[THE USEFULNESS OF POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY / COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF METASTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA].

(Purpose) This study examined the usefulness of positron emission tomography (PET) / computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of metastasis in patients with urothelial carcinoma. (Materials and methods) The subjects were patients who were newly diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma in our department on whom we performed CT and PET/CT to search for metastasis. (Results) The median age of the 92 subjects was 71 years, and bladder and upper tract urotherial cancer were underlying diseases in 41 (46%) and 51 (54%) patients, respectively. In 66 (72%) of the 92 cases, no metastasis was observed by CT, while PET/CT revealed metastasis in 9 (14%). The 57 (86%) patients in whom both CT and PET/CT showed no metastasis underwent radical surgery, while 2 patients (4%) exhibited pathological lymph node metastasis.Of the 26 patients in whom CT revealed metastasis, PET/CT showed no metastasis in 3 (12%), and the absence of pathological metastasis was confirmed in all patients. Of the 23 patients found to have metastasis in both CT and PET/CT, metastasis that could not be identified by CT was discovered by performing PET/CT in 10 (43%) patients.PET/CT showed significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than CT alone (p< 0.01), with sensitivities of 94.1% and 67.6%, specificities of 100% and 94.8%, and positive diagnosis rates of 97.8% and 84.7%, respectively. (Conclusions) PET/CT in patients with urothelial cancer revealed that metastases that cannot be diagnosed by CT alone are found at a significant frequency. Since these metastases can affect treatment choices in patients with urothelial cancer, PET/CT is considered to be useful in diagnosing patients with urothelial cancer.

[Tumor Shrinkage as a Prognostic Factor of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Molecular Targeted Therapy].

We evaluated the impact of tumor shrinkage (TS) induced by molecular targeted therapy as the first-line systemic therapy on the survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). A total of 67 patients with mRCC who received first-line molecular targeted therapy were included in this study. Sixty patients were evaluable by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Patients underwent the first evaluation at 8-12 weeks after the start of the therapy. Twenty patients had TS ≧30%, 32 from 30% to -20%, and 8 ≦-20%. The median overall survival periods of patients who achieved TS ≧30%, from 30% to -20%, and ≦-20% at first evaluation were 41.0, 35.0, and 11.5 months, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that TS of≧0%, in addition to negative C-reactive protein and the absence of bone metastasis were good predictors of overall survival. The patients who achieved 0% or more at the initial evaluation had longer survival than those who had no tumor reduction (40.0 months vs 12.0 months, p<0. 001). These findings suggest that early TS affects overall survival in real practice. We should consider alternative therapies for patients who have not achieved tumor reduction at the initial evaluation.

[RENAL CELL CARCINOMA METASTASIS TO BLADDER DURING MOLECULAR TARGETED THERAPY WITH PAZOPANIB: REPORT OF TWO CASES].

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasis to the bladder is rare. We report two cases that occurred metachronously during pazopanib treatment for other metastases. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate bladder metastasis from RCC during molecular targeted therapy with pazopanib. (Case 1) A woman in her 60s was referred to our department for evaluation of an incidental right renal tumor. Dynamic CT showed a 6 cm renal cell carcinoma. In February 201X she underwent laparoscopic right radical nephrectomy, revealing clear cell carcinoma (grade 1>2), stage pT3aN0M0. In February 201X+1 she complained of left pelvic pain. She was found to have metastasis to two iliac bones and an occipital bone. She received pazopanib, in addition to a bone modifying agent and radiotherapy for the iliac bones. After 8 months, she complained of asymptomatic gross hematuria in spite of having stable disease for bone metastasis. Cystoscopy showed a 1 cm solitary sessile nonpapillary tumor on the posterior wall. She underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT). Histological examination showed metastatic RCC. Thereafter she received sequential therapies (axitinib, sunitinib, nivolumab). She remains alive without recurrence in the bladder 51 months after TUR-BT. (Case 2) A woman in her 60s presented to our department with a complaint of painless gross hematuria. A dynamic CT showed an 8.5 cm renal cell carcinoma and multiple lung metastases. In March 201Y she underwent right radical nephrectomy, revealing clear cell carcinoma (grade 2>3), stage pT2aN0M1. In June 201Y she started pazopanib. After 9 months CT showed a bladder tumor in addition to progression of lung metastases. Cystoscopy showed a 1 cm solitary sessile nonpapillary tumor at dome. She underwent TUR-BT. Histological examination showed metastatic RCC. She had no recurrence in the bladder during follow-up although she died of RCC.

