Effect of Active Surgical Co-Management by Medical Hospitalists in Urology Inpatient Care:A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate the use of active surgical co-management (SCM) by medical hospitalists for urology inpatient care. @*Materials and Methods@#Since March 2019, a hospitalist-SCM program was implemented at a tertiary-care medical center, and a retrospective cohort study was conducted among co-managed urology inpatients. We assessed the clinical outcomes of urology inpatients who received SCM and compared passive SCM (co-management of patients by hospitalists only on request; March 2019 to June 2020) with active SCM (co-management of patients based on active screening by hospitalists; July 2020 to October 2021). We also evaluated the perceptions of patients who received SCM toward inpatient care quality, safety, and subjective satisfaction with inpatient care at discharge or when transferred to other wards. @*Results@#We assessed 525 patients. Compared with the passive SCM group (n=205), patients in the active SCM group (n=320) required co-management for a significantly shorter duration (p=0.012) and tended to have a shorter length of stay at the urology ward (p=0.062) and less frequent unplanned readmissions within 30 days of discharge (p=0.095) while triggering significantly fewer events of rapid response team activation (p=0.002). No differences were found in the proportion of patients transferred to the intensive care unit, in-hospital mortality rates, or inpatient care questionnaire scores. @*Conclusion@#Active surveillance and co-management of urology inpatients by medical hospitalists can improve the quality and efficacy of inpatient care without compromising subjective inpatient satisfaction.

Perioperative Outcomes of Different Surgical Methods Among Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy With Neobladder Urinary Diversion

Purpose@#To compare perioperative outcomes according to surgical methods among bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) with neobladder urinary diversion. @*Materials and Methods@#Between June 2007 and January 2020, 89 bladder cancer patients who received RC with neobladder urinary diversion were enrolled in this study. Patients were stratified into surgical methods – (1) open RC with neobladder (ONB) reconstruction, (2) robotassisted RC (RARC) with extracorporeal neobladder (ECNB) reconstruction, and (3) RARC with intracorporeal neobladder (ICNB) reconstruction. Perioperative outcomes were compared among the 3 groups, with major complications defined according to Clavien-Dindo grades III–V within 90 days. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors for postoperative complications. @*Results@#Of 89 patients, 28 (31%) had ONB, 31 (35%) had ECNB, and 30 (34%) had ICNB. The median operative time was 471 minutes, and the ICNB group (424.5 minutes) was significantly less than ONB (444.5 minutes) and ECNB groups (542.9 minutes) (p=0.001). Transfusion rate was also significantly less in the ICNB group (13%) (p=0.001). Complications were recorded in 67 patients (75%) and major complications in 22 of all patients (25%). The major complication rate was significantly less in ICNB (13.4%) than in ONB (25%) and ECNB (35%) (p=0.003). Multivariate analysis showed surgical methods (ICNB) (odds ratio [OR], 0.709; p=0.003) and age (OR, 1.150; p=0.001) were significant factors related to occurrence of major postoperative complications. @*Conclusions@#RARC with ICNB reduces postoperative complications compared to ONB and ECNB.

Effect of Body Mass Index and Hypertension on the Prognosis of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy

Purpose@#To investigate the impact of preoperative underlying hypertension (HTN) and body mass index (BMI) on oncologic outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNUx). @*Materials and Methods@#From May 2003 to December 2018, 453 UTUC patients who underwent RNUx at a single institution were enrolled in the study. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to preoperative HTN and BMI (cutoff 24 kg/m2) and perioperative parameters and recurrence outcomes were compared. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to identify the significance of HTN and BMI regarding UTUC recurrence. @*Results@#Among a total 453 UTUC patients, 233 (51.4%) had HTN, and 222 (49.0%) had BMI ≥24 kg/m2. The HTN versus no-HTN group had similar perioperative outcomes, except for the rate of diabetes (p<0.001). The high-BMI versus low-BMI group had similar outcomes, except for the prevalence of HTN (p=0.026). During median follow-up of 23 months, 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 76.2% in the HTN group and 79.9% in the non-HTN group (p=0.002), and 77.3% in the low-BMI group and 79.0% in the high-BMI group (p=0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that BMI (hazard ratio [HR], 0.740; p=0.046), and HTN (HR, 1.687; p=0.005) were significant predictors of cancer recurrence. @*Conclusions@#Among UTUC patients who underwent RNUx, patients with HTN and low-BMI showed worse prognosis regarding cancer recurrence. To validate our results, the mechanisms of association between HTN, BMI, and UTUC should be investigated in further prospective studies.

