[A case of mesothelial cyst at the inguinal region].

A 54-year-old man presented with the left inguinal swelling. The operation was performed with diagnosis of the hydrocele of spermatic cord. A tumor was 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm in size, cystic with yellowish serous fluid. After the operation, this tumor is diagnosed as mesothelial cyst through the histopathologic examination. This is a rare case, however it is worth to consider that there is a possibility to be a mesothelial cyst when the tumor has been found at the inguinal region.

[Late relapse and urothelial carcinoma of residual ureter 16 years after radical nephrectomy: a case report].

A 66-year-old male was referred to our hospital for evaluation of tumors in his left residual ureter and the lung. He had a history of left nephrectomy due to "malignant renal tumor", performed by a general surgeon at another hospital 16 years ago. Since a definitive diagnosis of the kidney was uncertain, we speculated that the original renal disease was a renal pelvic cancer and had metastasized in the residual ureter and the lung. We performed systemic chemotherapy followed by resection of residual ureter with bladder cuff Pathological examination revealed urothelial carcinoma. However, the lung tumors did not respond to salvage chemotherapy and slowly progressed. Bronchoscopic biopsy was performed 2 years later and histological finding showed clear cell type renal cell carcinoma.

Varicocele complicating spontaneous arteriovenous fistula.

We describe herein a rare case of a varicocele complicating spontaneous arteriovenous fistula. A 40-year-old man was referred to our hospital in November 2006, complaining of a non-tender mass in the left scrotum at the age of 15 and thereafter. On examination, his left scrotum revealed a large varicocele, but no manifest superficial thrill was noted. Scrotal ultrasonograpy revealed approximately 7 cm large varicocele. Computed tomography angiography revealed the existence of an arteriovenous fistula between the left testicular artery and the veins of the left pampiniform plexus. We laparoscopically carried out internal spermatic vessels ligation under the diagnosis of a varicocele complicating a spontaneous arteriovenous fistula. The postoperative course was uneventful. At 18 months postoperatively, the varicocele and fistula had not recurred.

[Arthritis following intravesical instillation of BCG for urothelial cancers].

BACKGROUND: Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is efficient for prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer and treatment for carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the upper urethelial cancer. However, the incidence of adverse effects is relatively high, and those include reactive arthritis. We retrospectively evaluated the incidence and the outcome of reactive arthritis following intravesical BCG therapy for urothelial cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intravesical instillations of BCC were performed in 192 cases (218 courses) between January 1998 and January 2002. BCG was instilled for prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer recurrence in 170 (195 courses), treatment for CIS in 7 (8 course), and treatment for CIS in 7 (8 courses), and treatment for CIS in upper urinary tract in 15 (15 courses). RESULTS: Arthritis was recognized in 8 cases (3.7%, 8/218 courses), and 7 of them were identical to reactive arthritis following BCG therapy. Remaining 1 patient was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the relation between arthritis and intravesical BCG instillation was unclear. Mean number of BCG instillation was 5.6 (3-8 times). All reactive arthritis were occurred within 4 weeks after the last BCG instillation, i.e., BCG induced urinary tract infection, and 6 of them were polyarthritis. Concurrence of conjunctivitis was seen in one patient. HLA-B27 was negative in 4 examined patients. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was used in all 8 patients, anti-tuberculous agents were used in 3, and prednisolone was added in 3, Arthritis was improved within 2 months in patients received prednisolone, however, it persisted longer than 3 months in patients without prednisolone. CONCLUSION: Arthritis was recognized in higher incidence than previous reports following intravesical instillation of BCG. All cases except one, diagnosed as RA, were diagnosed as reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome). However, correlation between HLA-B27 and arthritis was not clear in this study. Administration of steroidal drug was thought to improve arthritis in shorter duration.

[Experience with the memotherm stent in high-risk urinary retention patients].

