[Aggressive aneurysmal bone cyst of the humerus in a child]. / Evolution inhabituelle d'un kyste osseux anévrismal de l'humerus.

A 9-year-old child presented an aggressive aneurysmal bone cyst of the humerus. Despite multiple treatments (intracystic steroid injections, curettage, Ethibloc injection), the lesion continued to progress. Surgical treatment was undertaken at the age of 19 years and enabled total tumor resection associated with reconstruction with a vascularized fibular flap. Five years later, the patient was free of recurrence. The graft was well integrated and shoulder function was normal. We present the diagnostic difficulties encountered in this case and discuss the therapeutic options. Biopsy is indispensable before instituting treatment.

Modulation of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels: a new challenge in medicinal chemistry.

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels are found in many types of neurons as well as in some other cell types. These channels are selective for K(+) and open when intracellular Ca(2+) rises to omega 500 nM. In neurons, this occurs during and after an action potential. Activation of SK channels hyperpolarizes the membrane, thus reducing cell excitability for several tens or hundreds of milliseconds. This phenomenon is called a afterhyperpolarization (AHP). Three subtypes of SK channels (SK1, SK2, SK3) have been cloned and exhibit a differential localization in the brain. SK channels may play a role in physiological and pathological conditions. They may be involved in the control of memory and cognition. Moreover, they are heavily expressed in the basal ganglia (in particular in the substantia nigra, pars compacta) and in the limbic system, suggesting that they may modulate motricity and emotional behaviour. Based on these facts, SK channel subtypes may be a suitable target for developing novel therapeutic agents, but more work is needed to validate these targets. Hence, there is a great need for selective ligands. Moreover, although the risk of peripheral side-effects for SK channel modulators appears to be low, some questions remain to be investigated. Currently, different molecules are known as SK channel modulators. Apamin is a very potent peptidic agent; it produces a strong blockade of these targets which is only very slowly reversible and it has limited selectivity. Dequalinium was found to be an effective blocker. Different chemical modulations on the dequalinium structure led to the discovery of highly potent bis-quinolinium derivatives such as UCL 1684. Other bis-(2-amino-benzimidazole) derivatives are in development. On the other hand, quaternary salts of bicuculline were reported to be effective in inhibiting AHPs. More recent developments on structurally-related molecules revealed that methyl-laudanosine is a new interesting tool for exploring SK channel pharmacology. Finally, a family of compounds has been shown to facilitate SK channel opening. Such compounds may be useful in treating disorders involving neuronal hyperexcitability.

Transitional cell carcinoma involving the prostate: a clinicopathological retrospective study of 76 cases.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the degree to which extension from transitional cell carcinoma into the prostate affects survival. We also compared whether prostatic stromal invasion occurring via direct extension through the bladder wall differs from stromal invasion arising intraurethrally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 76 men who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma also had prostate involvement. Patients were separated into group 1-18 with primary bladder tumor extending transmurally through the bladder wall to invade the prostate and group 2-58 with prostate involvement arising from within the prostatic urethra. In the latter group the degree of prostate invasion was classified as urethral mucosal involvement, ductal/acinar involvement and stromal invasion. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free rate were 22% and 28% in group 1 versus 43% and 45% in group 2, respectively. In group 2 survival rates were similar in those with prostatic urethral and ductal tumors (without stromal invasion). Five-year overall survival rates without and with stromal invasion were 49% and 25%, respectively (p = 0.024). Prostate involvement decreased survival, which varied according to primary bladder stages (Pis, P1, P2a/b and P3a/b, p = 0.004) or superficial (Pis, Pa and P1) and muscle invasive (P2a/b and P3/b, p = 0.045), disease in 2 groups. Those with positive lymph nodes experienced poorer outcomes in each group. The 5-year overall survival rate in the 19 men with positive lymph nodes was 13% and it was 44% with negative lymph nodes (p = 0.034). The major prognostic factors were age, degree of prostate invasion and lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The invasion pathways of prostate invasion in patients with transitional cell bladder carcinoma have a statistically significant prognostic role in survival. Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder extending into the prostate through the bladder wall and bladder carcinoma that did not directly infiltrate the prostate through the bladder wall are 2 distinct clinicopathological entities that should not be included in the same staging grade.