Effect of Body Mass Index and Hypertension on the Prognosis of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy

Purpose@#To investigate the impact of preoperative underlying hypertension (HTN) and body mass index (BMI) on oncologic outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNUx). @*Materials and Methods@#From May 2003 to December 2018, 453 UTUC patients who underwent RNUx at a single institution were enrolled in the study. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to preoperative HTN and BMI (cutoff 24 kg/m2) and perioperative parameters and recurrence outcomes were compared. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to identify the significance of HTN and BMI regarding UTUC recurrence. @*Results@#Among a total 453 UTUC patients, 233 (51.4%) had HTN, and 222 (49.0%) had BMI ≥24 kg/m2. The HTN versus no-HTN group had similar perioperative outcomes, except for the rate of diabetes (p<0.001). The high-BMI versus low-BMI group had similar outcomes, except for the prevalence of HTN (p=0.026). During median follow-up of 23 months, 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 76.2% in the HTN group and 79.9% in the non-HTN group (p=0.002), and 77.3% in the low-BMI group and 79.0% in the high-BMI group (p=0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that BMI (hazard ratio [HR], 0.740; p=0.046), and HTN (HR, 1.687; p=0.005) were significant predictors of cancer recurrence. @*Conclusions@#Among UTUC patients who underwent RNUx, patients with HTN and low-BMI showed worse prognosis regarding cancer recurrence. To validate our results, the mechanisms of association between HTN, BMI, and UTUC should be investigated in further prospective studies.

The current status of hormone treatment for prostate cancer patients in Korean real-world practice: a multi-institutional observational study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

We aimed to evaluate the current nationwide trend, efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) profiles of hormone treatment in real-world practice settings for prostate cancer (PCa) patients in Korea. A total of 292 men with any biopsy-proven PCa (TanyNanyMany) from 12 institutions in Korea were included in this multi-institutional, observational study of prospectively collected data. All luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists were allowed to be investigational drugs. Efficacy was defined as (1) the rate of castration (serum testosterone ≤50 ng dl-1) at 4-week visit and (2) breakthrough (serum testosterone >50 ng dl-1 after castration). Safety assessments included routine examinations for potential adverse events, laboratory tests, blood pressure, body weight, and bone mineral density (BMD, at baseline and at the last follow-up visit). QoL was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26). The most common initial therapeutic regimen was LHRH agonist with anti-androgen (78.0%), and the most commonly used LHRH agonist for combination and monotherapy was leuprolide (64.0% for combination and 58.0% for monotherapy). The castration and breakthrough rates were 78.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The laboratory results related to dyslipidemia worsened after 4 weeks of hormone treatment. In addition, the mean BMD T-score was significantly lower at the last follow-up (mean: -1.950) compared to baseline (mean: -0.195). The mean total EPIC-26 score decreased from 84.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 12.2) to 78.3 (s.d.: 8.1), with significant deterioration only in the urinary domain (mean: 23.5 at baseline and 21.9 at the 4-week visit). These findings demonstrate the nationwide trend of current practice settings in hormone treatment for PCa in Korea.

