Comparison of cytoreductive partial versus radical nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: To be on the horns of a dilemma.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive radical nephrectomy (cRN) with immunotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Limited data are available on the role of cytoreductive partial nephrectomy (cPN) in mRCC. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence regarding survival rates comparing cPN versus cRN. METHODS: PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were reviewed in December 2021 according to PRISMA. Four articles including 2669 patients were selected to enroll in the study. The identified reports were reviewed and their methodological quality was subjected to total quality assessment. The outcomes were cancer specific survival (CSS) and overall survival rate (OS). RESULTS: Totally 2669 patients, 542 in cPN and 2127 in cRN groups enrolled in final analysis. Of the preoperative data, there were significant differences in preoperative size of tumor between cRN and cPN patients (p < 0.001), however Fuhrman grades were comparable between groups (low grade: p = 0.51, high grade: p = 0.76). There were comparable results in 1-year (p = 0.07), 2-year (p = 0.08), and 3-year (p = 0.71) CSS rates between cPN versus cRN. There was no significant difference between cPN versus cRN in OS rate (p = 0.61). CONCLUSION: There are comparable results between cPN and cRN in CSS and OS rate. However, due to a lack of data, future study will need to do more extensive studies using prospectively recorded patient features to evaluate the cPN and cRN in the metastatic setting.

Is RIRS emerging as the preferred option for the management of 2 cm-4 cm renal stones: our experience.

INTRODUCTION: The European Association of Urology (EAU) and the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines recommend percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as the first-line treatment of renal stones greater than 20 mm, however multistage retrograde intrarenal stone surgery (RIRS) is reported to have high stone-free rates (SFR), fewer complications and a rapid learning curve. This study presents our experience of RIRS in the management of 2 cm-4 cm renal stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of all patients who underwent RIRS for 2 cm-4 cm renal stones over a period of 22 months. The demographics of 71 patients as well as the stone and procedural demographics were recorded. Pre and postoperative radiological assessment was performed by NCCT scanning in 83% of the patients and ureteral access sheaths were used in only 12% of the patients. The severity of surgical complications was determined according to the Clavien-Dindo system. RESULTS: RIRS was performed on 71 patients for renal stones with a mean size of 26 mm. The mean number of procedures per patient was 2.1 and the overall SFR was 81%. Few complications were encountered and only 1 patient had III-b Clavien complication. CONCLUSION: The study further supports RIRS as a safe and efficacious treatment option for renal stones of 2 cm-4 cm in size. Although both the EAU and AUA do not currently recommend RIRS as the first-line treatment of such stones, it appears to be emerging as a commonly utilized primary modality.

Synchronous bilateral ureteric metastasis from gastric cancer.

Distant metastasis to the ureters is uncommon. Moreover, isolated ureteric metastasis from gastric cancer is extremely rare and only sporadically reported. It indicates an advanced stage and carrier a very poor prognosis. We describe a case of synchronous bilateral ureteric metastasis from stomach adenocarcinoma after gastrectomy and chemoradiation. To our knowledge, it is the first case published in the literature with such presentation.

Clinical, endocrinological and histopathological patterns of infertile Saudi men subjected to testicular biopsy: A retrospective study from a single center.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of testicular biopsies as well as the etiology of azoospermia and severe oligospermia in Saudi men referred for tertiary care. To correlate testicular histology with patients' clinical and hormonal profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts of men subjected to testicular biopsies in the last 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Relative history and physical examination findings were reported. Results of male fertility profile tests and semen analysis of at least two ejaculates were collected. Reported histopathology was obtained. RESULTS: Reports of 229 patients were included; 199 (86.9%) with azoospermia and 30 (13.1%) with severe oligospermia. The mean (SD) age was 30.6 (6.4) years. A small right or left testis was reported in 88 (38.4%) and 87 (38%) of the patients, respectively. The mean (SD) testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) values were 17.2 (7.2) nmol/L and 13.1 (10.9) IU/L, respectively. Hypospermatogenesis was the most common histology encountered (36.5%), followed by Sertoli cell-only (SCO) histology (31.5%). Low testicular volume (P = 0.000), high FSH (P = 0.001) and high leutenizing hormone (LH) (P = 0.001) were found to be of significantly adverse effect on spermatogenesis. Despite having bilateral small testes, high serum FSH and LH, 24.3% of our patients showed active spermatogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypospermatogenesis was the most common pattern of spermatogenic defect in our patients. SCO histology was the most common pattern in patients with small testes, primary testicular failure, primary infertility and azoospermia. Low testicular volume, high FSH and LH are significantly associated with impaired spermatogenesis. Even with severe male factor infertility disorders, infertile men can have some spermatogenesis.