A new antigen recognized by cytolytic T lymphocytes on a human kidney tumor results from reverse strand transcription.

By stimulating blood lymphocytes from a renal cell carcinoma patient in vitro with the autologous tumor cells, we obtained cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones that killed several autologous and allogeneic histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B7 renal carcinoma cell lines. We identified the target antigen of these CTLs by screening COS cells transfected with the HLA-B7 cDNA and with a cDNA library prepared with RNA from the tumor cells. The antigenic peptide recognized by the CTLs has the sequence LPRWPPPQL and is encoded by a new gene, which we named RU2. This gene is transcribed in both directions. The antigenic peptide is not encoded by the sense transcript, RU2S, which is expressed ubiquitously. It is encoded by an antisense transcript, RU2AS, which starts from a cryptic promoter located on the reverse strand of the first intron and ends up on the reverse strand of the RU2S promoter, which contains a polyadenylation signal. This mechanism of antigen expression is unprecedented and further illustrates the notion that many peptides recognized by T cells cannot be predicted from the primary structure of the major product of the encoding gene. Antisense transcript RU2AS is expressed in a high proportion of tumors of various histological types. It is absent in most normal tissues, but is expressed in testis and kidney, and, at lower levels, in urinary bladder and liver. Short-term cultures of normal epithelial cells from the renal proximal tubule expressed significant levels of RU2AS message and were recognized by the CTLs. Therefore, this antigen is not tumor specific, but corresponds to a self-antigen with restricted tissue distribution.

Assessing the risk of unsuspected prostate cancer in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy: a 13-year retrospective study of the incidence and natural history of T1a-T1b prostate cancers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and natural history of stage T1a-T1b prostate cancer in patients undergoing surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and thus evaluate the effect that recent medical and 'minimally invasive' treatments (which provide no prostate sample for pathological examination) might have on the percentage of patients with unsuspected prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 1648 patients undergoing surgery for BPH over a 13-year period were reviewed retrospectively; the period overlapped the introduction of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a detection method. RESULTS: Stage T1 prostate cancer was found in 182 patients (11%), comprising 126 (11%) of 1199 transurethral resections and 56 (12%) of 449 open enucleations. The introduction of systematic PSA assays gradually reduced the mean incidence of T1 cancer from 23% to 7%, with a greater effect on T1b (from 15% to 2%), while the incidence of T1a remained nearly constant (+/-5%). The pathological features of surgical specimens from 43 radical prostatectomies undertaken for T1 tumours were reviewed. Locally advanced disease (stage >/=pT3) was apparent in 13% of T1a and 28% of T1b tumours. Amongst the patients electing for surveillance, only 8% of those with T1a progressed within 30-97 months of follow-up (mean progression time 73 months), whereas 29% of those with stage T1b progressed within 36 months of follow-up (mean progression time 17 months). CONCLUSION: These results show that the use of the PSA assay has decreased but not suppressed the incidence of pT1 prostate cancer, with a greater effect on those tumours at higher risk of progression (T1b). This suggests that the detection of prostate cancer based on PSA and transrectal ultrasonography is appropriate for screening patients and is sufficiently accurate that treatments for BPH that provide no pathological materials can be applied safely.

Testicular torsion after previous orchidopexy for undescended testis.

We report one case of acute testicular torsion following orchidopexy for an undescended testis. A review of the literature reveals only ten similar cases. History of a previous testicular surgery should not preclude the possibility of a torsion in that testicle. We conclude that at orchidopexy for an undescended testis, eversion of the tunica vaginalis is an essential step to avoid any future torsion.

[Complete radical prostatectomy and positive lymph nodes (stages pT1 to 4, N1 to 3, M0, D1)]. / Prostatectomie radicale totale et ganglions positifs (stades pT1 à 4, N1 à 3, M0, D1).

