[Incomplete urethral duplication in a male. A case report]. / Duplicidad uretral incompleta en un varón. Aportación de un nuevo caso.

Urethral duplication is a rare congenital anomaly affecting mainly males and being usually diagnosed during paedriatric age. We report a 20 year old male complaining of double urethral meatus with double urinary stream. Physical examination confirmed and additional hypospadic meatus below a normally placed urethral meatus. Retrograde urethro-cystography and voiding cysto-urethrograms showed two distinct urethras originating from a common bladder neck and the diagnosis of Effmann type IIA2 incomplete urethral duplication was made. No treatment was felt to be applied after associated anomalies were ruled out.

Duplicidad uretral incompleta en un varón. Aportación de un nuevo caso / Incomplete urethral duplication in a male. A case report

La duplicidad uretral es una rara malformación congénita que afecta mayoritariamente al varón y que se diagnostica en los primeros años de la vida. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 20 años de edad que consultó por la presencia de un doble chorro y de un doble orificio uretral a nivel del glande. La uretro-cistografía retrógrada y miccional mostró la presencia de una uretra con un origen vesical único que se bifurcaba en su porción más anterior, correspondiéndose con una duplicidad tipo IIA2 de la clasificación de Effmann. Descartadas la presencia de otras anomalías, se decidió por la abstención terapéutica

Urethral duplication is a rare congenital anomaly affecting mainly males and being usually diagnosed during paedriatric age. We report a 20 year old male complaining of double urethral meatus with double urinary stream. Physical examination confirmed and additional hypospadic meatus below a normally placed urethral meatus. Retrograde urethro-cystography and voiding cysto-urethrograms showed two distinct urethras originating from a common bladder neck and the diagnosis of Effmann type IIA2 incomplete urethral duplication was made. No treatment was felt to be applied after associated anomalies were ruled out

[Bilateral germ tumors of the testis. Report of 5 cases and review of the literature]. / Tumores germinales bilaterales de testículo. Aportación de cinco casos y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To know the prevalence of the bilateral germ cell tumours of testis diagnosed in our Department and to review the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 64 patients diagnosed of a germ cell tumour of the testis were followed during an average period of 51.4 months (1-168 months). RESULTS: 5 (7.8%) patients developed a second germ cell testicular tumour. In one patient the tumours were synchronous while in the remaining four were metachronous, occurring in an average interval of 59 months. One patient with a metachronous tumour died as consequence of the second tumour. In two of the five patients risk factors were identified, one presented testicular atrophy and the second referred history of undescended testis. DISCUSSION: The probability of developing a germinal testis tumour between the patients with history of a previous germ cell tumour of the testis is sensibly greater than between the general population. The prevalence of the bilateral tumours of the testis oscillates between 1-5% and approximately 75% will be metachronous. The principal factor that can predict the appearance of a second testicular tumour is the presence of the carcinoma in situ (Cis) in the contralateral testicular biopsy. Except in cases of testicular atrophy or previous history of undescended testis we do not recommend routine biopsy of the other testis.

Tumores germinales bilaterales de testículo. Aportación de cinco casos y revisión de la literatura / Bilateral germ cell tumors of the testis. Report of five cases and review of the literature

OBJETIVO: Conocer la prevalencia de los tumores germinales bilaterales de testículo diagnosticados en nuestro Servicio y revisar la literatura. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: 64 pacientes diagnosticados de un tumor germinal de testículo (TGT) fueron seguidos ambulatoriamente durante un periodo medio de 51,4 meses (1-168 meses).RESULTADOS: 5 (7,8 por ciento) pacientes tuvieron un segundo TGT. En un paciente los tumores fueron sincrónicos mientras que en los cuatro restantes fueron metacrónicos, apareciendo en un periodo medio de 59 meses. De los cuatro pacientes con tumores metacrónicos uno falleció como consecuencia del segundo tumor. En dos de los cinco pacientes identificamos la existencia factores predisponentes, uno presentaba historia de atrofia testicular secundaria a una orquitis urliana y el segundo refería historia de criptorquidia. DISCUSIÓN: La probabilidad de desarrollar un tumor germinal de testículo entre los pacientes con historia de un tumor germinal previo es sensiblemente mayor que entre la población general. La prevalencia de los tumores bilaterales de testículo oscila entre el 1-5 por ciento. Un 75 por ciento serán metacrónicos. El principal factor que puede predecir la aparición de un segundo tumor testicular es la presencia del carcinoma in situ (Cis) en la biopsia de la gónada contralateral. Salvo en casos de atrofia y/o antecedentes de criptorquidia en el testículo contralateral no aconsejamos la biopsia rutinaria de la gónada contralateral (AU)

