Chronic suprapubic catheterization in the management of patients with spinal cord injuries: analysis of upper and lower urinary tract complications.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether chronic suprapubic catheterization (SPC) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a higher incidence of significant urinary tract complications than in patients whose urinary tracts are managed by other methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our experience suggested that the incidence of complications in patients with SCI and SPC was acceptable and relatively low. Between 1988 and 2001, 1018 patients were admitted to our unit after SCI; 149 were managed by SPC and we retrospectively reviewed them, with a mean follow-up of 6 years. There were no complications in 49% of patients. Most complications were minor (urinary tract infection 27%, bladder stones 22%) and were easily managed. Only 20 patients had upper tract complications. Nine patients had renal scarring and 14, all quadriplegic, had upper tract calculi. One patient developed well-differentiated superficial transitional cell bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SCI often prefer SPC than other methods offered to them, because of quality-of-life issues. The incidence of significant complications might not be as high as previously reported, and with a commitment to careful follow-up, SPC can be a safe option for carefully selected patients if adequate surveillance can be ensured.

[A case of osteosarcoma in pelvic bone following radiation therapy for prostate cancer].

A case of osteosarcoma in pelvic bone following radiation therapy for prostate cancer is reported. A 74-year-old patient was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago and started on the endocrine therapy with LH-RH agonist. He had no apparent distant metastasis, and received radiation therapy 8 years ago. He has complained of low back pain since several months ago. A high uptake on bone scintigram and osteolytic and osteoblastic damages on CT were noted in pubic bone and sacrum. The PSA level was less than 0.2 ng/ml. Pathohistological diagnosis by biopsy of the pubic bone was chondroblastic type osteosarcoma, showing an atypical cell proliferation with osteoid. Immunostaining for nonepithelial marker vimentin was positive. He underwent heavy ion radiation therapy for osteosarcoma at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. Osteosarcoma is one of the rare delayed complications after radiation therapy and requires biopsy for correct diagnosis.