[A Case of Adrenal Ganglioneuroma that was Hard to Diagnose].

A 72-year-old man was referred to our hospital for examination of a right adrenal tumor incidentally found by computed tomography for close inspection of lumbago. The computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed a 51×54×43 mm solid tumor in the right adrenal region. Endocrinological examinations were within normal limits. Because we could not diagnose his condition due to atypical radiographic findings preoperatively and exclude a malignant tumor, laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as ganglioneuroma originating from the right adrenal glands.

[Predictive Factor of Urinary Continence after Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy].

We examined the postoperative urinary continence rate, and preoperative and postoperative factors predicting postoperative urinary continence for patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) at our hospital. In all, 122 patients who received RARP were retrospectively analyzed. All patients answered a questionnaire to evaluate the urinary condition and also had a follow-up period of 6 months or longer after surgery. We defined urinary continence to be the use of 1 pad per day or less, including a safety pad. Membranous urethral length (MUL) was measured using sagittal sections of T1-weighted MRI. Postoperative urinary incontinence rates were 48.7, 72.4, 82.6 and 86.8% at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, respectively. MUL was a significant predictive factor of urinary continence at 6 months after surgery (p<0.01). We examined the factors predicting the urinary continence recovery at 6 months after surgery, including only patients who did not obtain urinary continence at 1 month after surgery. Two factors, MUL of 11 mm or longer and two pads per day at 1 month after surgery, were significant predictive factors of urinary continence recovery at 6 months after surgery (P=0.02, P=0.04). Patients who had a long MUL could easily obtain urinary continence after RARP compared to those with a short MUL. Most patients with a long MUL and with use of 2 pads per day at 1 month after surgery could obtain urinary continence at 6 months after surgery, even if they had urinary incontinence at 1 month after surgery.

[A Case of Refractory Hemorrhagic Cystitis in which Bleeding Control was Finally Achieved by Cystectomy].

A 60-year-old man presented at our hospital with gross hematuria. He had been treated for nephrotic syndrome with cyclophosphamide and steroids since he was in his 20s. We detected diffuse hemorrhagic cystitis on cystoscopy and diagnosed him with cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. He was hospitalized due to clot retention. We treated him with blood transfusion for severe anemia and conducted continuous bladder irrigation. We performed hyperbaric oxygen therapy and transurethral electric coagulation, and increased the steroid dose. However, we could not control the hematuria. Finally, we performed cystectomy, and he is now well without hematuria. Although cystectomy is the final option, it is important to decide it in a timely manner because a delay decreases the quality of life.

Who needs further evaluations to diagnose upper urinary tract urothelial cancers among patients with abnormal findings by enhanced CT?

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated who would need further evaluations such as retrograde pyelography (RP) and/or ureteroscopy to diagnose upper urinary tract urothelial cancers (UUTUCs) when abnormal findings for the upper urinary tract (UUT) were detected by enhanced computed tomography (CT). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 125 patients who underwent enhanced CT for various reasons and had abnormal findings for the UUT. Patients whose tumors were suspected to be of extraureteral origin were excluded. All patients received RP and/or ureteroscopy to evaluate the UUTUCs. RESULTS: The median age of the 125 patients was 70 years and gross hematuria (26.4%) was the most frequently observed symptoms. RP, ureteroscopy and both were performed for 121, 59 and 55 patients, respectively. CT revealed tumor-like lesions in 58 patients and the other patients had non-tumor-like lesions. UUTUCs were found in 43 (34.4%) of the 125 patients. All of them had tumor-like lesions on CT. In 58 patients who had tumor-like lesions on CT, univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that tumor diameter and tumor enhancement were significant predictive factors for UUTUCs. ROC curve analysis of enhanced CT to diagnose UUTUCs revealed that a tumor diameter of 18 mm was the best cutoff point. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 90.0%, 98.8% and 92.7% for RP and 95.5%, 100% and 97.1% for ureteroscopy, respectively. Both of them had high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. CONCLUSION: We should decide to evaluate the UUT according to the tumor diameter on enhanced CT. When we evaluate the UUT in patients with tumor diameters of less than 20 mm, ureteroscopy is recommended.

[Outcomes of high-risk prostate cancer patients at Hakodate Goryoukaku Hospital].

