Infection as a Differential Diagnosis of Solid Retroperitoneal Masses: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

The differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal masses includes a variety of benign and malignant conditions, among which infections constitute a significant subgroup. Familiarity with these infectious pseudotumours could facilitate prompt diagnosis. In this report, we describe three patients with an infectious pseudotumour, which was clinically and radiologically highly suggestive of a neoplasm. The first patient was a 62-year-old woman with a history of Richter syndrome, who seven months after allogeneic haematopoetic stem cell transplantation from an unrelated donor presented with a renal mass. A renal biopsy at that time revealed necrotic tissue. The patient displayed multiple relapses of Richter syndrome (for which she received also chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy salvage chemotherapy) and remissions of the lymphoma as well as an Aspergillus pneumonia for which she was treated with intravenous ambisome and afterwards oral posaconazole. Since the renal mass persisted and to exclude malignancy, nephrectomy was performed which revealed the presence of fungal hyphae. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a history of a low-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma, who after Mycobacterium bovis Calmette-Guerin instillation presentedwith fever and a suspicious renal mass. A partial nephrectomy was performed. Intraoperative frozen section analysis and routine histology suggested a Mycobacterium bovis-associated lesion, which was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The third patient was an 85-year-old man who presented with loss of appetite, fatigue, and significant weight loss (24 Kg in less than a year) as well as a travel history. The laboratory tests showed a low sodium and a high potassium level. CT scans revealed a solitary lesion in the right lung, a small liver lesion as well as bilateral adrenal lesions. A CT-guided biopsy revealed the presence of Histoplasma capsulatum, which was confirmed by PCR analysis. A retrospective review of all parameters indicates that all three patients presented with some risk factors, such as immunosuppression, travel, or clinical history that could raise the suspicion of infection in order to be included in the differential diagnosis, thus providing an additional tool for timely diagnosis.

A Forgotten Ureteral Stent: Potential Risks for the Urinary Function.

A 32-year-old man presented with painless macrohaematuria. An endoscopic stone removal of the upper moiety of a left double kidney with ureter duplex was performed 4 years ago. The inserted ureteral catheter (DJ) was not removed although it was communicated to the patient and written in the discharge report. The DJ led to a large bladder stone, a total incrustation of the DJ, and a staghorn calculus of the upper moiety. Furthermore, renal function scintigraphy showed no clinically significant function of the upper moiety. Therefore, a heminephrectomy was performed with corresponding ureterectomy and sectio alta for bladder stone removal.

[Conservative management of grade IV kidney lacerations due to stab wounds]. / Konservatives Management bei Messerstichverletzung der Niere (Grad IV).

We report on two patients who were in initially circulatory stable condition with grade IV kidney trauma after knife stab accident. Patient 1 underwent reconstructive surgery to retrieve a broken knife blade, while patient 2 was treated conservatively for bleeding that did not require intervention. Both patients could ultimately be discharged in stable condition. These case studies show that even in the case of high-grade kidney trauma with the appropriate constellation of findings, conservative management and, if exploration is necessary, a reconstructive approach is possible.

External validation of two MRI-based risk calculators in prostate cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of (significant) prostate cancer ((s)PC) is impeded by overdiagnosis and unnecessary biopsy. Risk calculators (RC) have been developed to mitigate these issues. Contemporary RCs integrate clinical characteristics with mpMRI findings. OBJECTIVE: To validate two of these models-the MRI-ERSPC-RC-3/4 and the risk model of van Leeuwen. METHODS: 265 men with clinical suspicion of PC were enrolled. Every patient received a prebiopsy mpMRI, which was reported according to PI-RADS v2.1, followed by MRI/TRUS fusion-biopsy. Cancers with ISUP grade ≥ 2 were classified as sPC. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed by comparing discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility RESULTS: There was no significant difference in discrimination between the RCs. The MRI-ERSPC-RC-3/4-RC showed a nearly ideal calibration-slope (0.94; 95% CI 0.68-1.20) than the van Leeuwen model (0.70; 95% CI 0.52-0.88). Within a threshold range up to 9% for a sPC, the MRI-ERSPC-RC-3/4-RC shows a greater net benefit than the van Leeuwen model. From 10 to 15%, the van Leeuwen model showed a higher net benefit compared to the MRI-ERSP-3/4-RC. For a risk threshold of 15%, the van Leeuwen model would avoid 24% vs. 14% compared to the MRI-ERSPC-RC-3/4 model; 6% vs. 5% sPC would be overlooked, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both risk models supply accurate results and reduce the number of biopsies and basically no sPC were overlooked. The van Leeuwen model suggests a better balance between unnecessary biopsies and overlooked sPC at thresholds range of 10-15%. The MRI-ERSPC-RC-3/4 risk model provides better overall calibration.

Combination of Robotic Pyeloplasty and Percutaneous Renal Surgery for Simultaneous Treatment of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction and Calyx Stones.

INTRODUCTION: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) and the simultaneous presence of kidney calyx stones represent a challenge for renal surgery. We present a novel technique for the simultaneous treatment of UPJO by robotic pyeloplasty in combination with the percutaneous endoscopic treatment of kidney calyx stones by flexible nephroscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2018 and February 2020, 4 patients were diagnosed with UPJO and simultaneous pelvic or calyceal stones. UPJO was treated by conventional robotic pyeloplasty. After opening the renal pelvis, a flexible 16-French cystoscope was introduced via the 12-mm assistant trocar into the renal pelvis. The kidney calyx stones (n = 1-15) were removed endoscopically through a flexible nephroscope using a Dormia helical basket. Before suturing the anastomosis of the renal pelvis, a ureter stent was inserted. RESULTS: After the procedure, all patients were stone free. Using the Clavien-Dindo classification, no complications were noted. The mean size of the calculi was 6.69 mm (range: 1-25). Up to 15 calyx stones (mean 3.46) were removed per patient. A complete stone clearance confirmed by postoperative X-ray imaging was achieved in all patients. The mean operative time was 149 min (range: 130-178). Mean hospital stay was 7 days (7-8). The urethral stent was removed after 4-6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic management of UPJO and simultaneous flexible nephroscopy for removal of calyceal stones is an effective treatment in 1 session. Combining robotic surgery with flexible percutaneous renal surgery is a feasible, safe, and effective method of the treatment of UPJO and concomitant calyceal stones.

TOP: Prospective Evaluation of a Volume Based, Computer Assisted Method for Transperineal Optimized Prostate Biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: This study is a prospective evaluation of a volume-based, computer-assisted method for transperineal optimized prostate (TOP) biopsy. The TOP algorithm automates core planning for systematic prostate biopsies using the 3-dimensional organ contour and an alterable volume for tumors to be excluded. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MRI-transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy with MRI-targeted biopsies (TBs) and systematic-TOP biopsies were performed on 172 men between October 2013 and March 2014. Systematic biopsies were placed according to TOP for detection of tumor volumes >0.5 mL with a minimum of 80% organ coverage in prostates up to 50 mL (70% in larger organs). RESULTS: Median 24 TOP cores and 3 MRI-TBs have been placed. Prostate cancer (PCa) was detected in 112 of 172 (65%) of men; TOP detected 109 (97%) and TB 62 (55%). Significant cancer (Gleason score ≥7) was detected in 75 (44%) of men and of these TOP detected 73 of 75 (97%) and TB 51 of 75 (68%). Overall, systematic-TOP sampling significantly outperformed TB for the detection of both, all PCa as well as significant PCa (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: The TOP method is innovative by integrating the individual prostate volume and PCa volume detection thresholds. In the present cohort, it diagnosed more significant tumors than TB alone. However, at the same time, more low-risk tumors are detected.

Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and MRI-Transrectal Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy for Index Tumor Detection: Correlation with Radical Prostatectomy Specimen.

BACKGROUND: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and MRI fusion targeted biopsy (FTB) detect significant prostate cancer (sPCa) more accurately than conventional biopsies alone. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the detection accuracy of mpMRI and FTB on radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: From a cohort of 755 men who underwent transperineal MRI and transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy under general anesthesia between 2012 and 2014, we retrospectively analyzed 120 consecutive patients who had subsequent RP. All received saturation biopsy (SB) in addition to FTB of lesions with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score ≥2. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The index lesion was defined as the lesion with extraprostatic extension, the highest Gleason score (GS), or the largest tumor volume (TV) if GS were the same, in order of priority. GS 3+3 and TV ≥1.3ml or GS ≥3+4 and TV ≥0.55ml were considered sPCa. We assessed the detection accuracy by mpMRI and different biopsy approaches and analyzed lesion agreement between mpMRI and RP specimen. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall, 120 index and 71 nonindex lesions were detected. Overall, 107 (89%) index and 51 (72%) nonindex lesions harbored sPCa. MpMRI detected 110 of 120 (92%) index lesions, FTB (two cores per lesion) alone diagnosed 96 of 120 (80%) index lesions, and SB alone diagnosed 110 of 120 (92%) index lesions. Combined SB and FTB detected 115 of 120 (96%) index foci. FTB performed significantly less accurately compared with mpMRI (p=0.02) and the combination for index lesion detection (p=0.002). Combined FTB and SB detected 97% of all sPCa lesions and was superior to mpMRI (85%), FTB (79%), and SB (88%) alone (p<0.001 each). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for index lesion agreement between mpMRI and RP was 0.87 (p<0.001). Limitations included the retrospective design, multiple operators, and nonblinding of radiologists. CONCLUSIONS: MpMRI identified 92% of index lesions compared with RP histopathology. The combination of FTB and SB was superior to both approaches alone, reliably detecting 97% of sPCa lesions. PATIENT SUMMARY: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging detects the index lesion accurately in 9 of 10 patients; however, the combined biopsy approach, while missing less significant cancer, comes at the cost of detecting more insignificant cancer.