Clinical Significance of Serum Adipokines according to Body Mass Index in Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of 7 circulating adipokines according to body mass index (BMI) in Korean men with localized prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two of 65 prospectively enrolled patients with clinically localized PCa who underwent RP between 2015 and 2016 were evaluated. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to their BMI: non-obese (< 25 kg/m²) and obese (≥25 kg/m²). The adipokines evaluated were interleukin-2, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), chemerin, C-X-C motif chemokine 10, adiponectin, leptin, and resistin. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of advanced tumor stage. RESULTS: We found that obese patients with PCa who underwent RP had a higher incidence of tumors with a high Gleason score (≥8), pathological T3 (pT3) stage, and positive extraprostatic extension than patients with a normal BMI. Additionally, patients with obesity showed significantly lower serum adiponectin and higher serum leptin levels, but did not show differences in other adipokines. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that IGF-1 (odds ratio [OR]=1.03) was identified as a predictor of advanced tumor stage (≥pT3) in the overall population. However, only leptin remained an independent predictive factor for advanced tumor stage (≥pT3) (OR=1.15) in patients with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results indicate that a higher leptin level in obese men can be considered a risk factor for aggressive PCa. This prospective study provides greater insight into the role of circulating adipokines in Korean patients with PCa undergoing RP, particularly in patients with obesity.

Efficacy of First-Line Targeted Therapy in Real-World Korean Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Focus on Sunitinib and Pazopanib

BACKGROUND: To evaluate survival outcomes and prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who received sunitinib (SU) and pazopanib (PZ) as first-line therapy in real-world Korean clinical practice. METHODS: Data of 554 patients with mRCC who received SU or PZ at eight institutions between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the targeted therapy, the patients were divided into SU (n = 293) or PZ (n = 261) groups, and the clinicopathological variables and survival rates of the two groups were compared. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the prognostic factors for OS. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 16.4 months (interquartile range, 8.3–31.3). Patients in the PZ group were older, and no significant difference was observed in the performance status (PS) between the two groups. In the SU group, the dose reduction rate was higher and the incidence of grade 3 toxicity was more frequent. The objective response rates were comparable between the two groups (SU, 32.1% vs. PZ, 36.4%). OS did not differ significantly between the two groups (SU, 36.5 months vs. PZ, 40.2 months; log-rank, P = 0.955). Body mass index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS > 2, synchronous metastasis, poor Heng risk criteria, and liver and bone metastases were associated with a shorter OS. CONCLUSION: Our real-world data of Korean patients with mRCC suggested that SU and PZ had similar efficacies as first-line therapy for mRCC. However, PZ was better tolerated than SU in Korean patients.

Partial versus Radical Nephrectomy for T1-T2 Renal Cell Carcinoma in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III: a Multiinstitutional Analysis of Kidney Function and Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: To examine survival rates and renal function after partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: We studied 4,332 patients who underwent PN or RN for pathological T1a-T2N0M0 renal cell carcinoma from 1988 to 2014. Patients were divided into two subgroups of CKD stage I–II and stage III. Kidney function, and survival outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: We included 1,756 patients with CKD I–II and 276 patients with CKD III in the final pair-matched analysis. Kidney function was significantly better preserved in the PN than in the RN group among all patients. However, the beneficial effect of PN on kidney function gradually disappeared over time in CKD III patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates after PN and RN differed in patients with CKD I–II disease (99.4% vs. 96.5%, respectively, P = 0.015). The 5-year OS rates after surgery were not affected by mode of nephrectomy in CKD III patients (97.8% vs. 93.5%, P = 0.103). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rates did not differ between treatment groups in all CKD stage. Cox hazard analysis showed that the operative method was a significant factor for OS in CKD I–II patients (hazard ratio [HR], 0.320; confidence interval [CI], 0.122–0.840; P = 0.021). However, PN was not beneficial in terms of OS in CKD III patients (HR, 0.395; CI, 0.086–1.172; P = 0.117). CONCLUSION: PN is associated with a higher OS rate and better kidney function in patients with preoperative CKD stage I and II, but not in those with CKD stage III.

