Erectile dysfunction patients are more satisfied with penile prosthesis implantation compared with tadalafil and intracavernosal injection treatments.

There are various treatment modalities for erectile dysfunction with different success and satisfaction rates. We aim to compare patient satisfaction with tadalafil, intracavernosal injection, and penile prosthesis implantation in patients with erectile dysfunction. The records of 3448 men with erectile dysfunction were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 356 men with organic erectile dysfunction were enrolled into this study. Of these patients, 132 (37%) received tadalafil 20 mg twice a week for 12 weeks, 106 (30%) patients received tadalafil 5 mg once-daily for 12 weeks, 96 (27%) patients used intracavernosal injection therapy (Bi-mix; papaverine and phentolamine). Moreover, 22 patients underwent penile prosthesis implantation. Patient and partner satisfaction were assessed with International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire. Patients' mean age was 52.4 ± 25.76 (32-71). The etiology of erectile dysfunction was chronic systemic diseases in 133 (44%) and radical prostatectomy in 121 patients (40%). The mean IIEF-5 scores improvement after the treatment was higher in penile prosthesis implantation group (12.4 ± 1.3) compared with tadalafil 5 mg (6.7 ± 1.5) (p < 0.01), tadalafil 20 mg (6.2 ± 1.5) (p < 0.01), and intracavernosal injection group (8.4 ± 3.2) (p < 0.05). The EDITS score was significantly higher in penile prosthesis implantation group (78.2 ± 11.3) compared with intracavernosal injection (60.3 ± 6.3), tadalafil 5 mg (72.5 ± 4.5), and tadalafil 20 mg 70.7 ± 3.4 groups (p < 0.05). Partners' EDITS scores were 70.1 ± 10 in penile prosthesis implantation group, 50.2 ± 1.5 in intracavernosal injection group, 62.9 ± 7.8 in tadalafil 5 mg, and 61.3 ± 5.3 in tadalafil 20 mg group (p < 0.05). Erectile dysfunction patients who underwent penile prosthesis implantation seem to be more satisfied compared with tadalafil treatment and intracavernosal injection. Future clinical trials are warranted to confirm our results.

Randomised clinical trial of comparing effects of acupuncture and varicocelectomy on sperm parameters in infertile varicocele patients.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the acupuncture treatment on sperm parameters and pregnancy rates in patients with primary infertility. Between January 2008 and May 2010, 30 men with the primary infertility (one year of unprotected intercourse, healthy wife) and varicocele with normal hormone levels and abnormal semen analysis were randomised into two groups. Group 1 underwent subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy, and Group 2 underwent acupuncture treatment twice a week for 2 months. Both groups were evaluated with semen analysis at 6 months after the treatment. Patients in both groups evaluated with telephone calls and e-mail in terms of pregnancy. The mean age of the patients was 27.2, and groups were comparable regarding the age (P = 0.542). The pre-treatment sperm concentration, motility and morphological characteristics were similar in both groups. Sperm concentration and motility improved significantly in both groups after the treatment. Increase in sperm concentration was higher in the acupuncture group compared to the varicocelectomy group (P = 0.039). The average follow-up was 42 months, and pregnancy rates were emphasised 33% in both groups. Acupuncture treatment in primary infertile varicocele patients with semen abnormalities seems to be effective and has comparable results with the varicocelectomy treatment.

Lich-Gregoir ureteral reimplantation with fixation of ureter during detrusorraphy as a reliable outpatient anti-reflux procedure.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with a Lich-Gregoir reimplantation (LGR) technique that included fixation of the ureter during detrusorraphy to preserve the integrity of the newly created submucosal tunnel, performed as an outpatient anti-reflux procedure. METHODS: Ninety-seven children (mean age: 7.9 years) with primary VUR underwent LGR between 1995 and 2008. Twenty-one had bilateral VUR, 8 had ureteral duplication, 9 had megaureter, and 13 had previous subureteric injections. Through a Pfannenstiel incision the ipsilateral ureter was mobilized up to the ureterovesical junction without disturbing ureterotrigonal integrity. A 3-5 cm detrusorotomy was extended from the ureterovesical junction towards the umbilicus, the ureter was placed on the mucosa, and detrusorraphy was performed with a loosely running 3/4-0 polyglactin suture that passed through the detrusor on one side of the incision, taking a 1-2 mm "bite" of the ureteral adventitia, and detrusor on the other side. Postoperative ultrasonograms and voiding cystograms (VCUG) were obtained at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Children were then followed up for clinical symptoms of urinary tract infection with annual ultrasonograms. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 56 min. Eighty-one percent of the children were treated as outpatients. Transient voiding difficulties occurred in 2 children with a bilateral procedure. Reflux was cured in 116 ureters (98%) with a mean follow-up of 58 months (range: 6-128). Ipsilateral obstruction was not evident during ultrasound surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: LGR is an outpatient procedure with a high success rate and a low morbidity. Integrity of the newly created submucosal tunnel is important for long-term success, which may be facilitated by our modified detrusorraphy technique.

A retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst mimicking adrenal tumour in an adult: is differential diagnosis truly possible?

Bronchogenic cysts are developmental abnormalities of the primitive foregut resulting from aberrant budding from the ventral diverticulum. A retroperitoneal position for a bronchial cyst is extremely unusual and should be differentiated from other neoplastic lesions. Although histologically they can be differentiated from other lesions, bronchial cysts may show various pathological patterns of differentiation that may cause confusion in differentiating them from cystic teratomas. This is a case of a retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst featuring uncommon histological findings, which raises the question whether these benign lesions can always be accurately differentiated from teratomatoid cystic neoplasms.

The efficacy of Tc99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-DMSA) scintigraphy and ultrasonography in detecting renal scars in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

INTRODUCTION: Pyelonephritis-induced renal scarring in children is a major predisposing factor for proteinuria, hypertension, and ultimate renal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the efficacy of Tc99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-DMSA) renal scintigraphy and renal ultrasonography (USG) in detecting renal scars in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tc-DMSA scan and USG studies were done in 62 children who were admitted to our clinic between 1997 and 2003 because of documented urinary tract infection (UTI) and diagnosed with primary VUR. Renal scarring detection rates of Tc-DMSA scan and USG were compared according to reflux grades. RESULTS: In the whole group, renal scars were detected by Tc-DMSA scan and USG in 55% and 38% of refluxing units, respectively. Detection rates of Tc-DMSA and USG according to reflux grades were as follows: 47% and 29 % in low-grade VUR (grades 1 and 2), 46 % and 25% in mid-grade VUR (grade 3), 76% and 65% in high-grade VUR (grades 4 and 5), respectively. CONCLUSION: USG was found to be an inappropriate study in the detection of renal parenchymal scars, irrespective of the reflux grade. In this study, Tc-DMSA scan detected scars in 35% of kidneys reported to be normal on USG.

Important preoperative prognostic factors for extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node involvement in cases with radical retropubic prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Initial diagnostic evaluation may provide information about the extent of disease after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of preoperative serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, local disease extension identified by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), total number of positive biopsies and percentage of positive cores for cancer, as well as TRUS Biopsy Gleason score in determining the extent of disease in radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 171 patients who underwent RRP from March 1993 to February 2003 for organ confined prostate cancer and whose follow-up data was accessible. The correlation of preoperative serum PSA level, local disease extension in TRUS, the total number of positive sextant biopsies and the percent of cores positive for cancer and Gleason score at TRUS biopsy specimen with the extent of disease at final pathology (Extra-capsular extension (ECE), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), lymph node involvement (LNI) and surgical margin (SM) status on RRP specimens) were analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 65 years. The mean preoperative serum PSA level of all patients was 11.6+/-1.2 (median 8.6) ng/ml. Histopathological evaluation of RRP specimens revealed 60 (35%) patients with ECE, 38 (22.2%) with SVI, 7 (0.04%) with LNI, and 58 (33.9%) had positive SM. Comparing the preoperative TRUS findings and postoperative evaluation of RRP specimens, the sensitivity of TRUS in predicting the ECE was 11.8% and specificity was 96%. Sensitivity of TRUS in predicting SVI was 9.8% and its specificity was 99%. With univariate analysis (sample t-test), Gleason score, percent of cores positive for cancer, and DRE were found to be predictive factors for extra-prostatic disease in RRP specimens. But with multivariate analysis (logistic regression test) Gleason score appears to be the most important and independent predictive factor for extra-prostatic disease in RRP specimens. Serum PSA levels and percentages of cores positive for cancer were also significant predictors of non organ-confined disease found at final pathology. CONCLUSION: Gleason score is the most important and independent predictive factor for extra-prostatic disease. Serum PSA levels and percentages of cores positive for cancer are the other important but non-independent predictive factors.

Paratesticular pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in an adult.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the commonest variety of soft tissue sarcoma in children and young adults. It represents 6.5% of all malignant tumours in paediatrics with an annual incidence of 4 to 7 cases/million children. The primary paratesticular site is considered to have a good prognosis in comparison with other rhabdomyosarcomas, despite the frequency of retroperitoneal lymph node invasion. This superficial site allows rapid diagnosis and consequently often complete resection of the tumor. The multi-disciplinary treatment of paratesticular RMS has improved control of the disease with a 2-year survival of 80%. We herein report a case with paratesticular pleomorphic RMS, a rare and prognostically unfavorable variant of RMS, who is disease free for 60 months after management with multidisciplinary approach.