High-risk Disease and Poor Follow-up: The Importance of Renal Mass Biopsy in a Cohort of Veterans.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical utility of renal mass biopsy (RMB) in our multistate system. RMB is useful in the management of masses ≤4 cm (T1a), but evaluation of RMB in the uniquely vulnerable Veteran population is lacking. METHODS: About 136 RMB in 130 patients performed between 06/2015 and 11/2020 were identified in this Quality Improvement analysis. Demographics, size, pathology, treatment, and biopsy complications were analyzed. Of 101 T1a masses, 89 were either diagnostic or not decompressed cysts and 77 met inclusion criteria for follow-up imaging compliance analysis. RESULTS: The median age was 66 years. The diagnostic rate was 94.1% (128/136) for all masses and 94.1% (95/101) for T1a renal masses, with a complication rate of 2.2%. Among solid T1a masses, unexpectedly aggressive lesions (Fuhrman Grade 4, Type 2 papillary or sarcomatoid features) were identified in 8/89 (9.0%). Fifty-seven (64%) patients were treated with cryoablation or surgery and 32 (36%) patients elected active surveillance (AS). A neoplastic finding (oncocytoma or renal cell carcinoma (RCC)) was present in 16 patients choosing AS (50%) compared to 52 patients choosing treatment (91%). Compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network-recommended imaging was 50% and 47% for AS and treatment groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this VA cohort, we found a significant incidence of high-risk lesions and poor compliance with follow-up imaging. Aggressive biopsy protocols with high consideration of treatment may be appropriate to limit risk in those lost to follow-up. Given that 9% of our small renal masses were highly aggressive, biopsy may be critical in the selection of AS candidates.

The Impact of Race, Ethnicity and Insurance Status on Surgery Rates for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patient race/ethnicity are associated with differences in likelihood of undergoing surgical treatment for LUTS/BPH. METHODS: Queried hospital network database between 1/2011 and 10/2018. Men over age 40 on medical therapy for LUTS (selective alpha blockade and/or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor), with 2+ provider visits, and without bladder/prostate malignancy were included. Ethnicity/race determined by self-identification. Insurance status classified as public (Medicare/Medicaid/Tricare), private, self-pay, or other. Multivariable backwards step-wise logistic regression was performed to compare odds of undergoing a surgical procedure by race/ethnicity, controlling for patient age, insurance status, comorbidities, and type of medical therapy. RESULTS: 30,466 patients included, with White (n=24,443, 80.2%), Hispanic (n=2,715, 8.9%), Black (n=1,245, 4.1%), and other race/ethnicity (2,073, 6.8%) identified within the study population. After adjusting for age, insurance status, major comorbidities, and type of medical therapy, Black patients were less likely to undergo surgery than White patients (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37 - 0.88, P = .011), as were patients of other race/ethnicity (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49 - 0.92, P = .013). CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting for age, insurance status, major comorbidities and type of LUTS medication, men categorized as Black were significantly less likely to undergo surgical treatment for LUTS/BPH than White patients. It is unknown whether this difference results from differences in counseling, access, or other bias in therapy. Efforts to understand and respond to this disparity are necessary. Limitations include lack of IPSS data, additional comorbidity data, limited geographic area, and retrospective nature.

Analysis of evidence within the AUA's clinical practice guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical subspecialty societies release clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to provide topic-specific recommendations to healthcare providers. We hypothesize that there may be significant differences in statement strength and evidence quality both within the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines and compared to those published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CPGs issued through 2017 were extracted from the AUAnet.org. Statements were characterized by evidence basis, strength, and evidence quality. CPGs were compared among urologic subspecialties and to those from the AAOS and AAO-HNS. Analysis used Fisher's exact tests and Student's t-tests with significance p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 25 AUA CPGs (672 statements) were reviewed and 34.6% were non-evidence based with the highest proportions in pediatrics (47.5%) and sexual medicine (46.5%). The AUA has published over twice as many statements as the AAOS and quadruple that of the AAO-HNS. A smaller proportion of the AUA statements were evidence-based (65.4%) compared to the AAOS (80.5%, p < 0.001) and AAO-HNS (99.8%, p < 0.001), and fewer used "high" quality evidence (AUA 7.2% versus AAOS 21.2%, p < 0.001; versus AAO-HNS 16.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The AUA has published broad CPGs that far exceed those from the AAOS and AAO-HNS. The AUA has utilized extensive resources to provide guidance to help standardize care among urologists. The AAOS and AAO-HNS may not provide guidelines when evidence is limited. With the continued increase of high quality clinical trials, the AUA will be able to continue improving its robust set of evidence-based CPGs.

Estimating the burden of acute gastrointestinal illness in Grenada.

This is the first study conducted in Grenada, with a population of approximately 108,000, to quantify the magnitude, distribution, and burden of self-reported acute gastroenteritis (AGE). A retrospective population survey was conducted in October 2008 and April 2009 and a laboratory survey from October 2008 to September 2009. The estimated monthly prevalence of AGE was 10.7% (95% CI 9.0-12.6; 1.4 episodes/ person-year), with a median of 3 days of illness. Of those who reported AGE, 31% sought medical care (stool samples were requested from 12.5%); 10% took antibiotics; 45% took non-prescribed medication; and 81% reported restricted activity. Prevalence of AGE was significantly higher among children aged <5 years (23.5%, p < 0.001). Of the AGE stool samples submitted to the laboratory for analysis, 12.1% were positive for a foodborne pathogen. Salmonella enteritidis was the most common foodborne pathogen associated with AGE-related illness. The estimated percentage of underreporting of syndromic AGE to the Ministry of Health was 69%. In addition, for every laboratory-confirmed foodborne/AGE pathogen, it was estimated that there were 316 additional cases occurring in the population. The minimum estimated cost associated with treatment for AGE was US$ 703,950 each year, showing that AGE has a potentially significant economic impact in Grenada.