Selection Criteria for Active Surveillance of Patients with Prostate Cancer in Korea: A Multicenter Analysis of Pathology after Radical Prostatectomy / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Korean patients with prostate cancer (PC) typically present with a more aggressive disease than patients in Western populations. Consequently, it is unclear if the current criteria for active surveillance (AS) can safely be applied to Korean patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to define appropriate selection criteria for AS for patients with PC in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of 2,126 patients with low risk PC who actually underwent radical prostatectomy. The primary outcome was an unfavorable disease, which was defined by non-organ confined disease or an upgrading of the Gleason score to ≥ 7 (4+3). Predictive variables of an unfavorable outcome were identified by multivariate analysis using randomly selected training samples (n=1,623, 76.3%). We compared our selected criteria to various Western criteria for the primary outcome and validated our criteria using the remaining validation sample (n=503, 23.7%). RESULTS: A non-organ confined disease rate of 14.9% was identified, with an increase in Gleason score ≥ 7 (4+3) of 8.7% and a final unfavorable disease status of 20.8%. The following criteria were selected: Gleason score ≤ 6, clinical stage T1-T2a, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤ 10 ng/mL, PSA density < 0.15 ng/mL/mL, number of positive cores ≤ 2, and maximum cancer involvement in any one core ≤ 20%. These criteria provided the lowest unfavorable disease rate (11.7%) when compared to Western criteria (13.3%-20.7%), and their validity was confirmed using the validation sample (5.9%). CONCLUSION: We developed AS criteria which are appropriate for Korean patients with PC. Prospective studies using these criteria are now warranted.

Focal lesion at the midline of the prostate on transrectal ultrasonography: take it or leave it?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the detection rate of prostate cancers from targeted biopsy specimens of midline focal lesions and to investigate the ultrasonographic findings to reduce unnecessary additional targeted biopsies. METHODS: Ninety-eight men with midline focal lesions detected on transrectal ultrasonography were enrolled. Additional targeted biopsies for midline focal lesions were performed after 12-core random systematic biopsies. Correlations between the ultrasonographic characteristics of midline focal lesions and the pathologic results were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty of 98 targeted biopsy cores (20.4%) were positive for malignancy. In a univariate analysis, midline focal lesions without bulging contours (P=0.023), with involved margins (P=0.001), without hypoechoic perilesional rims (P=0.005), and with longer diameters (P=0.005) were statistically significant for cancer detection. In a multivariate analysis, involved margin (P=0.027), having longer diameter (P=0.011) or absence of hypoechoic perilesional rim (P=0.025) made a statistically significant contribution to cancer detection. CONCLUSION: Biopsy of midline focal lesions was not always non-significant in the detection of prostate cancer. Additional targeted biopsies should be considered in cases of midline focal lesions with involved margins but without hypoechoic perilesional rims.

Clinicopathologic and Oncological Outcomes in Korean Men With Advanced Metastatic Testicular Cancer Undergoing Postchemotherapeutic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinicopathologic and oncological outcomes of advanced metastatic testicular cancer in Korean men who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) following chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 26 patients with testicular cancer who underwent RPLND after chemotherapy at 2 hospitals in Korea between September 2004 and June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and histopathological variables such as stage of the testicular cancer, age of the patients during surgery, size of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (RPLNs), histopathological results, duration and complications related to the surgery, cancer recurrence, and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: During testicular surgery, the T stage was pT1, pT2, and pT3 in 50% (n=13), 26.9% (n=7), and 15.3% (n=4) of the patients, respectively. Mixed germ cell tumor was the most common finding, seen in 73.1% (n=19) of patients. The indications for RPLND were residual lymph nodes after chemotherapy, 84.6% (n=22); and disease progression and remission, 7.7% (n=2). Pathological analysis revealed viable tumors in 19.2% of patients (n=5), necrotic/fibrotic tissue in 42.3% (n=11), and teratoma in 34.6% (n=9). Intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in 23.1% (n=6) and 19.2% of patients (n=5). The median duration of follow-up was 27.5 months (interquartile range, 1.3–108.2 months); 11.5% (n=3) patients had recurrence, and 3.8% (n=1) died of progressive metastatic testicular cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Viable germ cell tumors were present in 19.2% of patients with testicular cancer who underwent RPLND after chemotherapy. This is the first study of its kind in the Korean population.

