Differentiation of Solid Renal Tumors with Multiparametric MR Imaging.

Characterization of renal tumors is critical to determine the best therapeutic approach and improve overall patient survival. Because of increased use of high-resolution cross-sectional imaging in clinical practice, renal masses are being discovered with increased frequency. As a result, accurate imaging characterization of these lesions is more important than ever. However, because of the wide array of imaging features encountered as well as overlapping characteristics, identifying reliable imaging criteria for differentiating malignant from benign renal masses remains a challenge. Multiparametric magnetic resonance (MR) imaging based on various anatomic and functional parameters has an important role and adds diagnostic value in detection and characterization of renal masses. MR imaging may allow distinction of benign solid renal masses from several renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes, potentially suggest the histologic grade of a neoplasm, and play an important role in ensuring appropriate patient management to avoid unnecessary surgery or other interventions. It is also a useful noninvasive imaging tool for patients who undergo active surveillance of renal masses and for follow-up after treatment of a renal mass. The purpose of this article is to review the characteristic MR imaging features of RCC and common benign renal masses and propose a diagnostic imaging approach to evaluation of solid renal masses using multiparametric MR imaging. ©RSNA, 2017.

Scrotal Ultrasound for Pain: Low Frequency of Absolute Surgical Indications.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the results of scrotal ultrasounds (US) conducted for scrotal or testicular pain and review the pathologic findings of orchiectomies done for lesions that were suspicious for malignancy on US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the indications and findings of all scrotal US completed at our institution from 2002 to 2014. If a patient underwent an orchiectomy for an intratesticular lesion that was concerning for malignancy on US, the pathology report was also reviewed. RESULTS: There were 18,593 scrotal US performed, with 7,668 (41.2%) conducted for scrotal pain. Of the US performed for pain, 80.4% revealed benign or normal findings, and only 2.2% demonstrated a finding that is an absolute indication for surgery (intratesticular lesion suspicious for malignancy 0.8%, abscess 0.7%, torsion 0.6%, infiltrative process such as lymphoma 0.1%). For those patients undergoing an orchiectomy, 75% had malignancy on pathologic analysis. CONCLUSION: The majority of the 7668 US performed to evaluate scrotal or testicular pain reveal normal or benign findings. A low percentage demonstrates a finding that necessitates urgent or emergent surgery.

Dramatic increase in the utilization of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for detection and management of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) of the prostate is an evolving technology that provides functional information of the prostate that helps distinguish benign from malignant lesions. We hypothesized that mpMRI is rapidly adopted in the US to fill the unmet need for a non-invasive, accurate screening tool. The aim of this study is to assess the increasing utilization of mpMRI for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of an institutional clinical data repository of four million patients. Clinical information from all men undergoing mpMRI from October 2013 to December 2015 was collected in a prospectively designed database. Individual chart reviews were performed for each patient. RESULTS: 1521 mpMRI of the prostate were performed with an increase in the use of 486% over 26 months. The most common indication for mpMRI was abnormal screening (64%) and 47% of these men went on to prostate biopsy, either by cognitive mapping (65%) or MRI-US fusion targeting (35%). 261 men elected to defer prostate needle biopsy after informative decision-making with their urologist. 12.7% of mpMRI were performed for active surveillance, 7.5% for clinical staging, and 3.2% by radiation oncologists planning radiotherapy. 7% of mpMRI were performed to evaluate the pelvis for biochemical recurrence, a third of which identified a region of suspicion for targeted. CONCLUSION: Prostate mpMRI is increasingly performed for both the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. As clinical utilization increases along with the diffusion of technology and radiologic expertise, MpMRI has the potential to influence clinical decision-making and fulfill the need for a non-invasive, accurate tool for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer.

Extraprostatic Extension Is Extremely Rare for Contemporary Gleason Score 6 Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of men with Gleason score 6 (GS6) prostate cancer undergo treatment with radiation or surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess pathologic stage of pure GS6 at radical prostatectomy (RP). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In the period 2003-2014, 7817 patients underwent RP at two institutions. Of 2502 patients with GS6 at surgery, 60 were identified as stage pT3a-b on initial pathologic review, 55 with pT3a (extraprostatic extension, EPE), and five with pT3b (seminal vesicle invasion; SVI). All cases of GS6 with pT3 disease underwent contemporary pathologic evaluation for Gleason grade, stage, and extent of EPE. At one institution, all GS≥7 pT3b cases were re-reviewed for downgrading. The 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Gleason grading criteria and 2009 ISUP recommendations on pT3 staging were applied. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Calculated incidence (%) of pT3a, pT3b, pT4, and lymph node-positive disease. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of the 60 GS6 pT3a-b cases identified in the period 2003-2014, seven (0.28% of entire GS6 cohort) with GS6 and pT3a were identified after re-review, all focal EPE. Among the re-examined cohort, no cases of GS6 with pT3b were observed. None of the 132 GS≥7 pT3b cases were downgraded to GS6. Limitations include partial embedding of specimens and separate pathologic review at each institution. CONCLUSIONS: In a large prostatectomy cohort, GS6 never had seminal vesicle invasion (0%) and was very rarely (0.28%) associated with extraprostatic extension. PATIENT SUMMARY: GS6 prostate cancer rarely spreads outside the prostate. A new finding in this study was that GS6 prostate cancer never spread to the seminal vesicles.

