Primary non-metastatic extra-nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the prostate and seminal vesicle.

Extra-nodal lymphoma accounts for 30-50% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and most of the cases are of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) type. Primary malignant lymphomas of the prostate are extremely rare, representing 0.09% of prostate neoplasms. Prostatic cancers can be classified into various subtypes, which have distinct molecular pathologies and clinical features. Lymphoma is seldom considered as a differential diagnosis of prostatic enlargement considering the low incidence. We present a case of an 85-year-old gentleman diagnosed with Primary Extra-nodal DLBCL of the Seminal Vesicle and Prostate.

The Australian laparoscopic radical prostatectomy learning curve.

BACKGROUND: International estimates of the laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) learning curve extend to as many as 1000 cases, but is unknown for Fellowship-trained Australian surgeons. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from nine Australian surgeons who performed 2943 consecutive LRP cases was retrospectively reviewed. Their combined initial 100 cases (F100, n = 900) were compared to their second 100 cases (S100, n = 782) with two of nine surgeons completing fewer than 200 cases. RESULTS: The mean age (61.1 versus 61.1 years) and prostate specific antigen (7.4 versus 7.8 ng/mL) were similar between F100 and S100. D'Amico's high-, intermediate- and low-risk cases were 15, 59 and 26% for the F100 versus 20, 59 and 21% for the S100, respectively. Blood transfusions (2.4 versus 0.8%), mean blood loss (413 versus 378 mL), mean operating time (193 versus 163 min) and length of stay (2.7 versus 2.4 days) were all lower in the S100. Histopathology was organ confined (pT2) in 76% of F100 and 71% of S100. Positive surgical margin (PSM) rate was 18.4% in F100 versus 17.5% in the S100 (P = 0.62). F100 and S100 PSM rates by pathological stage were similar with pT2 PSM 12.2 versus 9.5% (P = 0.13), pT3a PSM 34.8 versus 40.5% (P = 0.29) and pT3b PSM 52.9 versus 36.4% (P = 0.14). CONCLUSION: There was no significant improvement in PSM rate between F100 and S100 cases. Perioperative outcomes were acceptable in F100 and further improved with experience in S100. Mentoring can minimize the LRP learning curve, and it remains a valid minimally invasive surgical treatment for prostate cancer in Australia even in early practice.

The Australian laparoscopic non robotic radical prostatectomy experience - analysis of 2943 cases (USANZ supplement).

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the Australian experience of high-volume Fellowship-trained Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (LRP) surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 2943 LRP cases were performed by nine Australian surgeons. The inclusion criteria were a prospectively collected database with a minimum of 100 consecutive LRP cases. The surgeons' LRP experience commenced at various times from July 2003 to September 2009. Data were analysed for demographic, peri-operative, oncological and functional outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age of patients were 61.5 years and mean preoperative PSA 7.4 ng/ml. Mean operating time was 168 minutes with conversion to open surgery in 0.5% and a blood transfusion rate of 1.1%. Overall mean length of stay was 2.5 days. 73.6% of pathological specimens were pT2 and 86.3% had Gleason Score >7. Overall positive surgical margins (PSM) occurred in 15.9% with pT2 PSM 9.8%, pT3a PSM 30.8% and pT3b PSM 39.2%. Mean urinary continence at 12 months was 91.4% (data available from five surgeons). Mean 12 months potency after bilateral nerve spare was 47.2% (data available from four surgeons). Biochemical recurrence occurred in 10.6% (mean follow up 17 months). CONCLUSION: The Australian experience of Fellowship trained surgeons performing LRP demonstrates favourable peri-operative, oncological and functional outcomes in comparison to published data for open, laparoscopic and robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. In our Australian centres, LRP remains an acceptable minimally invasive surgical treatment for prostate cancer despite the increasing use of robotic assisted surgery.

