A prospective study of novel mathematical analysis of the contrast-enhanced computed tomography vs renal scintigraphy in renal function evaluation.

PURPOSE: whilst renal scintigraphy (RS) can be associated with interobserver variability, it remains the standard method of evaluating split renal function. AIM: to compare the efficacy of the novel technique of kidney function assessment and renal scintigraphy. METHOD: for this prospective single-arm study we recruited patients who were recommended dynamic renal scintigraphy with 99mTc-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentacetate). After scintigraphy, mathematical analysis of computed tomography (MACT) was done in all patients, by a single person (SK) blinded to RS results. RESULTS: the study included a total of 97 patients with mean age of 50.9 (range, 23-78) years. From this sample, 65 were females and 32 males. All patients underwent both RS and contrast-enhanced computed tomography for further MACT in 2016-2018. CT results were found to be similar to renal scintigraphy results with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.945 (р < 0.001). Substantial similarities in renal plasma flow for both kidneys were also observed (0.815, р < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MACT proved feasible, effective and safe in estimating renal function. Its results are closely correlated with RS findings and could be easily integrated into surgical practice.

Thulium-fiber laser for lithotripsy: first clinical experience in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thulium-fiber laser (TFL) in laser lithotripsy during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). METHODS: Patients with stones < 30 mm were prospectively recruited to undergo PCNL using TFL "FiberLase" (NTO IRE-Polus, Russia). Stone size, stone density, operative time, and "laser on" time (LOT) were recorded. Study included only cases managed with fragmentation. Stone-free rate and residual fragments were determined on postoperative computer tomography. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo grade. Stone retropulsion and endoscopic visibility were assessed based on surgeons' feedback using a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 52 (± 1.8) years; of these 77 (56%) were males. Mean stone size was 12.5 (± 8.8) mm with a mean density of 1019 (± 375) HU. Mean operative time was 23.4 (± 17.9) min and mean LOT was 5.0 (± 5.7) min. Most used settings were of 0.8 J/25-30 W/31-38 Hz (fragmentation). The mean total energy for stone ablation was 3.6 (± 4.3) kJ. Overall stone-free rate was 85%. The overall complication rate was 17%. Surgeons reported stone retropulsion that interfered with surgery in 2 (1.7%) cases insignificant retropulsion was noted in 16 (10.8%) cases. Poor visualization was reported in three (2.5%) cases and minor difficulties with visibility in four (3.3%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: TFL is a safe and effective modality for lithotripsy during PCNL and results in minimal retropulsion.

3D reconstruction of CT scans aid in preoperative planning for sarcomatoid renal cancer: A case report and mini-review.

Contrast-enhanced multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) is commonly used in the diagnosis of complex malignant tumours. This technology provides comprehensive and accurate information about tumour size and shape in relation to solid tumours and the affected adjacent organs and tissues. This case report demonstrates the benefit of using MSCT 3D imaging for preoperative planning in a patient with late-stage (T4) sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, a rare renal malignant tumour. The surgical margin on the liver was negative, and no metastases to veins, lungs or other organs were detected by abdominal and chest contrast-enhanced CT. Although sarcomatoid histology is considered to be a poor prognostic factor, the patient is alive and well 17 months after surgery. The MSCT imaging modality enables 3D rendering of an area of interest, which assists surgical decision-making in cases of advanced renal tumours. In this case, as a result of MSCT 3D reconstruction, the patient received justified surgical treatment without compromising oncological principles.

Evaluation of Prostate HistoScanning as a Method for Targeted Biopsy in Routine Practice.