Elevated Ki-67 (MIB-1) Expression as an Independent Predictor for Poor Prognosis After Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer

PURPOSE: We tried to investigate the clinical impact of Ki-67 (MIB-1) expression on the oncological and survival outcomes in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) after the radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 230 patients who were treated by radical cystectomy for BCa. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazards models and logistic regression tests were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of each variable. RESULTS: The patients with positive Ki-67 expression showed significant worse clinical characteristics and pathologic outcomes than negative Ki-67 group. Furthermore, the patients with Ki-67 expression showed significant worse recurrence (p=0.018) and cancer-specific mortality free survival (p=0.019) than negative Ki-67 group. The overall survival was also revealed to be inferior in Ki-67 positive group than Ki-67 negative group but the statistical significance was marginal (p=0.062). Subsequent multivariate Cox analyses showed that Ki-67 was independent predictor for disease recurrence after surgery (hazard ratio, 3.142; 95% CI, 1.287–7.671; p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, high Ki-67 expression was significantly related with worse clinical outcomes after radical cystectomy in the patients with BCa. Further prospective and basic researches are needed to validate the true prognostic value of Ki-67.

Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases in Prostate Cancer: Preoperative Detection With Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared With Postoperative Pathologic Result of Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is evaluating the accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 1,528 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy and PLND from 2003 to 2017 in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the various clinicopathologic variables including preoperative MRI findings and pathologic lymph node (LN) metastasis. The prediction model for pathologic LN metastasis was assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses and areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The mean age of our cohort was 66.4±6.7 years. Positive LN finding of preoperative MRI finding was observed in 9.4% (145 of 1,528) of patients. 5.3% (81 of 1,528) of patients had confirmed final pathologic LN metastases. Sensitivity and specificity of preoperative MRI were 30.8% and 91.7%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that preoperative MRI findings, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score were independent significant predictors for pathologic LN metastasis (p < 0.001, p=0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). Prediction model using preoperative MRI findings and National Comprehensive Control Network risk stratification showed fair accuracy using ROC analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MRI findings for pathologic LN metastasis showed limited prediction value. A large-scale, multicenter, prospective study is needed to fully evaluate the clinical significance of preoperative MRI.

Factor Analysis of Intraoperative Radical Conversion During Partial Nephrectomy: Single Surgeon Experience

PURPOSE: Preoperative aspects and dimensions used for an anatomical (PADUA) classification is useful to predict perioperative complications and warm ischemia time. However, it remains uncertain whether PADUA classification can predict intraoperative conversion from partial nephrectomy (PN) to radical nephrectomy (RN). We evaluate whether PADUA classification parameters can predict conversion to RN during PN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed data of 593 patients who underwent open PN and robotic PN for renal tumors by a single surgeon at a single tertiary center between December 2003 and September 2017. Intraoperative conversion to RN was performed in 17 of 593 patients who initially underwent PN. We evaluated the factors influencing the surgical modalities including PN and radical conversion cases. Then, the factors significantly associated with conversion to RN were further analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age, longitudinal location, exophytic rate, and rim or face locations of renal masses. Renal sinus involvement, urinary collecting system involvement, and renal mass size were variables that predicted radical conversion, using univariate analysis. Renal sinus involvement (odds ratio [OR], 9.075; p=0.049) and urinary collecting system involvement (OR, 3.944; p=0.029) were independent predictors of intraoperative radical conversion, using multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The PADUA classification is a useful tool to predict intraoperative conversion from PN to RN. Renal sinus involvement and urinary collecting system involvement are the best predictors of intraoperative conversion from PN to RN.

