The TNM 8th edition: Validation of the proposal for organ - confined (pT2) prostate cancer

ABSTRACT Purpose: The 8th edition of the TNM has been updated and improved in order to ensure a high degree of clinical relevance. A major change in prostate includes pathologically organ - confined disease to be considered pT2 and no longer subclassified by extent of involvement or laterality. The aim of this study was to validate this major change. Materials and Methods: Prostates were step - sectioned from 196 patients submitted to radical prostatectomy with organ confined disease (pT2) and negative surgical margins. Tumor extent was evaluated by a semiquantitative point count method. The dominant nodule extent was recorded as the maximal number of positive points of the largest single focus of cancer from the quadrants. Laterality was considered as either total tumor extent (Group 1) or index tumor extent (Group 2). Time to biochemical recurrence was analyzed with the Kaplan - Meier product limit analysis and prediction of shorter time to biochemical recurrence with Cox proportional hazards model. Results: In Group 1, 43 / 196 (21.9%) tumors were unilateral and 153 / 196 (78.1%) bilateral and in Group 2, 156 / 196 (79.6%) tumors were unilateral and 40 / 196 (20.4%) bilateral. In both groups, comparing unilateral vs bilateral tumors, there was no significant clinicopathological difference, and no significant association with time as well as prediction of shorter time to biochemical recurrence following surgery. Conclusions: Pathologic sub - staging of organ confined disease does not convey prognostic information either considering laterality as total tumor extent or index tumor extent. Furthermore, no correlation exists between digital rectal examination and pathologic stage.

Disfunção erétil / Erectile dysfunction

A disfunção erétil ou "incapacidade de obter e manter ereção peniana" é condição antiga na história da humanidade. No entanto, ainda é uma entidade muito frequente nos consultórios médicos que merece atenção, abordagem e tratamento específico.Apesar do grande avanço da medicina, a história clínica e exame físico são partes fundamentais no diagnóstico e conduta desses pacientes. Durante anamnese detalhada, as causas etiológicas podem ser facilmente identificadas e direcionar a forma de tratamento mais adequada.Nos últimos anos vários novos métodos terapêuticos foram desenvolvidos e outros, utilizados no passado, foram aperfeiçoados. Dentre esses, os principais são: os inibidores da 5-fosfodiesterase (5FDE), avaliação psicológica, injeções intracavernosas e próteses penianas.Com certeza, a medicação via oral utilizada sob demanda mudou a história da disfunção erétil e se tornou o tratamento mais utilizado e efetivo para esse grupo de pacientes. Por esse motivo, especialistas no assunto se referem à história da disfunção erétil como "era pré e pós-inibidores da 5FDE".

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in penile cancer: a comparative study using modified inguinal dissection

INTRODUCTION: In the case of clinically negative inguinal regions in penile cancer, the treatments proposed might vary from careful observation to radical dissection for all patients. We evaluated the effectiveness of the sentinel lymph node biopsy using lymphoscintigraphy in patients with penile cancer and at least one negative inguinal region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 18 patients, biopsy of the sentinel lymph node from the 32 negative inguinal regions and modified radical lymphadenectomy in these regions regardless of the biopsy results was performed. Clinical staging, pathological results of the sentinel and the other lymph nodes removed during lymphadenectomy, tumor behavior, local and inguinal recurrence and specific disease mortality were accessed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study sample was 57.7 years (44 - 81 years) and the sentinel lymph node presented 0 percent false negative 66 percent sensitivity, and 79.3 percent specificity when compared with the modified inguinal lymphadenectomy as the gold standard treatment. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a feasible method of assessing the presence of regional metastasis in patients with penile cancer and clinically negative inguinal regions. However, the optimal lymphoscintigraphy technique is still in evolution and requires further optimization at high volume centers.