Technology: An aid to clinical judgement.

Complete removal of renal cell tumor with thrombus which extends above the diaphragm often necessitates use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can play an important role in delineating the extent of tumor growth. We describe a patient with renal cell carcinoma with thrombosis invading into the right ventricle and its complete removal with the aid of TEE.

Changing profile of prostatic abscess

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical presentation of prostatic abscess and treatment outcome in two different time frames with regards to etiologies, co-morbid factors and the impact of multidrug resistant organism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the charts of 48 patients with the diagnosis of prostatic abscess from 1991 to 2005. The period was divided arbitrarily into two different time frames; phase I (1991-1997) and phase II (1998-2005). Factors analyzed included presenting features, predisposing factors, imaging, bacteriological and antibiotic susceptibility profile, treatment and its outcome. RESULTS: The mean patient age in phase I (n = 18) and phase II (n = 30) were 59.22 ± 11.02 yrs and 49.14 ± 15.67 respectively (p = 0.013). Diabetes mellitus was most common predisposing factor in both phases. Eleven patients in phase II had no co-morbid factor, of which nine were in the younger age group (22 - 44 years). Of these eleven patients, five presented with pyrexia of unknown origin and had no lower urinary tract symptoms LUTS Two patients with HIV had tuberculous prostatic abscess along with cryptococcal abscess in one in phase II. Two patients had melioidotic prostatic abscess in phase II. The organisms cultured were predominantly susceptible to first line antibiotics in phase I whereas second or third line in phase II. CONCLUSION: The incidence of prostatic abscess is increasing in younger patients without co-morbid factors. The bacteriological profile remained generally unchanged, but recently multi drug resistant organisms have emerged. A worrying trend of HIV infection with tuberculous prostatic abscess and other rare organism is also emerging.

Evaluating erectile dysfunction: oral sildenafil versus intracavernosal injection of papaverine.

BACKGROUND: Intracavernosal injection of vasoactive drugs is an established method of evaluating erectile dysfunction. However, it is invasive and may be associated with pain and priapism. We investigated the use of oral sildenafil as a possible substitute for intracavernosal agents. METHODS: Men with erectile dysfunction were randomized into two groups of 25 each. One group of 25 men received injection papaverine initially followed by oral sildenafil, and another 25 received oral sildenafil followed by injection papaverine. Genital self-stimulation was used in both the groups. Penile length and circumference as well as angle of erection, before and after each medication, were recorded. Two days later, the intervention arms were crossed over. Subjective responses were obtained. The effect of medication on each outcome variable was studied by using analysis of variance models in relation to patient, period and medication. RESULTS: There was statistically significant improvement from the baseline value in both the arms, i.e injection papaverine and oral sildenafil (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively) for both penile length and circumference. No significant difference was observed between the two medications in the outcome measures. CONCLCUSION: Oral sildenafil was as effective as injection papaverine in evaluating erectile dysfunction.

Isolated tuberculous epididymitis: a review of forty cases.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous epididymitis is one of the causes of chronic epididymal lesions. It is difficult to diagnose in the absence of renal involvement. AIM: To profile isolated tuberculous epididymitis and to assess our approach in the evaluation of this group of patients. SETTING AND DESIGN: Retrospective study done at Christian Medical College, Vellore, South India. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1992 and 2002, 156 fine needle aspiration cytology specimens and 108 epididymal biopsies were carried out in 187 men for evaluation of chronic epididymal nodules. Isolated epididymal tuberculosis was defined as "tuberculous infection affecting the epididymis without evidence of renal involvement as documented by the absence of acid fast bacilli in the urine sample and on imaging". The age, laterality, mode of presentation and method of histological diagnosis were studied with the objective of profiling isolated tuberculous epididymitis. RESULTS: Fifty-four of the 187 men (median age 32 years; interquartile range: 21-37 years) had tuberculous epididymitis. Fourteen were excluded from the analysis (10 had associated urinary tract tuberculosis and 4 were lost to follow-up). None of the 40 men with isolated tuberculous epididymitis had urinary symptoms. Bilateral involvement was seen in five (12.5%) cases. The salient presenting features included painful swelling (16 subjects, 40%), scrotal sinus (4, 20%) and acute epididymitis (2, 10%). Past history or concomitant presence of tuberculosis was noted in three subjects each. Anti TB treatment resulted in a complete response in 10 and partial response in 18. Five subjects underwent epididymectomy. Tuberculous epididymitis was found incidentally in 5 (10%) cases on high orchiectomy specimen done for suspected testicular tumour. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous epididymitis can be the sole presentation of genitourinary tuberculosis.