Surgical and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted versus laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy for upper-tract urothelial carcinoma: A single-center comparative analysis.

Introduction: We retrospectively compared surgical and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted (RA) radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in patients of upper-tract urothelial carcinoma with a cohort of patients who underwent the same procedure using a laparoscopic approach. Methods: Data of 63 consecutive patients who underwent RNU with bladder cuff excision (BCE) from 2011 to 2022 at a single tertiary care institution was retrospectively retrieved from the electronically maintained institutional database. Twenty-six cases underwent RNU with a laparoscopic approach, whereas 37 were done by RA approach. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and pathologic details and survival analyses were reported and compared. The tetrafecta of RNU, which include the performance of a BCE, lymphadenectomy, no positive surgical margin, and no major surgical complication, was also reviewed. Results: The mean age and body mass index of the robotic and laparoscopic groups were 61.5 years versus 62.7 years and 23.8 versus 24.9 kg/m2, respectively (P = 0.710 and 0.309). The Charlson Comorbidity Index and upper-tract tumor site distribution were comparable between the groups. There was no significant difference in the distribution of T stage, N stage, presence of multifocality, or lymphovascular invasion between the two groups. Although the rate of concomitant carcinoma in situ was higher in laparoscopic cohort, 42.8% versus 10.8% in robotic cohort (P = 0.004). The laparoscopic group had higher blood transfusion rates (50 vs. 13.5%, P = 0.002) and longer median hospital stays (7 vs. 4 days, P = 0.000). The median follow-up time was 21.5 versus 27 months in the laparoscopic and robotic groups. The RA group was significantly better in the achievement of the tetrafecta outcomes. The 5-year urinary bladder recurrence-free survival (UB RFS) and elsewhere RFS between the laparoscopic and robotic cohorts were 65% versus 72% and 56% versus 70%, respectively (P = 0.510 and 0.190). The laparoscopic cohort had worse 5-year cancer-specific survival and overall survival (64% vs. 90% and 58% vs. 74%, P = 0.04 and 0.08). Conclusion: The robotic approach to RNU and BCE has significantly lower transfusion rates, lower hospital stays, and significantly better cancer-specific survival rates.

Prostate cancer detection using magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided systematic prostate biopsy is conventionally used for the diagnosis of carcinoma prostate (CaP). However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided biopsies have been shown to have superior diagnostic performance. MRI-TRUS fusion biopsy improves the detection by combining the systematic and the targeted biopsies (TB). In this study, we evaluated the role of fusion biopsy in the detection of CaP as well as clinically significant carcinoma prostate (CsCaP). Methods: In this retrospective study, the patients who underwent fusion biopsy from January 2016 to July 2022 were evaluated. Patients underwent multiparametric MRI and the suspicious lesions were reported as per the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) version 2. The clinical, imaging, and biopsy parameters were recorded and evaluated. Results: A total of 330 patients with PIRADS ≥3 underwent MRI-TRUS fusion biopsy and prostate cancer was detected in 187 patients (56.67%). With an increase in the PIRADS score, there was a significant rise in the detection of CaP (P < 0.001) and CsCaP (P < 0.0000001). Prostatitis was observed in 13%-18.1% of the patients with a lesion on MRI irrespective of the PIRADS score. The systematic and TB were comparable for the detection of CaP (P = 0.88) and CsCaP (P = 0.26). With a prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) cutoff of 0.15 ng/mL/cc and 0.22 ng/mL/cc, biopsy could be safely avoided in 14.2% and 20.3% of the patients, missing only 0.3% of CaP and 0.9% of CsCaP, respectively. Different subgroups based on PSA levels, prostate volume, lesion dimension, and PIRADS score did not show a significant difference between the systematic and the targeted cores for the detection of CsCaP. Conclusion: This single center study of MRI-TRUS fusion prostate biopsy shows that in men with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer a pre-biopsy MRI and MRI-TRUS fusion combined systematic and targeted prostate biopsy improves the detection of prostate cancer and CsCaP. Patients with a PIRADS 3 lesion with a PSA density <0.22 can safely avoid prostate biopsy, without a significant risk of missing clinically significant prostate cancer.

Cutaneous Radiation-Associated Angiosarcoma After Treatment of Carcinoma Penis: First Report from Tertiary Cancer Centre of North India.

Cutaneous radiation-associated angiosarcoma (cRAA) is a rare and aggressive secondary cutaneous angiosarcoma (cAS) with poor survival. cRAA has been mostly reported in breast carcinoma patients. Owing to its rarity, there is scanty literature available and no treatment guidelines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of cRAA after multimodality treatment of carcinoma penis. A sixty-eight-year-old gentleman, a known case of carcinoma penis, underwent total penectomy with perineal urethrostomy and bilateral radical inguinopelvic lymph node dissection 6 years ago. He received adjuvant radiotherapy to the pelvis and bilateral groin. He presented with a bleeding plaque-like lesion with ulceration over the left lower abdomen (within previous radiation field) which rapidly progressed in size over the past 2 months. On examination, the lesion bled profusely on touch. Contrast MRI was suggestive of lobulated exophytic enhancing cutaneous lesion free from underlying muscle. Wedge biopsy was suggestive of cutaneous angiosarcoma. He underwent wide local excision with local perforator flap reconstruction from the right lower abdomen. Histopathology was suggestive of cutaneous angiosarcoma which showed immunoexpression of CD31, ERG1, cMYC suggestive of cRAA. cRAA is a very aggressive disease with 5-year survival of 15-34%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever reported case of cRAA of lower abdomen after multimodality management of carcinoma penis. It masquerades with other benign and less aggressive radiation-induced skin lesions. cMYC immunoexpression is specific for secondary cAS. Wide local resection with negative margin provides the best outcome.

Effectiveness of a training program about bio-medical waste management on the knowledge and practices of health-care professionals at a tertiary care teaching institute of North India.

BACKGROUND: Training of health-care providers about the various aspects of biomedical waste (BMW) management and handling (M and H) rules can improve the safe disposal of BMW and protect the patients and public from related hazards. OBJECTIVES: Our study objective was to evaluate the existing knowledge regarding BMW management rules among selected health-care professionals and to evaluate the impact of training program on BMW management on the knowledge and practices of health-care professionals. METHODOLOGY: The training program on BMW management rules was conducted in April 2018. A total of 250 participants were trained. A structured validated questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed, and the mean score of pre- and post-test was compared by the paired-t test. RESULTS: Majority of the participants were female (83%) aged 20-30 years (56%). The majority of the participants were married (74%) and were from urban areas (74%). The mean pretest and posttest score were 14.00 and 19.94 respectively (P < 0.000). CONCLUSION: The structured training on all aspects of BMW management led to statistically significant improvement in the knowledge among health-care professionals. RECOMMENDATIONS: Such training programs need to be regularly conducted.