[pT1G3 bladder carcinoma: parameters of a correct therapy]. / Carcinoma vescicale pT1G3: parametri per una corretta terapia.

Between 13.8% and 27% of all superficial bladder cancers are represented by pT1G3 neoplasm. In the Department of Urology of Policlinico S. Marco-Zingonia, between February 1988 and June 1994, we treated 22 patients suffering for pT1G3 bladder tumor. TUR-B has demonstrated to be a good approach for treatment of superficial bladder cancer, with low morbility; on the opposite side, we have to underline the high rate of recurrence and of progression of the urothelium disease. Now a day our best approach for the treatment of pT1G3 bladder tumor is represented by radical cystectomy supplied by chemotherapy.

[Radical prostatectomy: our experience]. / Prostatectomia radicale: la nostra esperienza.

Between July 1989 and June 1994 32 men (48-73 years old) underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer. 26 patients (70%) presented with symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction. The primary tumour was understaged preoperatively in 5 patients (15.5%). At follow-up (6-66 months, average 24) significant urinary incontinence not occurred in our patients; sixty-two per cent reported a substantial problem with reduced or absent erection. A total of 23 patients was free of clinical or biochemical progression, observed in 28% of cases as distant or local progression. Radical prostatectomy is being performed with increasing frequency: trends in morbidity have been identified.

[Dynamic renal echography versus urography in the follow-up of patients who have undergone ureterosigmoidostomy]. / Ecografia renale dinamica vs urografia nel follow-up dei pazienti sottoposti ad ureterosigmoidostomia.

The main post uretero-sigmoidostomy complications are stricture of the anastomosis, chronic infection and urolithiasis. In our institution the patients with ureterosigmodostomy undergo a follow-up protocol in which blood chemistry, ultrasonography, intravenous pyelography and C.T. are periodically performed. The aim of the present paper is to compare the accuracy of kidney sonography after diuretic stimulation with intravenous pyelography in the diagnosis of ureteral stenosis. Out of 91 patient with ureterosigmoidostomy 18 patients (34 kidneys) underwent intravenous pyelography, a basal U.S. and then a dynamic one at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes after administration of furosemide 20 mg i.v. At basal U.S. 27 kidneys were normal and 7 showed a dilations. After diuretic stimulation we observed 16 normal kidneys, 16 dilated units and 2 intermittent hydronephrosis. Out of 16 dilated kidneys 6 became normal in 60 minutes. Out of 10 dilated units 3 were normal in 90 minutes (hipotonic), 2 were normal before 120 minutes (low grade obstruction) and 5 were dilated after 120 minutes (high grade obstruction). With intravenous pyelography we observed 27 normal kidneys and seven dilated units. Dynamic sonography have shown high sensibility (100%), specificity (88.8%) and accuracy (91%) in diagnosis of ureteral obstruction in to I.V.P. in the follow-up of this kind of divesion.

[Validity of superficial echography in the study of urethral pathology]. / Validità dell'ecografia di superficie nello studio della patologia uretrale.

In male patients routine examination for urethral disease includes retrograde and anterograde urethrography and urethroscopy. In the patients underwent radical cystectomy, detection of cancerous cells in the urethral washing suggest cancer relapse. Nowadays we can achieve a sonographic study of the anterior male urethra, using a superficial high frequency ultrasound probe. Since September 1992 till July 1993, 12 patients underwent cystectomy at our Institution and 13 patients affected by urethral stricture, have been investigated by routine examination and sonographic urethrogram. In the first group of patients, out of 3 patients with urethral tumor, sonourethrography has confirmed the presence of tumor in 2 cases. In these second group of patients, sonourethrography has located the stricture, evaluated the length, calculated the diameter of the stricture and the depth of fibrosis. Sonourethrography is a non-invasive method that can provide valuable information about the urethral lumen and the urethral wall.

[Treatment of prostatitis with a new laser probe with optic fiber]. / Trattamento delle prostatiti con nuova sonda laser in fibra ottica.

The present treatment of the subacute abatteric prostatitis, prostatodinia, prostatosis (the most common prostatic flogistic diseases) is represented by the transrectal applications of infrared Laser. The concrete opportunity of applying such an energy directly to the prostate in cases of flogistic diseases--a very frequent pathology treated in many different and controversial ways--is a stimulating therapeutical method which we tested and that we presently use in our clinics. The thanks to the realization of an high technology equipment, easy to handle, cheap, safe, perfectly suitable, formed by a new infrared Laser probe, transrectal, atermical, made by a optical fibre, which we present. Micturition, ejaculation, fertility may draw a relevant improvement, provided that the same treatment is performed after a specific medical diagnosis and following a strict protocol.

[Vacuum therapy]. / Vacuum terapia.

In the therapy of vasculogenic impotence, the Vacuum Device has been proposed up to now as an "external" prosthesis device with the aim of obtaining a penile erection of sufficient rigidity for penetration, in patients afflicted by vascular or neurological disorders. In the eighties, the experience gained with the use of Intra Cavernous Injections (C.I.D.) (using papaverine, phentolamine and prostaglandin), demonstrated not to be an exclusively palliative therapy ("pharmacological prosthesis"), but to represent as well a sort of "vasoactive exercise" of the erectile tissue. In the nineties, many wondered what could be a valid alternative to the C.I.D. Taking this into consideration, we modified the method of application of Vacuum Therapy. The device was used once a day without the constrictive band applied to the penis root, in order to generate a passive action on the erectile tissue, a sort of "stretching" for the smooth muscle fibers. From January 1990 to December 1991, we treated 78 pts. afflicted by erectile failure. The patients were divided into 3 groups (26 each) of distinct therapy: the first was treated weekly with only endocavernous papaverine administration (20 mg.), the second underwent daily Vacuum Therapy exclusively (10'-15') and the third received a combined therapy: Vacuum Device, daily and C.I.D. with Papaverine (20 mg.) once a week. The results of this treatment are as follows: the patients who underwent Vacuum Therapy daily (2nd and 3rd groups) showed, at the end of the treatment (6 months), a significant improvement in spontaneous erectile ability (14 Pts.-53.8% in the 2nd group; 17 Pts-65.3% in the 3rd group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prognostic significance of prostate-specific antigen in endocrine treatment for prostatic carcinoma.

We have studied the prognostic significance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), monitored monthly, in 24 patients with prostatic cancer (5 D1, 19 D2) on endocrine therapy. The pretreatment levels of PSA were high in all patients (mean value 41 ng/ml). It was found that PSA levels at the end of the first and sixth months of treatment were reliable prognostic indicators. At the first month evaluation PSA had decreased more than 50% from the initial values in the 16 patients with stable disease, while it had decreased less than 50% in those with progressing disease. At the end of 6 months, patients with stable disease had PSA levels within the normal range, while 8 of the patients who had progressing disease had levels higher than 10 ng/ml. Respectively 6 and 2 patients had also had increases in PSA levels at 3 and 6 months before scintigraphic demonstration of increased bone metastases.

[Adjuvant chemotherapy]. / Chemioterapia adiuvante.

The authors treated 10 advanced renal cell carcinoma with circadian venous continuous infusion of 5-Fluoro 2-Deoxyuridine (FUDR). The drug was delivered by Medtronic Synchromed implantable pump in 14-day cycles alternating with 14-day intervals of physiologic saline infusion. Of the patient observed for at least 8 months (range: 8-32, median: 22.1) 1 showed progression. Circadian continuous central venous infusion of FUDR is minimally toxic. The FUDR can be delivered safely and conveniently in this way for long spans. This therapy is administrated in on entirely out patient setting, and associated with a normal quality of life.