We assessed the outcomes of high-risk prostate cancer patients who received radical prostatectomy (RP), external beamradiation therapy (EBRT) or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Two hundred nineteen patients who were diagnosed with pathologically confirmed high-risk prostate cancer as defined by D'Amico between 2005 and 2011 were included in this study. Of them, 74 patients underwent RP. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (5yCSS) and 5-year PSA recurrence-free survival (5yPRFS) rates were 100 and 67.2%, respectively. A positive surgical margin and Gleason score≧8 were risk factors for PSA recurrence. The 5yPRFSs were 100, 74.4% and 'unmeasurable' for patients with 0, 1 and 2 risk factors, respectively. Ninety patients underwent EBRT. The 5yCSS and 5yPRFS rates were 95.2 and 74.2%, respectively. Fifty-five patients underwent ADT alone. Their 5yCSS and 5yPRFS rates were 93. 3 and 64. 3%, respectively. There was no significant difference in 5yCSS and 5yPRFS rates among the treatment groups. These results show that RP can be a treatment option for high-risk prostate cancer patients.

[Pathological complete response to gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy for advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a case report].

A 61-year-old man was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of right leg weakness. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a ureteral tumor and a neighboring massive retroperitoneal tumor in addition to retroperitoneal lymph node and right renal metastases. The tumor was diagnosed as upper tract urothelial carcinoma (cT4N1M1) by percutaneous tumor biopsy. As the patient achieved a partial response after three courses of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, he received total nephroureterectomy and lymph node dissection. The pathology showed no viable cancer cells, demonstrating a pathological complete response. He remains alive after 26 months with no evidence of disease.

[Anastomotic stricture following radical retropubic prostatectomy: insights into incidence, management and factors predisposing for occurrence].

PURPOSE: Anastomotic stricture (AS) following radical prostatectomy (RP) decreases patients' quality of life. It occurs in 0.5% to 32% of men after open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), although its etiology is poorly understood. In a series of patients who received RRP, we analyzed the incidence, possible predisposing factors, and management of AS after RP. MATERIALS & METHODS: Between April 1997 and March 2006, 129 consecutive patients underwent RRP in our hospital. Anastomosis between the bladder neck and urethra was performed with interrupted anastomosis using four 2-0 absorbable sutures. AS was diagnosed when a 16Fr. panendoscope could not be passed. We assessed the relationship between the management method for AS and time interval between the surgical procedure and diagnosis of the stricture. The relationships between comorbidities identified preoperatively (hypertension [HT], diabetes mellitus [DM], cardiovascular disease [CVD], cerebral infarction [CI] and smoking history) and the incidence of AS were determined. Risk factors, including age, body mass index [BMI], preoperative PSA, total prostate volume, operative time, blood loss, Foley duration, amount of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) per day, amount of drain output, pathological T stage, Gleason sum and surgical margin status were also assessed. RESULTS: The rate of AS after RRP was 10.9% (14/129). In 10 patients (72%), AS occurred within 3 months of surgery, in 2 (14%) it occurred at 4-12 months after surgery and in 2 (14%) more than 12 months after surgery. In univariate and multivariate analyses, intraoperative bleeding of 1,800 ml or more was independently the strongest predictor of AS. In two patients a urethral bougie was used and 11 underwent internal urethrotomy. Only 1 patient underwent transurethral resection. Of the 8 patients whose strictures were diagnosed within 3 months after surgery and underwent internal urethrotomy, 6 had recurrent anastomotic strictures. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for AS are thought to be multifactorial. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly associated with the development of anastomotic stricture. We should understand that anastomotic stricture following radical retropubic prostatectomy is not a rare morbidity and should inform patients about the possibility of postoperative AS.

Upper urinary tract recurrence after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: incidence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the incidence of and the risk factors for upper urinary tract recurrence in patients undergoing a radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, and to examine the clinical course of patients harboring upper urinary tract recurrence. METHODS: This retrospective study included 362 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Patients with a history of upper urinary tract recurrence and concomitant upper urinary tract recurrence at cystectomy were excluded. RESULTS: After a median follow up of 48 months (range 0-214) after radical cystectomy, 11 patients (3.0%) developed upper urinary tract recurrence. The median time to upper urinary tract recurrence was 48.4 months (range 11.6-78.6). The overall probability of upper urinary tract recurrence was 3.3% at 5 years. The median overall survival period after upper urinary tract recurrence was 23.5 months (range 4.3-53.9), with a better overall survival for patients who received a radical operation than for those who did not (38.6 months vs 11.9 months, respectively; P=0.03). At multivariable analysis, the presence of carcinoma in situ (P < 0.01) and invasion of the urethra (P = 0.02) were independent risk factors for upper urinary tract recurrence. The 5-year upper urinary tract recurrence was significantly higher for patients positive for either of these risk factors than for those without risk factors (12.0% vs 0.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the presence of carcinoma in situ and cancer invading the urethra are risk factors for upper urinary tract recurrence. Close follow up is needed for early detection of upper urinary tract recurrence in patients at higher risk.