High-Risk of Adverse Pathologic Features in Patients With Clinical T1 High-Grade Bladder Cancer Undergoing Radical Cystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Radical cystectomy (RC) is used to treat select patients with T1 high-grade (T1HG) bladder cancer. However, population-level utilization trends and outcomes for these patients are not well-known. We sought to evaluate treatment patterns and clinicopathologic outcomes of RC for T1HG bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) for 1998-2012, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with clinical T1HG bladder cancer. The prevalence of RC used to treat T1HG bladder cancer from 1998-2012 was determined. For years 2010-2012, demographic and cancer-related factors were described and regression analysis was used to examine associations with RC. Oncologic outcomes of RC were described and related to mortality using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Treatment of T1HG bladder cancer with RC nearly doubled, from 5.5% during 1998-2000 to 9.9%, during 2010-2012. For 2010-2012, 18,277 patients with T1HG bladder cancer were analyzed. Patients who underwent RC were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and were more often treated at an academic center than those who did not undergo RC. At the time of RC, 41% of patients with T1HG bladder cancer were upstaged (pT2 or greater) and 12.7% had lymph node metastases. The 1- and 3-year survival rates were 0.89 and 0.68, respectively. Extravesical (T3+) disease at RC had the strongest independent hazard (hazard ratio [HR], 2.32; 95% CI, 1.72-3.11) of death other than age of 82 years or older (HR, 3.40; 95% CI, 2.28-5.07). CONCLUSIONS: The use of RC for T1HG bladder cancer has increased in prevalence in recent years but is still not widely used. There are concerning pathologic outcomes in patients with clinical T1HG bladder cancer treated with RC, including high rates of pathologic upstaging and nodal metastases. Future studies are necessary to better risk-stratify patients with T1HG bladder cancer to best select those who will benefit from aggressive therapy with RC.

Genomic characterization of high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

The genetic mechanisms associated with progression of high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) have not been described. We conducted selective next-generation sequencing (NGS) of HR-NMIBC and compared the genomic profiles of cancers that responded to intravesical therapy and those that progressed to muscle-invasive or advanced disease. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded sections from 25 HR-NMIBCs (22 with T1HG; 3 with TaHG with or without carcinoma in situ). Ten patients with HR-NMIBC developed progression (pT2+ or N+) ("progressors"). Fifteen patients had no progression ("non-progressors"). Tissue from 11 patients with metastatic bladder cancer (BC) were analyzed for comparison. We found no difference in frequency of mutations of TP53, PIK3CA, or KMT2D between the primary tumors of progressors compared to non-progressors and metastatic tumors. An increased frequency of deletions of CDKN2A/B was identified in tumors at progression (37%) compared to non-progressors (6%) (p = 0.10). We found a significant decrease in total mutational burden (TMB) that has been associated with immunotherapy response comparing non-progressors, progressors and metastatic tumors at 15, 10.1 and 5.1 mutations/MB respectively (p = 0.02). This association suggests more advanced tumors have decreased neoantigen burden and may explain the mechanism of BCG response in non-progressors. We found no novel genetic drivers in progressors and HR-NMIBC had many genetic features similar to metastatic BC. Loss of CDKN2A/B may occur late during invasion of BC and may represent an important step in progression. Further research is necessary to evaluate TMB and loss of CDKN2A/B locus as a biomarker for progression of NMIBC.

The Evolving Management of Patients With Clinical Stage I Seminoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine trends in management and factors associated with men receiving either chemotherapy or radiation therapy post orchiectomy for clinical stage I (CSI) seminoma in a contemporary setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base was queried for all patients with CSI seminoma from 1998 to 2012. Adjuvant treatment after orchiectomy was classified into 3 groups: surveillance, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Yearly trends in management are described. Subgroup analysis for the years 2010-2012 was completed using logistic regression to determine predictors of receiving treatment. RESULTS: Of 80,385 patients with testicular cancer, 16,931 had CSI seminoma. There was a progressive decline in the use of post-orchiectomy treatment from 1998 to 2012. In the years 2010-2012 (n = 5816), 59.9% of patients chose surveillance compared with 25.1% receiving radiotherapy and 15.0% receiving chemotherapy. Regression modeling demonstrated that men aged 18-30 were less likely (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-1.00, P = .048) to receive treatment than those aged 31-37. Increasing pathologic stage was associated with a greater likelihood of treatment (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.52-2.06), whereas patients treated at academic hospitals were less likely to receive adjuvant therapy (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.94). CONCLUSION: Despite a trend toward increased use of post-orchiectomy surveillance for patients with CSI seminoma, a significant portion of patients are still receiving treatment. Pathologic stage and treating hospital type have the strongest association with management decisions. Improved guideline adherence may reduce the potential for adverse effects after chemotherapy or radiation therapy for CSI seminoma.