[Etiopathogenesis and management of paraneoplastic fever and Stauffer syndrome in renal carcinoma]. / Etiopatogenia y manejo de la fiebre paraneoplásica y del síndrome de Stauffer en el carcinoma renal.

Some paraneoplastic syndromes as fever, cachexia, loss of weight or hepatic dysfunction, are relatively frequent in patients affected by a renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However their pathogeny has been unknown until a short time ago. The advances in immunology have permitted to identify the interleukin-6 as the responsible for these changes. In spite of our better knowledge, the treatment of these paraneoplastic syndromes, when persist after the removal of the tumor, continues being a challenge. We present the case of a patient with a renal cell carcinoma that began as a feverish syndrome, developing thereinafter a hepatic dysfunction or Stauffer's syndrome. The paraneoplastic symptoms persisted after removal of the tumor. No response to the administered treatment has been observed. The patient died two months after the surgery.

[Upper urinary tract tumors: results of treatment and follow-up]. / Tumores del tracto urinario superior: resultados del tratamiento y seguimiento.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of treatment and follow-up of 105 patients with tumor of the upper urinary tract. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 105 patients (88 male and 17 female; mean age 68.3 years) with tumor of the upper urinary tract that had been treated from 1975 to 1997. In total 114 functional units were treated, including recurrences and bilateral tumors. The sites of involvement were: ureter (49.9%), pelvis (41.2%) and the entire upper urinary tract (8.7%). Ninety-six percent were transitional cell carcinomas: 4.8% were well differentiated (GI), 68% moderately differentiated (G2) and 26.8% poorly differentiated (G3); 58.6% were superficial, while 41.3% showed tumor invasion into or beyond the muscle layer. Ninety-two of the 105 patients were followed. The SPSS program was employed for the statistical analysis. The survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the differences by the log rank test. Multivariance analysis was performed using the Cox regression method. TREATMENT: 58% underwent radical nephroureterectomy, 30% were treated conservatively and 11.6% underwent partial resection of the upper urinary tract. Recurrence: 8.7% of the patients showed tumor recurrence. The recurrence rate after conservative surgery was 13.6% and was as high as 80% in the remaining ureter. Metastasis: 22.8% of the patients presented metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, bone, liver and lungs. Survival: In the univariate analysis tumor stage, age, radical and conservative surgery were found to influence survival, while stage and surgery (radical or conservative) were found to be statistically important by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of choice for high grade and stage transitional cell carcinoma is by radical surgery, whereas for the superficial and well differentiated tumors, conservative management can achieve similar survival rates while preserving the renal unit and upper urinary tract.

[Expression of protein p53 in superficial transitional carcinoma of the bladder with differing course]. / Expresión de la proteína p53 en carcinomas transicionales vesicales superficiales con distinta evolución.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of p53 protein expression in relation to progression of superficial bladder cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in which p53 protein was determined in TUR fragments of 18 patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with no evidence of tumor progression in the last 6 years and in 13 patients with superficial tumors that had become invasive. DO-7 monoclonal antibody was utilized (+if stained nuclei were more than 25%). RESULTS: Expression of p53 protein was found in 9 patients (50%) with bladder tumors that had not progressed and in 6 patients (46.1%) with bladder tumors that had become invasive (p = 0.83). CONCLUSION: Determination of p53 protein was not related with cancer progression in this series.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. Apropos of a case]. / Leiomiosarcoma de cava inferior. A propósito de un caso.

Presentation of one case of inferior cava leiomyosarcoma in a 24-year old female patient, incidentally diagnosed after performance of ultrasound. The complementary examinations performed (CAT, NMR, arteriography) guided to a mass of suprarenal origin. During surgery, a tumour of the inferior cava vein was suspected and was later confirmed through the pathoanatomical study of the surgical piece. Review of the clinical and diagnostic aspects placing special emphasis on treatment.