Impact of the ASA Physical Status Score on Adjuvant Chemotherapy Eligibility and Survival of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients: a Multicenter Study

The aim of the present multi-institutional study was to assess the influence of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification on adjuvant chemotherapy eligibility and survival in a multi-institutional cohort of patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). We retrospectively reviewed data from 416 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC at four Korean institutions between 2001 and 2013. The ASA-PS classification was obtained from the anesthesia chart. Locally advanced UTUC was defined as ≥ pT3 and/or pN1 disease. The influence of ASA-PS score on survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses and a multivariate Cox regression model. Patients with a higher ASA-PS class were less likely to be eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced UTUC (P = 0.016). Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that the high-risk ASA-PS group has a poorer overallsurvival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to low risk ASA-PS groups in both the total and locally advanced UTUC cohorts. Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, the high-risk ASA-PS category was an independent predictor for overall mortality (OM) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.919; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017–3.619; P = 0.044) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) (HR, 2.120; 95% CI, 1.023–4.394; P = 0.043). In conclusion, high-risk ASA-PS score was independently associated with a lower survival rate in patients with UTUC after RNU. However, the influence of ASA-PS classification on survival was limited to locally advanced UTUC. The lower eligibility of patients in the high-risk ASA category for adjuvant chemotherapy may contribute to the lower survival rate in this group.

Quantitative Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography for Glomerular Filtration Rate Measurement / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: We propose a quantitative Tc-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement.METHODS: Quantitative SPECT/CT data obtained at 2–3 min post-Tc-99m DTPA injection (370 MBq) were used to determine % injected doses (%IDs) for individual kidneys. The reproducibility of %ID measurement was tested and compared with planar scintigraphy. Cr-51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) GFR was used as reference standard. Nine young volunteers, representing normal GFR, and ten older volunteers, reflecting impaired GFR, were enrolled. The established GFR equation derived from these volunteerswas applied to 19 renal tumor patients post-partial nephrectomy.RESULTS: At 2–3 min, %ID was most reproducible with the highest intraclass correlation (ICC) (0.9379) and lowest % coefficient of variation (CV) (6.5259%), which were more reliable than the ICC (0.9368) and %CV (6.7689%) of planar scintigraphy. Cr-51 EDTA GFR (93.16 ± 24.81 ml/min) correlated significantly with %ID (7.66 ± 2.15%, r = 0.7906, p = 0.0001), yielding an equation: Cr-51 EDTA GFR (ml/min) = (%ID × 9.1462) + 23.0653. This equation revealed significant decreases in total and nephrectomized kidney GFR (p = 0.0012 and p < 0.0001, respectively) from preoperative to 3-month postoperative measurements.CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative Tc-99m DTPA SPECT/CT produces reliable and clinically applicable %ID estimates that translate to the GFR of individual kidneys.

Risk Determination for Localised Renal Cell Carcinomas under 4 cm or Less: A Multi-institutional Analysis

PURPOSE: To determine the malignant potential in clinically localised small renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (≤4cm) in patients using postoperative pathologic outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 2,085 patients in 7 urology centres with clinical T1a RCC who underwent nephrectomy. The pathologic upstaging group (PUG) was defined by pathologic T3a after the operation. Multivariate analyses were used to examine predicting factors for the risk of PUG. Next, Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to examine the PUG for worse recurrence-free survival during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The PUG had 73 patients (3.5%); they were older and had a larger tumour size than the other patients (all p<0.001). After adjusting for clinical characteristics, age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.06) and tumour size greater than 3 cm (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.21–3.11) were found to be independent predictors for the PUG after nephrectomy. Furthermore, the PUG had worse recurrence-free survival during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-institution analysis, RCC 3 cm or greater in older patients had a high malignant potential compared to relatively small tumours in younger patients. These results may be helpful for stratifying patients to manage small renal masses.