Urinary catheter balloons should only be filled with water: testing the myth.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that urinary catheter balloons filled with sterile water, saline or glycine have equivalent rates of failure to deflate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an in vitro equivalence study designed to test whether saline or glycine are neither substantially worse nor substantially better than water in terms of balloon-deflation failure rates. Glycine was chosen as the third arm, as it is readily available during endoscopic procedures and would be useful to use in such situations. We hypothesised that balloon-deflation failure rates using saline or glycine were no worse than water by 10%. We calculated the sample size for equivalence testing; 600 catheters were randomized by computer-generated random numbers to receive 10 mL of water, saline or glycine, and then immersed in a heated artificial urine solution for 6 weeks. The catheter balloons were then deflated, noting any failures to deflate and recording the deflation volumes. RESULTS: There was no failure to deflate in all 600 catheters. The median deflation volume for water, saline and glycine was 9.0, 9.2 and 9.1 mL, respectively (P < 0.001 Kruskal-Wallis test). Post-hoc pair-wise comparisons showed that the deflation volume difference between water and saline was significant (P < 0.001), as was that between water and glycine (P < 0.001). The practical implication of this difference is not apparent from this study. CONCLUSIONS: The use of saline or glycine in catheter balloons has an equivalent deflation failure rate to using water, which in this study was zero.

Previous bladder outlet surgery does not affect medium-term outcomes after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of previous bladder outlet surgery (BOS) on the peri-operative variables of patients having laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), as reported evidence as to whether BOS affects the outcome of RP is contradictory. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 600 consecutive patients attending for LRP from March 2000 to January 2006, 558 had had no surgery (NS) and 42 (7.0%) had a history of BOS (transurethral prostatectomy in 35, 5.8%; bladder neck incision in seven, 1.2%). All patients had clinical stage < or = T3aN0M0 prostate cancer and had their procedure performed or supervised by the same surgeon. RESULTS: Patients with previous BOS had a significantly greater age (mean 64.6 vs 61.8 years, P = 0.008), duration of catheterization (mean 13.7 vs 10.5 days, P = 0.003), proportion of pT3a tumours (16.7% vs 4.5%, P = 0.009) and potency rates at > or = 24 months (P < 0.001). Patients with previous BOS had a significantly lower body weight (mean 79.7 vs 83.0 kg, P = 0.05) and prostate weight (mean 46.7 vs 58.6 g, P = 0.01). Although patients with previous BOS had poorer continence at 3 months (61% vs 91%, P < 0.001), continence rates were similar in the two groups after this. CONCLUSION: Previous BOS does not affect the medium-term outcomes after LRP.

Cystoscopy in women with recurrent urinary tract infection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if women with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) warrant cystoscopy to exclude an abnormality of the lower urinary tract. This is particularly relevant given that non-invasive imaging has often been performed to exclude abnormality. Our further aims were to correlate imaging and risk factors with cystoscopic findings to determine their predictive value in finding pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A database of women undergoing cystoscopy with recurrent UTI has been maintained at our institution for 10 years. We retrospectively examined this and patient records for patient demographics, and investigative and operative data. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients (mean 55 years) having recurrent UTI (mean 4.7 infections/year) were available. There were nine patients (8%) with significant abnormalities at cystoscopy: urethral stricture (six), bladder calculus (one), bladder diverticulum (one) and colovesical fistula (one). The negative predictive value (NPV) of imaging was 99% and significant (P < 0.01). Women with no risk factors for UTI had a NPV of 93% for normal cystoscopy (P > 0.05). The positive predictive value was low for imaging and risk factors in predicting cystoscopy findings. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, 8% of women had significant abnormalities detected during cystoscopy with most over 50 years. Women without risk factors for recurrent UTI and with normal imaging could have a cystoscopy omitted. Younger women are less likely to have pathology and this must be factored into decisions to perform cystoscopy.

Training model for open or laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the construction of a simple training model from reconfigured chicken skin to simulate open and laparoscopic reconstructive pyeloplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reconfiguring and suturing chicken skin dissected off its muscle creates a model of the ureteropelvic junction. Dismembered pyeloplasty techniques may be practiced with open or laparoscopic equipment. Students with prior training in suturing and knot-tying only used the open pyeloplasty model on three occasions. Urology trainees experienced in surgery but not laparoscopic pyeloplasty used the model laparoscopically. RESULTS: Students demonstrated a significant improvement (P < 0.05) between their first (17.00 +/- 4.44 minutes; mean +/- 95% CI) and third (11.33 +/- 2.40 minutes) attempts using the open model. Urology trainees improved their mean times from the first (18.0 minutes) to third (11.8 minutes) attempts using the laparoscopic model. CONCLUSIONS: This cheap and readily available model is reproducible and applicable to training in both open and laparoscopic pyeloplasty.