Efficacy of treatment with carbapenems and third-generation cephalosporins for patients with febrile complicated pyelonephritis.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical relevance of carbapenem and third-generation cephalosporin treatment for febrile complicated pyelonephritis, which often leads to urosepsis. Parenteral antimicrobial treatment with a carbapenem or third-generation cephalosporin was administered to febrile patients and the treatment was switched to oral antimicrobial agents after they became afebrile. In principle, the duration of the course of antimicrobial chemotherapy was limited to a total of 14 days. Clinically, the success rates were 97.3% in the carbapenem group and 96.0% in the third-generation cephalosporin group. For microbiological efficacy, the success rates were 89.2% in the carbapenem group and 92.0% in the third-generation cephalosporin group. There were no serious adverse events in the course of the study. The treatment regimen with a carbapenem or a third-generation cephalosporin was highly effective for patients with febrile complicated pyelonephritis and was well tolerated. Either of these regimens could become one of the standard treatments for patients with febrile complicated pyelonephritis.

Clinical efficacy of azithromycin for male nongonococcal urethritis.

The aim of this study was to confirm the clinical efficacy of a single-dose azithromycin (AZM) regimen (1000 mg) for patients with nongonococcal urethritis in real-life practice. The study finally evaluated 55 patients, 42 who were symptomatic and 13 who were asymptomatic, after excluding 40 who visited clinics only once. Sixteen of the symptomatic patients were diagnosed as having nongonococcal chlamydial urethritis, 7 as having nongonococcal nonchlamydial urethritis, and 19 as having urethritis without any microbial detection. Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 11 asymptomatic patients, Mycoplasma genitalium in 1, and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 1. Of the patients who were microbiologically evaluated before and after single-dose AZM, microbiological cure was achieved in 87% (20/23) of those with symptomatic nongonococcal urethritis and in 100% (13/13) of those with asymptomatic nongonococcal urethritis. The clinical cure rate was 86% for the 42 symptomatic patients with detectable and undetectable pathogens. There were adverse events in 5 (9%) patients but they were commonly mild and self-limited. In conclusion, the single-dose AZM regimen was well tolerated and eradicated the estimated and potential pathogens of nongonococcal urethritis.

Comparison of 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day administration of antimicrobial prophylaxis in radical prostatectomy.

An adequate protocol for antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) in radical prostatectomy has not been established. We retrospectively compared the incidence and severity of infectious complications after radical prostatectomy with three different protocols for AMP. The study cohort consisted of 67 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at Hakodate Goryoukaku Hospital between January 2003 and December 2005. As a prophylactic antimicrobial agent, one of the cephalosporins or penicillins was administered intravenously to all patients. The analyzed protocols were for: (1) a 3-day group: administration of AMP until the second postoperative day (POD 2), (2) a 2-day group: administration of AMP until POD 1, and (3) a 1-day group: administration of AMP only on the operative day. The incidence and severity of infectious complications were retrospectively investigated. Three patients in the 3-day group (9.4%), 2 patients in the 2-day group (12.5%), and 2 patients in the 1-day group (10.5%) developed some infectious complications. The incidence of infectious complications was not significantly different among the three groups. No patients developed severe infectious complications such as sepsis. We conclude that single-day AMP is sufficient in patients with radical prostatectomy.

[Surgical site infection by bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) after radical cystectomy, occurring after intravesical bcg therapy: a case report].

A 51-year-old man received 2 courses of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for carcinoma in situ of the bladder. Two years after the therapy, he underwent left radical nephroureterectomy, cystectomy, urethrectomy and construction of an ileal conduit because of left renal pelvic cancer and severe atrophic bladder. The histopathological diagnosis was carcinoma in situ of the left pelvis and ureter, and epithelioid cell granuloma of left kidney, prostate and bladder. After the operation, he developed extensive surgical site infection (SSI) by BCG, the diagnosis of which was delayed. He recovered from the SSI soon after anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy was begun. We discuss the requirements for more prompt diagnosis of SSI by BCG by analysis of this case.

Current survey of urinary tuberculosis in Hokkaido, Japan.

