Diagnostic Criteria for Stomal Obstruction of Tubeless Cutaneous Ureterostomy by Use of 99mTc-Mercaptoacetyltriglycine Diuretic Renography

PURPOSE: To evaluate 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renograms for diagnosing stomal obstruction in tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cutaneous ureterostomy was performed in 29 patients (56 renal units) with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Stomal obstruction was evaluated with 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renography 3 months after surgery. Regions of interest were drawn that completely encircled and snugly fit the kidney, renal pelvis, and ureter. The data analyses were performed with half-times to tracer clearance following furosemide (0.5 mg/kg) administration. RESULTS: The mean half-times to tracer clearance were 6.90+/-6.30, 5.25+/-4.29, and 8.75+/-7.63 minutes in the total, ipsilateral, and contralateral kidneys, respectively, in side relationships between the ureter and the stoma. There were significant differences between the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys in the mean half-time to tracer clearance (p=0.038). Forty-eight renal units (85.7%) had a half-time to tracer clearance of less than 15 minutes, and all 48 renal units had no hydronephrosis. On the other hand, 5 renal units (8.9%) had a half-time to tracer clearance of more than 20 minutes, and these 5 renal units required the insertion of stent catheters or became atrophic. CONCLUSIONS: 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renography was very useful for diagnosing stomal obstruction of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy. The upper limit of the half-time to tracer clearance for unobstructed systems was 15 minutes, which allowed for the confident exclusion of stomal obstruction in tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy.

Evaluations for Hydronephrosis After the Establishment of Tubeless Cutaneous Ureterostomy

PURPOSE: To investigate hydronephrosis after the establishment of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by using our definition of the tubeless condition and our indications for catheter insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight (54 renal units) patients with both establishment of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy 3 months after surgery and at least 12 months of follow-up were investigated in this study. The 4-grade system was used to evaluate the hydronephrosis. The definition of the tubeless condition in cutaneous ureterostomy was as follows: 1) the catheter stent is not placed in the renal pelvis through the stoma, 2) the grade of hydronephrosis is less than 3, and 3) the kidney is functioning. Indications for catheter insertion after the establishment of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy were as follows: 1) difficulty in curing acute pyelonephritis by drug treatments, 2) flank pain due to hydronephrosis, or 3) increase in the grade of hydronephrosis. RESULTS: The follow-up period was 12 to 78 months (average, 40.5+/-22.1 months). After the establishment of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy, 6 of 54 renal units (11.1%) were eligible for catheter insertion. The catheter insertion was performed in 4 renal units. Another 2 renal units were followed up without intervention, and they gradually became atrophic. The renal functions were preserved in the other 52 renal units. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our definition of the tubeless condition and our indications for catheter insertion would be useful for the evaluation and management of hydronephrosis after establishment of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy.

Miliary Tuberculosis Following Transrectal Ultrasonography (TRUS)-Guided Prostate Biopsy

Miliary tuberculosis (TB) after transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is an extremely rare complication. A 75-year-old patient who presented with high fever and cough following TRUS-guided prostate biopsy for his high serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (13.104 ng/ml) was diagnosed with miliary TB after clinical, laboratory, and radiological assessments. Histopathological examination of the prostate revealed TB with acid-fast bacilli. He was treated with chemotherapy for 9 months. The patient is now symptom-free, and his post-treatment PSA level was 5.023 ng/ml. This case is reported to acknowledge the possibility that miliary TB can occur as a complication of prostate biopsy if the patient suffers from prostate TB.