BACKGROUND: Prostate HistoScanning (PHS) is a tissue characterization system used to enhance prostate cancer (PCa) detection via transrectal ultrasound imaging. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of supplementing systematic transrectal biopsy with up to three PHS true targeting (TT) guided biopsies on the PCa detection rate and preclinical patient assessment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prospective study involving a cohort of 611 consecutive patients referred for transrectal prostate biopsy following suspicion of PCa. PHS-TT guided cores were obtained from up to three PHS lesions of ≥0.5cm3 per prostate and only one core per single PHS lesion. Histological outcomes from a systematic extended 12-core biopsy (Bx) scheme and additional PHS-TT guided cores were compared. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Comparison of PHS results and histopathology was performed per sextant. The χ2 and Mann-Whitney test were used to assess differences. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: PHS showed lesions of ≥0.5cm3 in 312 out of the 611 patients recruited. In this group, Bx detected PCa in 59% (185/312) and PHS-TT in 87% (270/312; p<0.001). The detection rate was 25% (944/3744 cores) for Bx and 68% (387/573 cores) for PHS-TT (p<0.001). Preclinical assessment was significantly better when using PHS-TT: Bx found 18.6% (58/312) and 8.3% (26/312), while PHS-TT found 42.3% (132/312) and 20.8% (65/312) of Gleason 7 and 8 cases, respectively (p<0.001). PHS-TT attributed Gleason score 6 to fewer patients (23.4%, 73/312) than Bx did (32.4%, 101/312; p=0.0021). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a suspicion of PCa may benefit from addition of a few PHS-TT cores to the standard Bx workflow. PATIENT SUMMARY: Targeted biopsies of the prostate are proving to be equivalent to or better than standard systematic random sampling in many studies. Our study results support supplementing the standard schematic transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy with a few guided cores harvested using the ultrasound-based prostate HistoScanning true targeting approach in cases for which multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging is not available.

Retrospective Analysis of Short-Term Outcomes After Monopolar Versus Laser Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate: A Single Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) has been recognized as a viable treatment modality for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and functional outcomes of three different techniques of EEP, including monopolar enucleation (MEP), holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), and thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP). METHODS: The study consisted of a retrospective comparison of pre- and postoperative parameters in men undergoing three types of EEP: MEP, HoLEP, and ThuLEP. Functional parameters were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery, which included the International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum flow rate, postvoid residual volume, prostate volume, and sodium levels of all patients. RESULTS: A total of 551 men with the mean age of 67.1 years were included in the study. Of these, MEP was performed on 95 patients, HoLEP was performed on 254 patients, and ThuLEP on 202 patients. The mean mass of morcellated tissue obtained during the three techniques did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Mean procedure times of ThuLEP and HoLEP were shorter than MEP demonstrating 72, 76, and 86 minutes, respectively (p < 0.01). The mean catheterization time following laser EEPs was shorter than MEP as shown by 1.3, 1.3, and 3.8 days, respectively (p < 0.01). Hospital stay times of HoLEP and ThuLEP were shorter than MEP demonstrated by 3.3, 3.4, and 6.9 days, respectively (p < 0.01). Patients after MEP had significant decrease in postoperative hemoglobin and sodium levels. All the groups showed statistically significant improvement in the aforementioned parameters following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques of laser enucleation proved to be efficacious in the management of BPH. MEP of the prostate seems to be a highly promising addition to the list of enucleation techniques and was determined to be an effective and acceptable procedure, despite a higher complication rate.

Imaging technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pyelonephritis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibilities of ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing acute pyelonephritis (AP) and renal abscess. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and seven patients with AP were followed up from 2010 throughout 2015. All the patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 113 (54.6%) patients with acute nonobstructive pyelonephritis; group 2 included 33 (15.9%) patients with acute obstructive pyelonephritis; and group 3 included 61 (29.5%) pregnant female patients with AP.All 207 patients with AP underwent ultrasound examination of the kidneys. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 87 patients (42.0%). MRI was performed in 14 patients (6.7%). RESULTS: We identified the ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance (MR), and CT-signs of acute renal inflammation at different stages of the process.The main us-signs were decreased mobility of the kidney, its enlargement, thickened parenchyma, hydrophilic parenchyma and an impairment of corticomedullary differentiation.The typical CT-signs of AP were enlargement of the kidney with its thickened parenchyma and an impairment of corticomedullary differentiation.The main MR-signs of AP were enlargement of the kidney (>12 cm lengthwise), thickened parenchyma (<2 cm in the median segment of the kidney) and an impairment of corticomedullary differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the structural and functional state of renal parenchyma and the upper urinary tract using techniques such as ultrasonography, CT, MRI contributes to more efficacious treatment of patients at different stages of AP and timely drainage with properly adjusted pathogenetic therapy at the infiltrative stage is instrumental in preventing purulent destructive forms of AP.