. The stone-free rate was 84.9%, and ancillary procedures were required in 66 patients (10.8%), including 34 (5.6%) second-look PCNL and 26 (4.3%) ureteroscopic procedures. In the univariate analysis for prediction of stone-free rate, hydronephrosis, stone type, stone composition, and stone burden were significant prognostic factors. In the multivariate analysis, initial stone burden was the only independent factor affecting the stone-free rate. Complications were found in 95 patients (16.1%), 5 (0.8%) of whom needed embolization due to bleeding and 23 (3.8%) of whom showed pleural complications. CONCLUSIONS: PCNL is an effective method for the treatment of staghorn, large calyceal, and some upper ureteral stones with acceptable complication rates.

The Effectiveness of Simultaneous Renal Artery-vein Clamping during Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy on the Surgical Outcome / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: We wanted to compare the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy(LPN) performed with and without simultaneous artery-vein clamping. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2005 and December 2006, elective LPN was performed for 56 patients with renal tumors with using hilar clamping by a Satinsky clamp in 42(75%) patients, and with using artery-only or no clamping in the rest of the patients. The Satinsky and non-Satinsky groups were compared for their perioperative characteristics, the pathologic findings and the complication rate. The postoperative renal function was evaluated with measuring the serum creatinine and also by 99technetium labeled diethylenetetraminepentaacetic acid(DTPA) renal scanning. RESULTS: Renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 43(76.8%) patients and all had negative margins. There were no significant differences between the two groups for tumor size(2.1 vs. 2.0cm, respectively), the operative time(210.9 vs. 199.3 min, respectively) and the hospital stay(5.9 vs. 5.6 days, respectively). The mean warm ischemia time was longer when the Satinsky clamp was applied(38.5 vs. 21.9 min, respectively, p=0.03). The postoperative serum creatinine level and glomerular filtration rate(GFR) were 1.13mg/dl and 41.4ml/min/m2, respectively, in the Satinsky group and 1.17mg/dl and 33.5ml/min/m2, respectively, in the non-Satinsky group, without significant differences. The postoperative transfusion rate was lower in the Satinsky group(9.5 vs. 28.5%, respectively, p=0.28), although more pelvocalyceal system repair was done in the Satinsky group (47.6 vs. 7.7%, respectively, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous clamping of the renal artery and vein during LPN enables efficient removal of tumors that are deep in the renal sinus with a safe margin, it facilitates closure of the pelvocalyceal system and it reduces the need for transfusion without impairing renal function.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney in a Young Male / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Small cell carcinoma was first described in the lung, and extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma has been reported at sites throughout the body. Small cell carcinoma of the genitourinary tract has more commonly been reported to arise from the urinary bladder. Small cell carcinoma of the kidney is extremely rare, rapidly progressive and lethal. Most of the reported cases have occurred in relatively old age people. We report here on a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the kidney in a young male, and this was managed via radical nephrectomy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy.