Penile foreign bodies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 8 cases of penile foreign bodies. METHODS/RESULTS: We provide an essentially visual overview of various objects or foreign bodies affecting the penis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of penile foreign bodies is rarely due to an accident. These objects are placed for a wide variety of reasons, but primarily for erotic or self-arousal purposes. The consequences of penile foreign bodies can be mild or very severe, resulting in penile amputation.

VHL protein alterations in sporadic renal cell carcinoma.

AIMS: The vhl gene is a tumour suppressor gene implicated in renal tumorigenesis in both familial and sporadic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Alterations in the gene may modify its suppressor function and allow the formation of renal tumours. The purpose of this study was to determine the existence of vhl gene mutations in renal tumour tissue among patients with sporadic RCC and to assess the effects on the structure of the VHL protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational, analytical and descriptive study of 96 patients who had undergone surgery for sporadic RCC. In surgical specimens of tumour tissue, the three exons of the vhl gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to automatic sequencing. The consequences of the mutations detected on the VHL protein were analysed, taking into account the physical and chemical properties of the amino acids changed by the mutations, the location of the alterations in the protein sequence, the degree of conservation throughout evolution, and prediction of the secondary structure of the protein. RESULTS: In total, 22 vhl gene mutations were detected in 21 (21.9%) patients; in particular, 13 exonic point mutations consisting of 11 sense mutations, one silent mutation and one missense mutation, plus five exon deletions and one insertion. The remaining three were intronic mutations. All changes occurred in protein functional domains and in regions that have been well conserved throughout evolution. Two-thirds of the intronic mutations were considered relevant for protein function. Among the mutations detected, 72.7% were considered capable of compromising the VHL protein suppressor function. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in the vhl gene result in amino acid changes in the protein that usually occur at important functional sites that have been conserved throughout evolution and where the binding domains for other proteins are located and exert their suppressor function.

Late recurrence of ovarian granulosa cell tumor at the retroperitoneal and renal hilum level in a single-kidney patient--case report.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian granulosa cell tumors are rare tumors characterized by a long natural history and a tendency to late recurrence. Surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy are possible options to treat recurrent disease. The choice will depend on the patient's condition and the site of recurrence. CASE: We describe the case of a 72-year-old patient with a single left kidney who presented retroperitoneal recurrence of ovarian granulosa cell tumor at the left renal hilum ten years after primary treatment. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates an example of very late recurrence and emphasizes the importance of extended follow-up for these patients.

[Growing incidence in renal cell carcinoma]. / Incidencia creciente en el carcinoma de células renales.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the change in the behavior of renal cell carcinoma for its presentation, treatment, histology and mortality during a 17 year period. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study on 212 patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in our Department from the year 1988 up to 2004, analyzing the clinical and demographic data and comparing them to each other according to two periods: 1988-1996 and 1997-2004. RESULTS: An increase has been appreciated in the incidence of renal tumors in the second period and in a same way an increase in the incidental diagnosis and in the practice of nephron sparing surgery. Clear cell type was the most frequent in both periods and tumoral size was higher in the first period than in second. TNM stage I was the most frequent, although in first period it was higher percentage of stage IV. Cause-specific mortality has increased in the last years. CONCLUSION: An increase is appreciated in the incidence of renal cell tumors. Although the diagnosis is in earlier stages, a descent in the mortality has not been found.

[Entero-neobladder ileal fistula: two cases report]. / Fístula entero-neovejiga ileal: a propósito de dos casos.

Fistulas between the orthotopic reservoir and the gastrointestinal tract have low incidence (1.5-2%). Simptomatology is variable, but it's frecuent to find fecaluria. Among 90 new intestinal bladders we show two fistule of new bladder to ileo, with nest postoperatory diagnosis, using retrograde cystografy; one was resolved with next postoperative treatment and the other with open surgery.

Fístula entero-neovejiga ileal: a propósito de dos casos / Entero-neobladder ileal fistula: two cases report

Las fístulas entre el reservorio ortotópico y el tracto intestinal son de escasa incidencia (1,5-2%). La sintomatología es variable, pero frecuentemente existe fecaluria. Entre 90 neovejigas intestinales, presentamos dos fístulas de neovejiga a íleon, diagnosticadas en el postoperatorio próximo, mediante cistografía retrógrada; una resuelta con tratamiento conservador, y otra con cirugía abierta (AU)

Fistulas between the orthotopic reservoir and the gastrointestinal tract have low incidence (1,5-2%). Simptomatology is variable, but it’s frecuent to find fecaluria. Among 90 new intestinal bladders we show two fistule of new bladder to ileo, with nest postoperatory diagnosis, using retrograde cystografy; one was resolved with next postoperative treatment and the other with open surgery (AU)

[Urachal pathology: an overview review and report of three clinical cases]. / Patología del uraco: revisión de conjunto y presentación de tres casos.

With the use of these two clinical cases (cyst and urachal adenocarcinoma) we did an overview of the urachal pathology. The urachus cyst is usually asyntomathic, it's detected randomly when we do other diagnostic tests or when we have any complications. The urachal adenocarcinoma is a rare pathology, it usually exhibit hematuria and we need to follow the same diagnostic tools as we use in vesical tumors (cystoscopy and transurethral vesical resection). Adenocarcinoma of the dome of the bladder is the main differential diagnosis. Partial cystectomy is the first choice treatment. Quimiotheraphy and radiotheraphy offer poor results.

[Problem-based learning in urology training. The Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha model]. / El aprendizaje basado en problemas en la enseñanza de la urologia. Modelo de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha.

Ongoing changes in the social, economic, technological and scientific realms have generated new needs and led various organizations to suggest that educational institutions should reorient their educational strategies toward developing effective professionals with the skills to meet these needs. These "modern" strategies include problem-based learning, in which the student seeks and selects information, analyzes the data obtained, integrates both prior and newly acquired knowledge, and, finally, offers diagnostic and therapeutic options to resolve the problem posed, as would occur in professional practice. With this approach, prior skills and practical experience form the foundation of learning. Problem-based learning incorporates some aspects of cognitive psychology, a model that mainly centers on the nature of the knowledge structures found in active memory, the processes involved in information storage and retrieval and the various factors that activate these processes. At the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, urology is part of a core subject (Medical and Surgical Pathology II) taught in the fifth year of coursework together with nephrology. Each course includes approximately 75 students, divided into five groups. The rotation lasts six weeks, with students spending a mean of two hours a day on theory (nephrology and/or urology) and the remaining time on rotations in the various activities: three weeks in nephrology and three weeks in urology. Upon completion of the rotation, the students write a combined theoretical examination with 100 multiple-choice questions (50 on urology) and take a practical skills examination. At the end of the course, another practical test consisting of an objective, structured clinical examination is taken, in which standard patients are used and the professor directly assesses the level of skills acquired with a "real" case.

p53 Gene mutations in superficial bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of p53 gene mutations in superficial tumors of the urinary bladder (transitional cell carcinoma) and their relationship to classic prognostic factors for cancer recurrence and progression. To analyze the implication of these mutations on the P53 protein structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional study of 90 consecutive patients, 60 with superficial transitional cell carcinoma (pTa and pT1) and 30 without neoplastic disease (control group). Samples of bladder tumor and control normal mucosa were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) to detect p53 mutations in exons 5-9. Automatic sequencing was used to characterize the mutations and their effect on the P53 protein was analyzed. Bivariate analysis was used to assess the association with other prognostic factors. RESULTS: PCR-SSCP found no mutations in any control group patient, whereas 38.3% of patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma had one or more mutations in the exons analyzed. Thirty mutations were sequenced; all were point mutations and 86.67% were considered relevant for the P53 structure. A total of 93.3% of the mutations were located in highly conserved regions and 73.3% in mutational hot spots. The highest cell differentiation grades and pT1 stage were associated with a higher incidence of p53 gene mutations. Previous recurrences and other tumor-related histological variables were not associated with a higher percentage of mutations. CONCLUSION: Mutations at p53 did not appear in healthy bladder mucosa and were significantly more frequent in pT1 and high-grade (G-II and G-III) tumors. All mutations detected were point mutations and most caused considerable P53 structural abnormalities, implying major repercussions on P53 function. These data suggest that certain p53 mutations may have prognostic value, even though they were not associated with other classic recurrence and tumor progression parameters. Future analyses of the progress of patients with superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma and mutated p53 will help clarify this aspect.

[Surgery of large residual mass after chemotherapy in advanced testicular germ cell tumor]. / Cirugía de gran masa residual tras quimioterapia en tumor germinal testicular avanzado.

Treatment for testicular tumours has progress in such a manner in the last years that high cure percentages can at present be achieved. After chemotherapy, in most cases, residual mass can appear. In this cases surgery is considered a viable therapeutic option although it implies an advanced surgical training since it is a complex technique and implies serious implications. We submit the case of a patient who presented a large residual mass from a testicular germ cell tumour after being treated with orquiectomía and chemotherapy. Surgery was performed resulting in total and radical extirpation of residual mass.

[Nephron-sparing surgical treatment in renal tumors]. / Cirugía conservadora de parénquima en los tumores renales.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study on the nephron-sparing surgical treatment in patients with renal tumors, and in addition a literature review on the subject. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since January 1988 until February 2002, 44 partial nephrectomies have been carried out in our unit because of renal tumors in 43 patients. The clinical protocols of these 43 patients have been reviewed, with an analysis of various clinical-pathological parameters, and utilizing in this analysis percentages, central tendency measures and dispersion and confidence intervals. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 55.8 years (19-76), and 29 patients were males. Elective partial nephrectomy was carried out in 79.5% of the patients, while in the rest they were submitted to imperative surgery for various causes. The diagnosis of the tumors was mostly as an incidental finding upon carrying out some diagnostic test by another cause (68.2%). In the symptomatic cases, the most common presentation was the combination of pain and hematuria (11.4%). Histopathological study revealed malignant neoplasms in 88.7%, most of them (61.4%) clear cell carcinomas. A Furhman grade 2 was observed in 76.3% of tumors. The average size of the renal masses was of 4.53 cm (1,5-11). As a whole, 61.5% were pT1, 33.3% were pT2 and only one case was pT3. Operative complications were observed in 11.4% of the cases and postoperative complications in 25%. No patient showed local or distant recurrence, and all of them survived disease-free. A patient died after 74 months of the surgery for causes not related to the disease. Average follow-up was 49.77 months (1-168). CONCLUSIONS: Renal nephron-sparing surgery is such a valid therapeutic option as radical nephrectomy in selected patients with renal tumors, since the cancer-specific survival is 100%, which means that this can be considered a therapeutic indication even in patients with healthy contralateral kidney.

Prognostic implications of p53 gene mutations in bladder tumors.

PURPOSE: Alterations in the p53 gene related to neoplastic progression were studied in tumor tissue samples from patients with transitional cell carcinoma and correlated with classic staging parameters. On this basis, biological characterization of the tumor was performed to establish subgroups of patients at high risk and those with a more favorable prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational, analytical and cross-sectional study included 115 patients divided into 4 homogeneous groups of 1-control, 2-primary superficial transitional cell carcinoma, 3-recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma, and 4-infiltrative transitional cell carcinoma. DNA was obtained from tumor tissue samples and polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism analysis was performed on exons 5 to 9 of the p53 gene. Samples showing mutations were submitted to automatic sequencing. Statistics included bivariate analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the tumors the 63.8% were superficial and 37.2% were infiltrative transitional cell carcinoma. Of the infiltrative tumors 23.5% (8 of 34) resulted from recurrent transitional cell carcinoma. Mutations were found in samples from 46.8% of patients, all with bladder tumors. There was a trend toward increasing appearance of mutations as the size of the tumor, number of tumor implants, degree of dedifferentiation and stage of local infiltration increased. The presence of mutations in p53 was 2.5 times greater in infiltrative tumors than in low stage and 4.3 times greater in moderate to high grade than in low grade tumors. All mutations found were point mutations and 79.25% provoked severe alterations in protein structure. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in the p53 gene are mainly point mutations that aggregate in hot spots, and provoke genetic instability and substantial changes that alter p53 function, implying a trend to tumor progression and dissemination (with a greater proportion of mutations in high stage high grade tumors). Since a large percentage of bladder tumors are under staged, analysis of p53 gene mutations could be useful as a factor for prognosis and therapeutic decisions.

[Pheochromocytoma of the organ of Zuckerkandl. Apropos of a case]. / Feocromocitoma del órgano de Zuckerkandl. A propósito de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Extraadrenal pheochromocytomae represent 17-18% of pheochromocytomae, 85% of which are located infradiaphragmaticaly and generally wherever there is cromaffin tissue, as in this case, located at the organ of Zuckerkand. They can also appear in the context of family syndromes, i.e. phacomatosis and MEN (IIA and IIB). CLINICAL CASE: The authors present a case of pheochromocytoma located in the organ of Zuckerkand, diagnosed in the course of uncontroled HBP. Diagnosis was achieved by metanephrine determinations and radiological tests (ultrasound, CAT and MIBG). This patient was surgically treated by exeresis of the lession previous alpha and beta adrenergic blockade with phenoxybenzamine and propanolol. Currently this patient is asymptomatic with normal blood pressor and metanephrines blood levels. DISCUSSION: Extraadrenal pheochromocytomae are usually located in superior paraaortic infradiaphragmatic region. The grade of malignancy must be established by histopathological findings, local recidives and metastasis. After clinical suspicion and the finding of a retroperitoneal mass with ultrasound, CAT and/or MRI, MIBG must be performed to confirm the diagnosis as well as to leave out possible tumours at distance. Treatment is surgery previous blockade of cathecolamines secretion by the preoperative administration of alpha blockers, with or without beta blockers.

The impact of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery on patients' quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of surgical treatment of benign hyperplasia of the prostate on patients' quality of life (QoL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The QoL of 181 patients was assessed by the health questionnaire SF-36. The measurement was carried out before and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: After surgery, SF-36 scales improved their scores, fundamentally General Health (57.4%) and Physical Functioning (57.1%). 70.3% improved their physical component summary (PCS) and 49.1% their mental component summary (MCS). The improved PCS and MCS were not associated with the improved I-PSS or urine flow. The improved PCS was 2.2 times higher in patients who had previously scored under 44 in the PCS, 2.2 in patients who had scored over 25 in the I-PSS, and 2.9 times higher in patients without chronic diseases. With regard to MCS improvement, this was 17.1 times higher in patients who scored under 50 previously on the MCS, 3.1 in patients who scored over 4 on the IQL, 5.7 in patients without postoperative incontinence, and 3.3 times higher in patients who lived in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in QoL after surgery is noted more in physical than in psychological aspects. Although a reduction in the intensity of prostatic symptoms and an increase in urine flow values were noted postoperatively, the improvement QoL was not associated with improved symptoms or urinary flow.

[Urodynamic behavior of intestinal neobladder: our experience]. / Comportamiento urodinámico de las neovejigas intestinales: nuestra experiencia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the urodynamic behavior of the intestinal neobladders in our series. METHODS: The study comprised 20 patients with a detubularized intestinal neobladder. The ileal segment was utilized in 15 (13 Melchior, 1 Camey and 1 Padovana), the ileocecal segment in 4 (3 Mainz, 1 Le Bag) and detubularized sigmoid in one patient. A urodynamic study was performed in all patients to determine neobladder capacity, presence of peristaltic waves, filling and voiding pressures, peak and mean urinary flow and postvoid residual urine. The patients were also asked about continence, if a collecting device was required and the overall degree of satisfaction. RESULTS: Mean neobladder capacity was 508 ml., mean reservoir accommodation was 38 ml/cm H2O and 66.7% presented significant peristaltic contractions. Maximum filling pressure was 27 cm H2O. All patients showed peaks in the flowmetry due to the abdominal pressure, with a mean maximum peak flow of 16.6 ml/sec. Mean postvoid residual urine was 43.6 ml. Eighty percent of the patients were continent during the day, 55% were continent during the night and 25% were completely continent. All patients used abdominal pressure for voiding and generally in the sitting position. The overall degree of satisfaction was moderate to high in all but two patients; one required self catheterization and the other had frequent interruptions during work due to leaks during the day, but refused to use a collecting device. CONCLUSIONS: If renal function is preserved and the criteria for radical oncologic treatment are observed, substitution of the compromised bladder should be attempted with a reservoir as physiological as possible. The ideal continent urinary diversion must meet the following prerequisites: adequate capacity, low pressure inside the reservoir, absence of pressure waves, continence and absence of postvoid residual urine. The mean capacity of the intestinal neobladders in this study, as well as the maximum pressure inside the reservoirs were found to be adequate. However, many patients presented peristaltic contractions with urinary leaks in some cases, and the percentage of patients with residual urine also appears to be high. Most of these patients do not require the use of pads during the day, while almost all of the patients require some type of collecting device at night for incontinence. Nevertheless, the patients in this series were generally satisfied with their neobladder.