Bladder Pneumatosis From a Catastrophic Vascular Event.

Air within the bladder wall, or bladder pneumatosis, is a very rare finding typically resulting from an infectious etiology, as in emphysematous cystitis (EC). However, there have been reports of bladder pneumatosis occurring without clear infectious origins. We present a case of a female patient found to have concurrent bladder and ileal pneumatosis secondary to a catastrophic vascular event. Prompt recognition of non-infectious etiologies of bladder pneumatosis is essential as this distinction may dramatically alter clinical decision-making.

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Secondary to Mass Lesion of the Brain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to neurologic disorders are well-established, but intracranial mass lesions are rare causes of LUTS with very few case reports described in the literature. We present a 28-year old man with urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence which were revealed to be secondary to a large thrombosed intracranial aneurysm. Any unusual clinical presentations of LUTS such as new onset neurologic symptoms need to be explored to rule out potentially treatable causes.

The Gender Divide: The Impact of Surgeon Gender on Surgical Practice Patterns in Urology.

PURPOSE: There is a perception in urology that female urologists encounter gender based role assignments and are often pigeonholed into caring for more female patients and female specific urological issues than their male colleagues. We assessed the influence of surgeon gender on patient gender demographics by exploring the surgical case logs of American urologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-month case logs of certifying urologists from 2003 to 2012 were obtained from the ABU (American Board of Urology). We reviewed case logs based on CPT codes of common urological procedures, focusing on 6 index gender neutral and gender specific procedure groups, including treatment of nephrolithiasis, nephrectomy, resection of bladder tumors, treatment of stress urinary incontinence, elective sterilization and treatment of prostate cancer. RESULTS: Among a cohort of 6,166 urologists 1,011,800 cases were logged. Female surgeons operated on a significantly higher percent of female patients than their male peers (54.4% vs 32.5%, p <0.01). Female surgeons performed significantly more female specific procedures, such as slings, than their male counterparts (18 vs 10 per year, p <0.001). Male urologists performed significantly more male specific procedures than their female colleagues, including 3 times as many vasectomies (32 vs 12 per year, p <0.001) and more than twice as many prostatectomies (15 vs 6 per year, p <0.001). These trends were consistent across all subspecialties and geographic regions (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Female surgeon gender has a significant influence on patient gender demographics among index urological procedures. As the number of women in urology grows, increasing attention to gender biases is necessary to understand how these disparities will shape the clinical landscape.

The effect of minimally invasive prostatectomy on practice patterns of American urologists.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To determine how robotic prostatectomy affects practice patterns of urologists, we examined the case volume characteristics among certifying urologists for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer. We hypothesized that the utilization of open and robotic prostatectomy as well as lymph node dissection changed dynamically over the last 10 years. METHODS: A total of 6-month case log data of certifying urologists from 2003 to 2013 were obtained for the American Board of Urology. Cases were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes for open radical prostatectomy (ORP) and laparoscopic or robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) with a corresponding diagnosis of prostate cancer as defined by ICD-9 code 185.0. RESULTS OBTAINED: A total of 6,563 urologists submitted case logs, of which 68% (4,470/6,563) reported performing at least one radical prostatectomy (RP), totaling 46,030 RPs logged. There was a 376% increase in the performance of RALP over the study period with robotic volume increasing from 22% of all RP in 2003 to 85% in 2013. Among surgeons performing ORP, the median number performed was 2; of surgeons who performed RALP, the median number performed was 8 (P<0.001). Overall, 39% of surgeons logging ORP performed 2 or fewer RP, whereas 19% of surgeons who performed RALP performed 2 or less RP (P<0.001). The highest volume robotic surgeons (top 10% surgical volume) performed 41% of all RALP with the highest performing robotic surgeon recording 658 prostatectomies over 6 months. Oncologists represented 4.1% of all surgeons performing RP and performed 15.1% of all RP (P<0.001); general urologists performed the majority of RP (57.8%). When performed open, there was no influence of surgeon specialty on the performance of lymph node dissection (LND); if performed robotically, oncologists were significantly more likely to perform LND compared with general surgeons (47% vs. 25.9%, respectively, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Robotic prostatectomies are performed 5 times more commonly than open prostatectomy and represent 85% of all RP performed by board-certified urologists in 2013. Compared to RALP, ORP are significantly more likely to be performed by lower volume surgeons. Oncologists perform a higher relative percentage of RPs and are significantly more likely to perform LND if performed robotically when compared with general urologists.