Lymph node metastases are rarely detected during radical prostatectomy (55/647 patients in our series or 8.5%) and several authors consider that lymphadenectomy is unnecessary in most cases. Criteria based on clinical stage, PSA and tumor grade have been elaborated in order to avoid pelvic lymph node dissection in a low risk population. It is commonly admitted that patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, a PSA level < 10 ng/ml, and a Gleason score < 7 could be spared a pelvic lymphadenectomy. In our series, these patients account for 12% of positive nodes. The best treatment for prostate cancer patients with a nodal disease is controversial. We compare the evolution of two groups of patients: radical prostatectomy alone or combined with an immediate adjuvant hormonal treatment. We observe a difference between the two groups for biological progression (PSA failure) but not yet for clinical progression nor for survival as our mean follow-up in only 6 years.

[Correction of severe median hypospadias. Review of 77 cases treated by the onlay island flap technic]. / Correction des hypospades de gravité moyenne. Revue de 77 cas traités par la technique du "onlay island flap".

Seventy-seven hypospadias, selected from a series of 504 treated in our institution, were operated using the pediculated transverse "onlay" preputial graft. We try to demonstrate that this technique produces excellent functional and cosmetic results. Chordee can be corrected using extensive dissection of the urethral plate with association, if necessary, of a Nesbit type of dorsal plication. Complications rate, in our hands, is lower in comparison to the technique described by John Duckett, where the urethral plate is divided and a complete urethral tube is performed. We report 4 fistulas, one distal end breakdown of the repair and one postoperative hematoma that had to be revised. Because of this low complication rate, in many cases, the "onlay" pediculated graft replaces advantageously the Duckett type of repair.

Is adrenalectomy part of radical nephrectomy?

Standard radical nephrectomy entails en bloc removal of the kidney together with Gerota's fascia and the ipsilateral adrenal. Thanks to the refinement of imaging techniques (ultrasound, CT and MRI), smaller tumors are being diagnosed. In addition, direct extension to the adrenal gland or adrenal metastasis can be detected in most cases. This is why several authors reserve adrenalectomy for large and/or upper pole tumors or abnormal appearing glands on preoperative CT-scan. However, preoperative diagnosis is not always accurate. Furthermore, micrometastatic adrenal invasion at the time of nephrectomy and late recurrences in the persistent adrenal have been documented, so that partisans of adrenalectomy only spare the adrenal in exceptional cases. The authors have reviewed several series in the litterature as well as there own, and conclude that ipsilateral adrenalectomy can be omitted for small middle- or lower pole tumors when the adrenal appears normal on CT and during the surgical intervention.

Adjuvant radiation therapy does not cause urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: results of a prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the potential influence of adjuvant radiotherapy on urinary continence after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with N0M0 prostate cancer randomized in a prospective study on postoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced disease (positive surgical margin, capsular perforation and/or seminal vesicle infiltration) were studied. Objective pad weighing tests corroborated by direct personal interviews were used to evaluate urinary continence at regular postoperative intervals. RESULTS: Of the patients 48 received 60 Gy. external radiotherapy with 18 MV photon beams between 12 and 16 weeks postoperatively, and 52 were followed expectantly. Risk factors were similar in both groups. With a mean followup of 24 months, no difference in complete urinary continence was observed. Of the irradiated group 77% and of the surveillance group 83% were totally dry. The fate of the bladder neck had no significant influence on final continence status, although there was a trend for faster recovery when the bladder neck was preserved. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective randomized study 60 Gy. external radiation therapy administered between 3 and 4 months after radical prostatectomy for pathologically locally advanced prostate cancer had no significant influence on urinary continence.

Megaureter in childhood: conservative or surgical management?

Antenatal and incidentally diagnosed megaureters can be safely treated conservatively after careful work up by combined imaging technics. Serial and repeated imaging are non the less usually necessary to confirm the diagnosis. This aspect could be fastidious and expensive. In case of symptoms, breakthrough infections or loss of kidney function, surgical treatment should be considered and good results can be expected. Refluxing megaureter has to be considered as high grade reflux and surgical approach is more often suggested. The authors have reviewed the experience of 139 patients with megaureters treated in the last decade to illustrate those facts.