[Tumors of the upper urinary tract: epidemiology, clinical, and diagnosis]. / Tumores del tracto urinario superior: epidemiología, clínica y diagnóstico.

OBJECTIVE: To review the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic aspects of upper urinary tract tumors (UUTT). METHODS: The clinical records of 105 patients with UUTT were reviewed. There were 114 functioning units in total. Data on distribution according to sex, age at presentation, involved side, focality, localization, association with bladder tumor, risk factors, clinical features, radiological and histological findings were analyzed. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed and the means and frequency rates were estimated. RESULTS: Of the 105 patients, 88 (83.8%) were male and 17 (16.1%) were female, accounting for a male to female ratio of 5.1:1. The mean age was 68.3 +/- 10.5 years (range 24-88). The tumor involved the left side in 52 cases (49.5%), the right side in 49 cases (46.6%) and 4 cases (3.8%) had bilateral involvement; 84 (80%) were unifocal and 21 (20%) were multifocal. The pyelocaliceal region was compromised in 41.2% (47/114) of the functioning units, the lumbar ureter in 14% (16/114), the sacral ureter in 7% (8/114), the pelvic ureter in 28.9% (33/114) and the entire upper urinary tract in 8.7% (10/114). UUTT was associated with a bladder tumor in 60.9%. The bladder tumor and UUTT presented simultaneously in 26 cases (29.8%). The bladder tumor presented before the UUTT in 35 cases (40.2%) and in 26 cases (29.8%) it presented after. Smoking was found to be the most important risk factor. Hematuria was the most common reason for consultation (67.6%), followed by flank pain (23.8%), and 13.3% were asymptomatic. The most common urographic finding was a filling defect (46.4%), followed by loss of function (36.8%) and hydronephrosis (20.1%). Loss of renal function was observed in 66% of the cases with metastasis. Histologically, 99% were transitional cell carcinoma, basically moderately differentiated (68.8% grade II) and non infiltrating (58.6% pTa-pT1). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are largely in agreement with the data published in the literature, although we have found a very high incidence of UUTT associated with bladder tumor in our series.

[Prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma in adults]. / El rabdomiosarcoma de próstata en el adulto.

OBJECTIVE: To report on two adult patients with prostatic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. The literature is briefly reviewed and the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this unusual variety of prostate cancer are discussed. METHODS: Two patients, aged 27 and 34 years, with prostatic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma are presented. Both cases showed tumor dissemination at the time of diagnosis. Both patients received chemotherapy. RESULTS: A 60% reduction in tumor volume was achieved in one patient, who subsequently underwent rescue surgery and, in spite of a recurrence, is still alive 3 years after the diagnosis. The other patient showed no response to chemotherapy. He refused rescue surgery and was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate in the adult is an unusual and aggressive tumor, of rapid growth and progression. Early diagnosis and treatment without delay by radical surgery and chemotherapy are essential to improve the prognosis of this disease.

[Asymptomatic microhematuria in the adult]. / Microhematuria asintomática en el adulto.

There is some controversy with respect to the attitudes that should be adopted when microhematuria is detected in asymptomatic subjects. The prevalence of MH ranges from 1 to 13%. The diagnostic evaluations conducted by different study groups suggest that the most frequent lesions are (in decreasing order) prostatic benign hypertrophy, followed by urinary tract infections, urolithiasis and neoplasias. Reactive straps are useful for the detection of hematuria. If the test is positive, a microscopical exploration of the urinary sediment is recommended, because it will confirm the results and sometimes it will provide some information about the cause of bleeding. The clinical evaluation should start with a detailed basic blood and urine analysis and other analytical test, depending on the clinical suspicion. The structural study of the urinary tract should start with an intravenous urography and/or simple echography + radiography. Personal predilections and the medical setting will be the major factors determining the election of one or other type of exploration. If after the first diagnostic study, the cause of hematuria is still unknown, there is no need to repeat again such study. Just in case of developing some symptomatology, the strategy to follow should have to be reconsidered on an individual basis.