Initial Diagnosis and Detection of Very Late Local Recurrence of a Ductal Prostate Cancer due to a Ureteral Stone.

We report the case of a 74-year-old patient in whom a ductal prostate cancer was incidentally endoscopically diagnosed in the course of ureteral stenting due to a left distal ureteral stone. The initial PSA was 0.8 µg/l and the digital rectal examination was not suspicious. A radical prostatectomy was performed, and the ensuing follow-up was unremarkable with no signs of recurrence. Fourteen years later, the patient presented with an obstructive pyelonephritis due to a left-sided ureteral stone requiring ureteral stenting. An exophytic tumor was seen in the lining of vesicourethral anastomosis and surgically excised after the pyelonephritis subsided. The histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed a ductal cancer of the prostate consistent with a late local recurrence. Serum PSA was below the limit of detection. Re-staging performed by an MRI of the pelvis, thoracoabdominal CT scan, and gallium-68 PSMA-PET did not reveal any other signs of disease. The ensuing follow-up is planned with regular flexible cystoscopy and computed thoracoabdominopelvic CT scans.

Absorption of Irrigation Fluid During Thulium Laser Vaporization of the Prostate.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence and extent of irrigation fluid absorption during thulium laser vaporization of the prostate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients undergoing thulium laser vaporization of the prostate were prospectively included into the trial at a tertiary referral center. Isotonic saline containing 1% ethanol was used for intraoperative irrigation. Absorption of irrigation fluid was measured periodically during the operation using the expired breath ethanol technique. Among others, intra- and postoperative changes in biochemical and hematological laboratory findings were assessed. RESULTS: Absorption of irrigation fluid was detected in 7 out of 54 (13%) patients with a median absorption volume of 265 mL (227-615). No significant differences of intra- and postoperative blood parameters were observed between absorbers and nonabsorbers. No risk factor (i.e., age, prostate size, surgery duration, applied energy, and amount of irrigation fluid) for the occurrence of fluid absorption could be identified. CONCLUSION: Absorption of irrigation fluid also occurs during thulium laser vaporization of the prostate and should be kept in mind, especially in patients at a high cardiovascular risk. However, compared with previously assessed resection and vaporization techniques, thulium vaporization might have a favorable safety profile regarding fluid absorption.

Soft tissue sarcomas of the kidney.

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare mesenchymal tumors. Amongst others, primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the kidney and synovial sarcoma of the kidney belong to the group of soft tissue sarcomas. Synovial sarcomas can occur almost anywhere in the body, most frequently, however, in the lower (62%) or upper extremities (21%). Metastases occur in 50-70% of cases, and thus the prognosis is poor. PNETs are rare, highly aggressive neoplastic lesions which mainly occur in the torso or axial skeleton in young adults. The prognosis is poor with a 5-year disease-free survival rate of 45-55%. The primary therapeutic approach is surgical resection. Most randomized studies assessing adjuvant chemotherapy for all types of localized soft tissue sarcomas did not show statistically significantly better overall survival times after chemotherapy, although they did show longer progression-free survival. We report on two cases of primary renal synovial sarcoma and one case of PNET of the kidney.

SFRP2 methylation in fecal DNA--a marker for colorectal polyps.

INTRODUCTION: DNA methylation of secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs) can be detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue, in tissue of adenomas, and in aberrant crypt foci, whereas in normal colorectal mucosa tissue, SFRP genes are unmethylated. Recently, our study group was able to demonstrate SFRP2 methylation as the most sensitive single DNA-based marker in stool for identification of CRC. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether SFRP2 methylation in fecal DNA can be found in stool of individuals with hyperplastic and adenomatous colorectal polyps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with colorectal polyps or showed negative colonoscopy were included in this study. DNA from stool samples was isolated. SFRP2 methylation was assessed by means of MethyLight. RESULTS: Stool samples from 68 individuals were checked for DNA content; 23% of the samples (6 of 26) from healthy controls, 46% of the samples (6 of 13) from patients with hyperplastic polyps, and 45% of the samples (13 of 29) from patients with adenomas were positive for human DNA. SFRP2 methylation in stool samples was found in none of the healthy controls, in 33% (2 of 6) patients with hyperplastic polyps, and in 46% (6 of 13) patients with adenomas. Statistical analysis revealed that the frequency of SFRP2 methylation increased significantly (P=0.028) from healthy controls to patients with hyperplastic polyps and to patients with adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, we report for the first time that SFRP2 methylation in fecal DNA increases significantly from healthy controls to patients with hyperplastic polyps and to patients with adenomas. SFRP2 methylation may serve as a marker for molecular stool-based adenoma and CRC screening.