[Severe and unexpected occurrence of water-electrolyte disorders in the postoperative period]. / Désordres hydro-électrolytiques sévères et inattendus survenus en période post-opératoire.

Unexpected severe electrolyte imbalance in the postoperative period. Report two cases. Two cases of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone are reported. In each patient, the physiopathology is reviewed. Differential diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia is discussed.

Direct carbon dioxide insufflation of the retroperitoneum under laparoscopic control for renal and adrenal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the videoscopic approach to the retroperitoneal space in the vicinity of the kidney and the adrenal gland. DESIGN: Open study. SETTING: University hospital, Belgium. SUBJECTS: 10 patients who underwent 11 operations (adrenalectomy, n = 3, nephrectomy, n = 5, partial nephrectomy, n = 2, and renal cystectomy, n = 1). INTERVENTIONS: Direct CO2 insufflation of the retroperitoneal space in order to obtain a convenient retroperitoneal working space for renal and adrenal surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: 8 patients were operated on exclusively by the retroperitoneoscopic approach; 2 required the retroperitoneal and transperitoneal routes to be combined to complete an adrenalectomy. No patients required blood transfusion and no patient died. Median postoperative stay was 3 days. CONCLUSION: The CO2 insufflation technique of the retroperitoneum is safe and reproducible. Nevertheless, far from excluding each other, both approaches-laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic-are complementary in difficult cases, particularly for adrenal endoscopic surgery and for larger renal lesions.

[Recurrence following radical surgery for prostatic cancer. Analysis of clinical, biological and anatomo-pathological prognostic factors]. / Récidive après chirurgie radicale pour cancer prostatique. Analyse des facteurs pronostiques cliniques, biologiques, et anatomopathologiques.

To better characterize risk factors of progression (or recurrence) of prostate cancer after radical surgery, we analysed clinical and biological preoperative characteristics and post-operative pathology results in a series of 179 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1994. The mean follow-up in the series is 36 months (24-36). 39 patients treated before radical prostatectomy by hormonotherapy or surgery (TURP, TULIP) were excluded from analysis. 28 patients treated with immediate adjuvant therapy were also excluded from the study on risk factors of recurrence. Clinical understaging is 37% (50/134 patients with stage T1-T2 have extracapsular extension or invasion of seminal vesicles). Preoperative PSA value is related to the pathologic stage. Extracapsular disease was found in 17% and 46% when PSA was < 4 ng/ml or > 10 ng/ml respectively, thereby confirming the poor staging value of preoperative PSA alone. Analysis of the surgical margins demonstrates a statistically significant difference (p = 0.018) between patients with a preoperative PSA < 10 ng/ml (22% of positive margins) and those with a PSA > 10 ng/ml (42% of positive margins). Predictive factors of recurrence were analyzed in the 112 patients who have not received pre- or postoperative treatment. The respective impact of clinical stage, preoperative PSA value, Gleason score, invasion of prostatic apex, capsular perforation, surgical margins, invasion of seminal vesicles or of pelvic lymph nodes, and invasion of intraprostatic, intracapsular or extraprostatic nerves were evaluated. In T3 cases, we observe 50% recurrence (but only 4 patients fall into this group) versus 14% in clinically localized tumors (T1c-T2c). No recurrence is detected when preoperative PSA is < 4 ng/ml; on the contrary 21% of patients with a PSA > 10 ng/ml recurred. Infiltration of the apex does not influence prognosis. In our experience, capsular perforation is a worse prognostic factor than positive surgical margins, the respective rate of failure being 25% and 17% respectively. Invasion of extraprostatic nerves increases the risk of failure compared to capsular perforation alone (31% vs 18%). Seminal vesicles invasion significantly worsens prognosis (50% vs 13% recurrence respectively; p = 0.024). All patients with positive lymph nodes recurred (p = 0.001).

Tamoxifen for retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis, either idiopathic or associated with aortic inflammatory aneurysm, is a chronic fibrotic disease that causes progressive obstruction of ureters and vessels around the lower abdominal aorta. Treatment is often difficult (surgery) or hazardous (steroids). We report a case of a woman with retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with aortic inflammatory aneurysm, who was successfully treated with oral tamoxifen.