[Quality of life of patients after radical surgery of bladder cancer]. / Calidad de vida de los pacientes tras la cirugía radical del cáncer vesical.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of surgery for bladder cancer on the patient's quality of life. METHODS: The SF-36 questionnaire was utilized to assess the quality of life of 53 cystectomized patients. Sociodemographic data, associated and surgery-related morbidity, type of urinary diversion, anatomopathological stage and current oncological status were analyzed. RESULTS: Patient mean age was 64.3 years. There were 46 males (86.8%), 33 (62.3%) had no schooling, 32 (68.1%) were social class IV and 35 (66.0%) had chronic associated conditions. External urinary diversion had been performed in 28 (52.8%) and bladder substitution in 21 (39.6%) patients. The early complication rate was 37.7% (n = 20) and the late complication rate was 86.8% (n = 46). Tumor stage was < or = pT2 in 28 cases (52.8%). Age correlated inversely with Physical Performance (r = -0.324; p = 0.018). Patients with chronic conditions had a lower score for Physical Performance, Vitality and SFI. Patients with tumor stage < or = pT2 scored higher for Physical Performance (p = 0.034), Vitality (p = 0.046), Mental Health (p = 0.036), Emotional Role (p < 0.05) and MSI (p < 0.05). Those with postoperative complications had a worse score for Physical Performance (p = 0.031), Vitality (p = 0.027), Emotional Role (p = 0.014), Mental Health (p = 0.012) and MSI (p = 0.015). The SF-36 showed no differences between the types of urinary diversion except that patients that had undergone orthotopic bladder substitution had a higher score for Physical Performance (p = 0.014) and FSI (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Although the quality of life of cystectomized patients is worse than that of the general population, it is better in younger patients without chronic associated conditions, no postoperative complications, lower tumor stage and those submitted to orthotopic bladder substitution.

[Survival in patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder carcinoma]. / Supervivencia en pacientes sometidos a cistectomía radical por carcinoma vesical.

AIM: To analyze survival among cystectomized bladder cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study comprising data from 166 bladder cancer patients subjected to cystectomy between 1976 and 1998. Patient survival was considered the dependent variable, while sociodemographic data, renal function parameters, the existence of hydronephrosis, anaesthetic risk according to ASA status, the type of urinary diversion involved, the histopathological characteristics and postoperative complications were regarded as the independent variables. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, comparing survival curves with the Mantel-Haennszel test, and developing a Cox proportional risk model. RESULTS: The mean survival was 81 months (median = 20 months); 82% of the patients died of causes related to the neoplastic process or surgical complications. The probability of survival 60 months after surgery was 35.2%--the figure being higher among patients aged < or = 65 years (p = 0.026), without prior hydronephrosis (p = 0.023), or with normal creatinine levels (p = 0.048). The principal influencing factor was tumor histological stage: for lesions in stage < or = pT2 survival at 60 months was 67.8%, versus 29.1% in stage pT3 and only 6% in pT4. In the presence of lymph node involvement, only 6.1% of the patients were still alive after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: The local infiltration stage and pelvic node involvement are the two most decisive factors for patients prognosis. Hydronephrosis and increased creatinine levels before cystectomy are the two non-hystopatological parameters associated to a poorer prognosis.

Quality of life of patients on the waiting list for benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients on the waiting list for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) surgery and the relationship between prostate symptoms and QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 189 BPH patients on the waiting list for surgery, during the period from January to December 1999. A survey was conducted to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, associated illnesses, prostate symptoms based on the International Prostate Symptoms Score (I-PSS), and QoL based on the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Moreover, the case history, prostate volume measured by ultrasound, and uroflowmetry results were considered. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted based on the scores recorded on the SF-36 scales and the other variables. RESULTS: The mean age was 68.8 +/- 6.9 SD. A total of 70.4% of the subjects had other chronic illnesses, 54.1% had severe symptoms (I-PSS > 19), and 69.8% reported that they were extremely dissatisfied with their symptoms. A total of 29.6% of the patients had urethral catheters. The SF-36 scale with the highest scores was social functioning (79.9, 95% CI: 76.5-83.4), whereas the lowest scores referred to role-physical (58.2, 95% CI: 52.3-64.1). Patients with more severe symptoms assigned lower scores to the physical functioning, vitality, social functioning, mental health, role-emotional and mental component summary (MCS) scales. Irritative symptoms were associated with lower vitality, social functioning, mental health and MCS. Patients with urethral catheters recorded lower scores on the physical functioning and role-physical scales. CONCLUSIONS: The QoL of BPH patients on the waiting list for surgery is poorer than that of the general population of the same age. The increased severity of prostate symptoms, particularly the irritative symptoms, leads to a poorer QoL in terms of nearly all aspects of QoL. However, this correlation was not observed for prostate volume nor uroflowmetry data.