PURPOSE: We report on our experience with the Memotherm stent implanted in high-risk patients who had an indwelling catheter. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients (mean age 80.6 years, range 55 to 93) who had an indwelling catheter were treated by placement of the Memotherm stent. The mean duration time of indwelling catheter were 12.7 months (range 1 to 60). The methods of implantation was used the special delivery system and treatment can be done with the patient under local anesthesia with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. To assess the efficacy of the treatment we measured urinary peak flow rate (ml/sec), residual urine volume (ml) and residual urine rate (residual urine volume/total urine volume: %). Subjective symptoms were evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS). The mean follow-up time was 3.3 months (range 1 week to 8 months). RESULTS: There were no severe medical problems associated with stent placement. Sixteen patients were able to void immediately after insertion of the stent. The remaining 1 required an indwelling catheter to 2 months, however, eventually able to void. Only 7 of the 17 patients can be evaluation for urinary flow and residual urine, nevertheless the mean urinary peak flow rate showed 9.7 ml/sec, the mean residual urine volume was 77.4 ml, and the mean residual urine rate was 27.5%. Also, average I-PSS showed 13.4 in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: As a results of this study, the Memotherm stent is good conservative therapy for high-risk urinary retention patients.

[The clinicopathological characteristics in renal cell carcinoma with end-stage renal disease].

OBJECTIVES: The influence and the interdependence of pathological and clinical factors on prognostic differences between renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and RCC without ESRD after nephrectomy has remained unclear. We compare the clinicopathological features between RCC with and without ESRD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1993 to May 2000, 150 RCC patients who underwent nephrectomy were pathologically defined to have pT1 to pT3NXM0. The patients were followed for 1 to 84 months (median 30 months) after the surgery. Total of 16 patients with ESRD and 134 patients without ESRD were studied, and the differences of clinicopathological features between two groups were statistically compared. RESULTS: We compare the clinicopathological features between RCC with and without ESRD. Patients' age, tumor size, rate of incidental cancer, pathological T stage, and grade were not significantly different between two groups. The 5-year recurrence-free probability rate was significantly higher in patients without ESRD than in patients with ESRD (log-rank test: p = 0.04). The status of ESRD, patients age and pathological T stage were significant predictors of recurrence when analyzed by Cox proportional hazards analysis (p = 0.01, p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the ESRD is an independent prognostic factor in RCC patients after surgery. These results reflect that the patients with ESRD have higher risk of tumor progression. Therefore, early detection of tumors is particularly important in these patients by regular abdominal ultrasound or CT screening.

[Prognostic value of serum immunosuppressive acidic protein in renal cell carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) could be a useful marker for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), serum IAP levels were compared with clinicopathological features in RCC patients. Furthermore, IAP cutoff level to predict the recurrence was determined using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and December 1998, pretreatment serum IAP was measured in 123 consecutive patients with PCC at Kitasato University Hospital. Ninety-eight patients were received radical surgery and 86 patients were performed as clinically curable renal cell carcinoma (pT1-pT3N0M0). ROC curve analysis was utilized to set the cutoff value of IAP for prediction of cancer recurrence. Significance of prognostic factors in RCC recurrence was analyzed by Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The mean age of the 123 patients was 58.6 years (range 33 to 90, median 59). The mean follow-up period was 24.8 months (range 1 to 78, median 26). The median IAP levels were 447 ug/ml in stage I, 629 ug/ml in stage II, 588 ug/ml in stage III and 1,150 ug/ml in stage IV (p < 0.05). Tumor size and venous involvement were significantly associated with IAP concentrations (p < 0.05). However, tumor grade did not correlate with IAP level. Of 86 patients with clinically curable tumor, 79 patients were disease-free after median follow-up of 27 months. Using ROC curve analysis, IAP cutoff level for prediction of cancer recurrence was set at 620 ug/ml. Disease-free survival rate in patients with preoperative IAP levels of 620 ug/ml or lower was 98.5% (67/68) at 27 months postoperatively, whereas that in patients with IAP greater than 620 ug/ml was 75.0% (12/18). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results of multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative IAP and pT stage were statistically significant factors for tumor recurrence after radical surgery (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that preoperative IAP level is a useful prognostic marker in patients with RCC. In particular, patients with clinically curable tumors (pT1-3N0M0), whose preoperative IAP levels greater then 620 ug/ml may have high risk for recurrence after radical nephrectomy.