Free to total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio improves the discrimination between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the diagnostic gray zone of 1.8 to 10 ng/mL total PSA.

OBJECTIVES: Improved discrimination between prostate cancer (PC) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is clearly needed. Our aim in this study was to evaluate whether the free to total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio would be useful in the gray zone of 1.8-10 ng/mL total PSA range. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 435 clinic patients referred for prostate evaluation, 308 had a total PSA < 10 ng/mL (92 had PC and 216 BPH). Free and total PSA were measured, and the free to total PSA ratio calculated. RESULTS: Total PSA values were significantly different between the two groups. For the 200 patients with a total PSA < 6 ng/mL, no significant difference in total PSA values were seen (P = 0.411), whereas free to total PSA ratios remained statistically different (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis comparing the performances of total PSA over the ratio of free to total PSA showed a clear advantage for the ratio at all sensitivity levels. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that in a significant number (n = 308) of prostatic patients in the diagnostic gray zone of 1.8-10 ng/mL total PSA, the routine use of free to total PSA might be advantageous in discriminating between cancer and benign hyperplasia. This advantage remained for total PSA < 4 ng/mL. Further study is warranted to confirm these findings in an unselected population.

Efficacy of laser prostatectomy at 2-years' follow-up.

A total of 32 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with the right-angle firing neodymium:YAG laser fiber at a 60 W power setting. All these patients represented a high operative risk (ASA score > or = 3) and were excluded by the anesthesiologist for classic surgical treatment. Twenty-six patients were followed at least 24 months; the six remaining patients died of intercurrent disease. Efficacy of treatment was assessed at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively by International Prostatic Symptom Scores, peak urinary flow rates, prostatic volume, and radiographic or endoscopic imaging of the prostatic urethra. The mean preoperative symptom score was 25, the mean peak urinary flow rate 7.6 mL/sec, and mean prostatic volume 31 cc. At 2 years postoperatively, the mean symptom score was 5, the mean peak urinary flow rate was 19.3 mL/sec, and the mean prostatic volume was 18 cc. In two elderly patients, in spite of a significant improvement of symptomatology and peak flow rate, a surprisingly obstructed prostatic urethra was found endoscopically.

Transurethral ultrasound-guided laser-induced prostatectomy: a critical evaluation.

We evaluated 38 patients with a follow-up of 30 months after transurethral ultrasound-guided laser-induced prostatectomy (TULIP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The mean symptom score decreased by 54%, and peak urinary flow increased by 112%. For the entire series, 43.6% of the patients had an improved symptom score and 41% better urinary flow, but only 28.2% had improvement in both. Six patients (16%) required reoperation, two underwent a radical prostatectomy, and one patient presented total urinary incontinence. Also, 19% presented postoperative impotence, and 47% presented retrograde ejaculation. Although one third of the patients are improved with the TULIP procedure, the rate of complications is significantly higher than for TURP, which remains the most effective treatment of obstructive BPH.

Blunt renal traumas: contribution of spiral CT with three dimensional reconstruction to the surgical decision process?

Spiral CT has proved to be a valuable tool by providing various kinds of three-dimensional (3D) images of the studied structures. Such 3D images, which offer a more realistic depiction of the lesions, could be of interest for surgeons who are attempting to treat conservatively blunt abdominal traumas and lead to less inappropriate triage between conservative and operative management particularly for renal trauma. A good working relationship between surgeons and radiologists allowed us to perform an early follow-up 3D spiral CT on a commercially available spiral CT scanner. In the first adult patient, the 3D CT demonstrated minor spleen injury associated with severe lacerations of the left kidney with complete separation of the kidney lower pole. A delayed partial lower nephrectomy was performed. For the second 12-year-old patient presenting with severe spleen trauma and macroscopic hematuria, the 3D CT accurately documented the spleen and renal lesions that were safely amenable to nonoperative treatment. For hemodynamically stable patients, 3D CT is a potentially helpful addition to conventional axial CT for quantifying blunt renal traumas and for making the strategic choice between nonoperative, emergency or delayed surgical treatment.