Paraganglioma of the Seminal Vesicle Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: The present case report describes an extremely rare case of a norepinephrine secreting extraadrenal paraganglioma (PGL) located in the seminal vesicle. Case Presentation: A 36-year-old patient had signs of intermittent hypertensive derailments, bradycardia, increased norepinephrine excretion in 24-hour urine, an increased metanephrine plasma concentration, and a positive clonidine suppression test. A suspicious mass was detected in an (18)F-DOPA-PET/CT-scan in the left seminal vesicle. Following adrenergic blockade, a robotically assisted laparoscopic left vesiculectomy with negative soft tissue surgical margins was performed. The patient sustained a couple of few months of voiding difficulties of the lower urinary tract and obstruction of the left upper urinary tract after the surgery, which resolved spontaneously with home medical treatment. Two years after the initial treatment, the patient relapsed, which was confirmed by endocrinologic follow-up tests with increased urine catecholamine, a positive clonidine suppression test, as well as an elevated blood pressure. Staging with (18)F-DOPA-PET/CT-scan confirmed the diagnosis of a recurrent PGL. This was followed by subsequent open surgical removal of the suspicious lesion in the seminal fossa. The patient is still recurrence free 15 months after the second surgery. Complications after the second surgery included an intermittent paresthesia of the left leg lasting 3 to 4 months. No other urologic symptoms such as voiding or erectile dysfunction occurred. Conclusion: DaVinci-assisted laparoscopic vesiculectomy is a viable procedure to treat such cases providing satisfactory results. Relevant for clinical practice are the regular and lifelong follow-up examinations to detect recurrences.

Comparative analysis of transperineal template saturation prostate biopsy versus magnetic resonance imaging targeted biopsy with magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasound fusion guidance.

PURPOSE: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance imaging targeted biopsy may improve the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. However, standardized prospective evaluation is limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 294 consecutive men with suspicion of prostate cancer (186 primary, 108 repeat biopsies) enrolled in 2013 underwent 3T multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (T2-weighted, diffusion weighted, dynamic contrast enhanced) without endorectal coil and systematic transperineal cores (median 24) independently of magnetic resonance imaging suspicion and magnetic resonance imaging targeted cores with software registration (median 4). The highest Gleason score from each biopsy method was compared. McNemar's tests were used to evaluate detection rates. Predictors of Gleason score 7 or greater disease were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall 150 cancers and 86 Gleason score 7 or greater cancers were diagnosed. Systematic, transperineal biopsy missed 18 Gleason score 7 or greater tumors (20.9%) while targeted biopsy did not detect 11 (12.8%). Targeted biopsy of PI-RADS 2-5 alone overlooked 43.8% of Gleason score 6 tumors. McNemar's tests for detection of Gleason score 7 or greater cancers in both modalities were not statistically significant but showed a trend of superiority for targeted primary biopsies (p=0.08). Sampling efficiency was in favor of magnetic resonance imaging targeted prostate biopsy with 46.0% of targeted biopsy vs 7.5% of systematic, transperineal biopsy cores detecting Gleason score 7 or greater cancers. To diagnose 1 Gleason score 7 or greater cancer, 3.4 targeted and 7.4 systematic biopsies were needed. Limiting biopsy to men with PI-RADS 3-5 would have missed 17 Gleason score 7 or greater tumors (19.8%), demonstrating limited magnetic resonance imaging sensitivity. PI-RADS scores, digital rectal examination findings and prostate specific antigen greater than 20 ng/ml were predictors of Gleason score 7 or greater disease. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to systematic, transperineal biopsy as a reference test, magnetic resonance imaging targeted biopsy alone detected as many Gleason score 7 or greater tumors while simultaneously mitigating the detection of lower grade disease. The gold standard for cancer detection in primary biopsy is a combination of systematic and targeted cores.

Affixin (ß-parvin) promotes cardioprotective signaling via STAT3 activation.

The focal adhesion protein affixin (ß-parvin) is highly expressed in the heart and is associated with the sarcomeric z-disc as well as the cell membrane. While affixin is known to be involved in cell adhesion and migration, its functional role in cardiomyocytes remains unclear. To gain insight into the function of affixin, we performed a yeast-two-hybrid-screen employing affixin as a bait. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was detected as a binding partner of affixin. Overexpression of affixin in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes resulted in markedly enhanced STAT3 DNA binding activity and upregulation of STAT3-dependent genes. Moreover, upregulation of affixin led to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with an increase in cell size and enhanced protein synthesis. Consistent with STAT3 activation, overexpression of affixin also protected cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Finally, HUVECs that were cultivated in medium from affixin-overexpressing cardiomyocytes responded with an increase in tubuli formation, in line with a proangiogenic effect of affixin. In conclusion, we demonstrate that affixin activates STAT3 in cardiomyocytes and promotes characteristic STAT3-related effects such as hypertrophy, protection against apoptosis, and angiogenesis. This novel pathway might therefore represent a target for cardioprotective strategies.