Clinical significance of p53, mdm2, and bcl-2 proteins in renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To improve our understanding of the clinical relevance of p53, mdm2, and bcl-2 protein overexpression in renal cell carcinoma, we retrospectively investigated the immunohistochemical expression of p53, murine double minute 2 (mdm2), and bcl-2 and the relationship of this expression to clinicopathologic characteristics. p53 regulates the transcription of downstream effectors such as the oncoprotein mdm2, and bcl-2 has been shown to inhibit apoptosis triggered by wild-type p53. METHODS: The expression of p53, mdm2, and bcl-2 protein was studied by immunohistochemical methods in paraffin-embedded nephrectomy specimens from 112 patients whose clinicopathologic data confirmed renal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: The expression of the p53 and bcl-2 protein was recognized in 15 (13.4%) and 52 (42.0%) cases, respectively; the expression of the mdm2 protein, however, was seen in only 2 cases (1.8%). No correlation was noted between these three proteins and any clinicopathologic parameters, except p53 expression and Stage T1-2/T3-4 (P = 0.0208). However, in multivariate analysis, stage (hazard ratio 3.586; P = 0.0002), expression of p53 (hazard ratio 6.090; P = 0.0126) and of mdm2 (hazard ratio 22.016; P = 0.0156), and coexpression of p53/mdm2 (hazard ratio 6.146; P = 0.0005) demonstrated a statistically significant effect on prognosis by proportional hazards regression tests. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that stage, p53 expression, mdm2 expression, and coexpression of p53/mdm2 are useful to predict the clinical outcome in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of patients with stage T1b-2n0m0 localized prostate cancer: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVES: To present our preliminary clinical results of transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in Stage T1b-2N0M0 prostate cancer. Efforts are being made to provide minimally invasive alternative treatment options with equal efficacy and fewer side effects. HIFU delivers ultrasound energy with rapid thermal necrosis of tissue in the focal region without damaging the surrounding tissue. METHODS: We performed 28 HIFU treatments in 20 patients with biopsy-proven localized prostate cancer using a modified Sonablate-200 HIFU device. All patient characteristics and the clinical outcome of 20 patients followed up more than 6 months (mean 13.5) were analyzed. RESULTS: A complete response was obtained in 100% (20 of 20) of patients, as evidenced by a negative postoperative prostate biopsy and no elevation on three successive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) determinations. Of the 20 patients, 13 (65%), 5 (25%), and 2 (10%) had PSA nadirs of less than 0.50 ng/mL, 0.50 to 1.00 ng/mL, and 1.01 to 2.00 ng/mL, respectively. Rectourethral fistula and urethral stricture were noted in 1 and 2 patients, respectively, and 1 patient underwent transurethral resection of the prostate because of prolonged urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that HIFU can be performed without an incision, with a less severe side effect profile, and, unlike most other prostate treatments, is repeatable. Transrectal HIFU may be a useful option for patients with localized prostate cancer. Its long-term efficacy will be determined by additional follow-up and a Phase II trial.

[Management of enterovesical fistula in patients with Crohn's disease].

PURPOSE: Enterovesical fistula in patients with Crohn's disease is intractable. Although there are some reports that the enterovesical fistula were successfully treated conservatively, closure of the fistula cannot always be achieved and surgical intervention may required for those patients. Since surgical closure of entero-entero fistula has a high risk of relapse, the strategy for treating enterovesical fistula has not been established. We evaluated the clinical findings especially in management of enterovesical fistula in Crohn's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred two patients (mean age was 28.4 year old, range 12-69; 152 men and 50 women) were diagnosed as Crohn's disease during a period of 15 years between 1986 and 2000 in our institute. The incidence and the clinical results regarding the diagnosis and the treatment of enterovesical fistula in these patients were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Seven in 202 patients were diagnosed to have an enterovesical fistula (3.5%, 6 men and 1 woman). The period from the initial diagnosis of Crohn's disease to the recognition of the enterovesical fistula was 11 to 204 months (mean 92.1 months). Enterovesical fistula was revealed and/or visualized by radiological enterography in 6, cystography in 2, cystoscopy in 6, and CT in 4 patients. Surgical interventions were finally conducted in all 7 patients after the failure of conservative treatment for 10 to 146 days (mean 68.2 days). Surgical procedures performed for closing the enterovesical fistula were partial cystectomy with fistulectomy in 5, fistulectomy with bladder wall overlay-suture in 2, and bladder wall overlay-suture alone in 1. No relapse of enterovesical fistula was recognized in any patient in the average observation of 41.6 months. CONCLUSION: Although the treatment of Crohn's disease has been advanced, enterovesical fistula is shown to be resistant to conservative treatment options and it makes patients in unfavorable status for relatively long duration. Our evaluation shown here demonstrated the sufficient surgical results on the closure of enterovesical fistula without any relapse, and was different from the high relapse rate after the surgical management of entero-entero fistula in similar observation period. Surgical interventions of enterovesical fistula caused by Crohn's disease might have an advantage to make diseased patients improved in shorter duration.