Clinical Significance of Positive Surgical Margin after Radical Prostatectomy according to Pathological Stage

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the positive surgical margin (PSM) as a predictive factor of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients after radical prostatectomy (RP) according to each pathological stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 3,037 patients receiving RP were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were divided into 6 groups depending on pathological stage and presence of PSM. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to show the significance of PSM in all patients and in subgroup patients (T2, T3a, and T3b). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed BCR-free survival rate of each group. RESULTS: Among total 3.307 patients, the mean age was 65.89 years and PSM rate was 18.7%. During the 47.1 months, 550 patients had experienced BCR (26.2%). According to groups, prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score, and BCR were significantly different. Ten-year BCR-free survival rate was 87.1% (T2R0), 65.9% (T2R1), 60.1% (T3aR0), 43.0% (T3aR1), 20.8% (T3bR0), and 5.8% (T3bR1). Each group had statistical differences with BCR-free survival except T2R1 and T3aR0 (p=0.090). PSM was significant in multivariate Cox analyses in total patients (hazard ratio, 2.091; 95% confidence interval, 1.724–2.536; p<0.001) and in all subgroup with each stages. CONCLUSIONS: PSM is a significant predictor to BCR after RP in all PCa patients and in each stage. T2R1 PCa had a similar BCR-free survival rate to T3R0 patients during long-term follow-up, therefore careful management to T2R1 PCa as T3 should be necessary.

Comparison of Localized High Volume Tumor and Locally Advanced Low Volume Tumor after Radical Prostatectomy according to Risk Classification

PURPOSE: To investigate the percentage of pathologic tumor volume (pTPV) among patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 3,080 patients who underwent RP between September 2003 and March 2015 and with a postoperative follow-up for more than 1 year. The patient population was stratified into 4 disease risk groups according to tumor stage and pTPV (T2 low volume [T2LV], T2 high volume [T2HV], T3 low volume [T3LV], and T3 high volume [T3HV]). Probability of biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival was determined using Kaplan-Meier curves. pTPV was evaluated by Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis for predicting BCR. Subgroup analyses were performed according to preoperative risk. RESULTS: The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 7.87 ng/mL, and pTPV was 10%. Among a total of 2,964 patients, T2LV had 1,473 (49.7%), T2HV was 598 (20.2%), T3LV with 199 (6.7%), and T3HV was 694 (23.4%). When comparing T2HV and T3LV, Gleason score and positive surgical margin rate was higher in T3LV. During a 50-month follow-up, BCR-free survival rate was higher in the T2HV group (p<0.001). pTPV was a significant factor to predict BCR in multivariate Cox analysis. In subgroup analyses, T2HV group had similar BCR-free survival rates to T3LV group in the preoperative high risk group while pTPV was significant in the high risk group. CONCLUSIONS: pTPV was a significant predictor of BCR among prostate cancer patients after RP, however T2HV had favorable BCR results. Among patients with a preoperative high PSA and Gleason score, T2HV had similar BCR results to T3LV.

Impact of Young Age at Diagnosis on Survival in Patients with Surgically Treated Renal Cell Carcinoma: a Multicenter Study

The prognostic significance of age in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a subject of debate. The aim of the present multi-institutional study was to evaluate the impact of age on clinicopathological features and survival in a large cohort of patients with RCC. A total of 5,178 patients who underwent surgery for RCC at eight institutions in Korea between 1999 and 2011 were categorized into three groups according to age at diagnosis as follows: young age (< 40 years, n = 541), middle-age (≥ 40 and < 60 years, n = 2,551), and old age (≥ 60 years, n = 2,096) groups. Clinicopathological variables and survival rates were compared between the three groups. Young patients had lower stage tumors with a low Fuhrman grade, a lower rate of lymphovascular invasion than patients in the other age groups. Regarding histologic type, the young age group had a lower percentage of clear cell histology and a greater incidence of Xp11.2 translocation RCC. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that cancer-specific survival was significantly better in the young age group than in the other groups (log rank test, P = 0.008). However, age at diagnosis was not an independent predictor of survival in multivariate analysis. In conclusion, young age at diagnosis was associated with favorable pathologic features, although it was not an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with surgically-treated RCC. Age itself should not be regarded as a crucial determinant for the treatment of RCC.