Diagnostic Value of Guided Biopsies: Fusion and Cognitive-registration Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Conventional Ultrasound Biopsy of the Prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To better assess the increased utilization of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and fusion biopsy of the prostate, we compared prostate cancer detection rates among (a) men undergoing MR-ultrasound (US) fusion biopsy, (b) mpMRI cognitive-registration biopsy, and (c) conventional transrectal US-guided biopsy for the detection of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing mpMRI of the prostate with subsequent prostate biopsy from October 2013 to September 2015. Lesions concerning for prostate cancer visualized on mpMRI were targeted with cognitive-registration or MR-US fusion biopsies. A cohort of men undergoing conventional prostate biopsy was utilized for comparison. Rates of cancer detection were compared among the 3 cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 231 patients underwent mpMRI-targeted biopsy (81 fusion, 150 cognitive). There was no difference in prostate specific antigen, mpMRI-defined Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score or number of lesions, or history of prostate cancer among the cohorts. The overall detection rate of cancer was significantly higher in the fusion cohort (48.1%) compared with both the cognitive (34.6% P = .04) and conventional (32.0%, P = .03) cohorts. Cancer detection rates were comparable in the MRI-cognitive and transrectal prostate US biopsy groups (34.6% vs 32%). MR fusion detected significantly more Gleason ≥7 cancer (61.5 vs 37.5%, P = .04) and significantly less Gleason 6 cancer (38.5 vs 62.5%, P = .04) compared with conventional biopsy. CONCLUSION: Targeted biopsy of the prostate using MR-US fusion increased the cancer detection rate compared with both cognitive registration and conventional biopsy and was associated with detection of higher-grade cancer compared with conventional biopsy.

An Analysis of Case Logs From American Urologists in the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To review recent trends in the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD), we assess surgical practice patterns of urologists in the United States with emphasis on specialty training, demographics, and temporal changes. METHODS: Six-month case log data of American urologists between 2004 and 2013 were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify surgical procedures, including plaque injection. RESULTS: A total of 6564 urologists were included in the surgical cohort, logging 8195 surgical procedures for PD. Only 15.4% of urologists (1012/6564) reported a surgical case for PD. Andrologists (urologist subspecialty designation) accounted for 5.3% of these urologists (54/1012) and performed 18.5% of PD procedures (P = .0001). The frequency of plaque injections increased from 499 in 2004 to 797 in 2013, a 59% increase, whereas surgical correction remained stable. Urologists performed four times as many injections as surgical procedures for PD (P = .001) with andrologists more likely to attempt injection than surgical correction (P = .045). Among surgeries performed, 73.2% were corrections of angulation without plaque excision, 20.5% were excisions of plaque (with possible grafting) up to 5 cm, and 6.2% were excisions of plaque (with possible grafting) >5 cm. There was a 313% increase in the ratio of plication to plaque manipulation (0.92 in 2004 to 2.91 in 2013). CONCLUSION: PD is treated by a minority of urologists and disproportionately by subspecialist in andrology. When compared with surgical interventions, excluding prosthesis implantation, most surgeons favor conservative treatment. The majority of surgical corrections were corrections of angulation without plaque manipulation.

Male Sling and Artificial Urethral Sphincter for Male Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Certifying American Urologists.

OBJECTIVE: To examine case volume characteristics among certifying urologists performing male sling and artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) procedures to evaluate practice patterns in male stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-month case log data of certifying urologists (2003-2013) were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Cases specifying Current Procedural Terminology code for male sling, AUS, and removal or revision of either procedure in males ≥18 years were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1615 urologists (568 certifying and 1047 recertifying) logging at least 1 male incontinence procedure, 2109 (48% of all procedures) male sling and 2284 (52%) AUS cases were identified. The mean age of patients undergoing AUS was 74.9 years and the mean age of patients undergoing sling procedures was 67.3 years (P <.001). An increase in male incontinence procedures from 2003 to 2013 was demonstrated. The rate of male sling procedure increased from 32.7% of incontinence surgeries in 2004 to 45.5% in 2013 (P <.001). Academically affiliated urologists are 1.5 times more likely to perform AUS than male sling for SUI (P <.001). Median number of slings performed was 2 (range 1-40), with 32.7% placing slings exclusively. A small group of certifying urologists (3.4%) accounted for 22% of all male slings placed. This same cohort logged 10.2% of all AUS performed. Surgical management of male SUI varies widely across states (P <.001), with slings performed between 21% and 70% of the time. CONCLUSION: Overall the number of male incontinence procedures has increased over time, with a growing proportion of male slings. Most slings and AUS cases are performed by a small number of high-volume surgeons.