Urinary tuberculosis has been rare in recent years and its diagnosis is difficult because there are no disease-specific symptoms. We tried to clarify the occurrence of urinary tuberculosis in recent years in our area. During the past 5 years, there were 12 patients with urinary tuberculosis in the clinics that participated in this study. Their chief complaints were frequent voiding in 7 patients and gross hematuria in 3 patients. They were diagnosed by nucleic acid amplification tests and imaging modalities such as excretory urography, computed tomography, and/or cystoscopy. Most of the patients received multidrug treatment and had relatively favorable treatment outcomes. There has been a small but neglected number of patients with urinary tuberculosis in recent years. We should keep this rare and difficult-to-diagnose disease in mind and suspect it when patients complain of longstanding urinary symptoms with no obvious cause.

[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the retroperitoneum--review of clinical course and histopathology].

The definition of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) was modified and simplified in the new WHO-Soft Tissue and Bone Tumor Classification published in 2002. We reviewed the clinical courses of 7 patients with MFH of the retroperitoneum treated in our hospital from 1985 to 2005 and reexamined their pathological diagnoses according to the new classification. All pathological specimens were reviewed again by an expert pathologist (TH) and were confirmed as MFH. Median follow-up was 5 months (0.5 to 44 months). Five patients were diagnosed as having the pleomorphic type, and 2, the inflammatory type. The tumor was located in the retroperitoneal space in 6 patients and around the left spermatic cord in 1. Radical surgery was the primary treatment for 6 patients. The disease recurred locally in 5 patients and distant metastasis developed in 3. The lung and liver were the principal locations of distant metastases. The 2-year disease-specific survival rate was 30% and 2 patients have been alive for more than 3 years. Our experience and those of others reported in the literature suggested that the factors for long-term survival in MFH are pleomorphic-type histology, superficial location, small tumor size and intensive wide excision, although most patients with MFH might have a poor prognosis. Because the tumor size of MFH tended to be large, especially that in the retroperitoneal cavity, wide excision with sufficient tumor-free margin is hard to guarantee.

Clinical relevance of nucleic acid amplification test for patients with urinary tuberculosis during antituberculosis treatment.

The nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) has been valuable in the diagnosis of urinary tuberculosis; however, no studies have attempted to determine the significance of NAAT post treatment. We encountered three patients with urinary tuberculosis who underwent sequential NAAT during antituberculosis chemotherapy and post treatment. All patients were diagnosed as having urinary tuberculosis by positive NAAT and specific renal deformity revealed by imaging. In two of the three patients, positive culture results were obtained and one was negative in standard culture. During antituberculosis chemotherapy, a negative NAAT was obtained from 3 to 5 months after the start of treatment and no positive culture results were obtained during the same period. At the end of chemotherapy, 6 months or more after the start of medication, all patients had negative NAAT results. These results suggest that NAAT for Mycobacterium tuberculosis provides an effective and rapid detection method for urinary tuberculosis both pre- and post-treatment.

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in transurethral ureterolithotripsy.

The aim of this study was to establish a standard protocol for surgical antimicrobial agents for patients who received transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL). We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients who received TUL. From October 2002 to December 2003, 2 days (total, four times) of antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) was done, and from January 2004 to December 2004, single prophylaxis was done. We analyzed the incidence of postoperative fever and other factors associated with TUL and compared these factors between the 2-day-AMP and single-AMP groups. Of 135 patients with TUL, 66 patients were in the single-AMP group and 69 in the 2-day-AMP group. The incidences of postoperative fever were 4.5% in the single-AMP group and 11.6% in the 2-day-AMP group. No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative fever between the two groups. Our study showed that single AMP was effective for patients receiving a TUL operation. In the future, a prospective randomized study will be needed for a large series, with various types of lithotripters being included.

Massive hematuria after cystoscopy in a patient with an internal iliac artery aneurysm.

An unusual case is reported here of a patient with internal iliac artery aneurysm who developed massive hematuria after cystoscopic examination. A 75-year-old man presented with asymptomatic gross hematuria. Cystoscopic examination revealed that the bladder neck was congested and that the right-side wall was being pressed on by an extrinsic mass. Computed tomography showed a right internal iliac artery aneurysm and tortuous perivesical vessels. Three days after the cystoscopic examination the patient suffered massive hematuria. Hemorrhage due to an arteriovesical or arterio-ureteral fistula secondary to rupture of the internal iliac artery aneurysm was suspected, and an emergency operation was performed. At operation the aneurysm had not ruptured but overswelling perivesical vessels were found to have developed, and these fed a high blood flow to the bladder neck. In the present case cystoscopic examination injured the mucosa and led to massive hemorrhage from the bladder neck.