[Changes in the incidence and mortality rates of malignant melanoma in the Seine-Maritime region over a 20-year period]. / Évolution de l'incidence et de la mortalité du mélanome en Seine-Maritime sur une période de 20ans.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess changes in the incidence and mortality rates of malignant melanoma (MM) over a 20-year period in a region without a cancer registry. METHODS: All cases of MM studied were collected retrospectively from the databases of six private and three hospital-based histopathology laboratories in the Seine-Maritime region covering three 24-month periods each 10years apart: 1988-1989, 1998-1999 and 2008-2009, The incidence and mortality rates were estimated based on data provided by French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) and French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). RESULTS: Over the 20-year period, the incidence of MM increased from 8.6 to 21.2/100,000inhabitants per year (+147%, P<0.0001) while the mortality rate rose from 1.3 to 2.8/100,000inhabitants per year (+115%, P=0.0003). The incidence of invasive MM increased by +110%, while the incidence of MM in situ increased by +456%. The incidence and overall mortality rate of invasive MM increased particularly during the first 10-year period: +62% (P<0.0001) and +77% (P=0.01) respectively, and to a much lesser extent during the last 10-year period: +30% (P=0.0007) and +22% (P=0.22) respectively. This slowdown in the incidence of invasive MM and in overall mortality rates was even more pronounced in women over the last 10years (+17 and +9%), whereas these rates continued to increase in men (+49% and +35%, respectively). In contrast, the incidence of MM in situ increased above all during this same period (+257%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that while the incidence and mortality rate of invasive MM has increased little over the last 10years in the Seine-Maritime region, the incidence of MM in situ continues to rise sharply.

[Symptom scores: what do they describe exactly?]. / Les scores symptômes: que décrivent-ils exactement?

OBJECTIVE: Standardized symptom scores have been developed to evaluate voiding disorders. The most widely used in France are the IPSS and Madsen-Iversen. These self-assessment questionnaires are by definition subjective. The objective of this study was to compare the capacities of the IPSS and Madsen-Iversen score to describe the patient's voiding status and to define the patient's level of understanding of these questionnaires. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred male patients were included in this prospective study. All completed an IPSS and Madsen-Iversen questionnaire. Physical examination, uroflowmetry and post-voiding bladder ultrasonography were also performed. RESULTS: The description of the voiding status was considered to be satisfactory or fairly satisfactory, with a total of 85% for IPSS and 87% for Madsen-Iversen. Understanding of the questionnaire was high with a value of 84% for IPSS and 83% for Madsen-Iversen. Neither the order of completion of the IPSS or Madsen-Iversen questionnaires nor the patient's age influenced these results. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was demonstrated between the IPSS score and the MADSEN-IVERSEN questionnaire in terms of description and comprehension. However, one out of five patients experienced difficulties completing these questionnaires.

[Intraluminal renal metastasis from a rectal adenocarcinoma: an unusual site]. / Métastase pyélocalicielle d'un adénocarcinome d'origine rectale: une localisation inhabituelle.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary tract are uncommon. But secondary involvement of pyelocalyceal system by metastasis of colorectal origin is rare. We report a case of late rectal metastasis with renal pelvis growth presenting as a pyonephrosis. This study emphasizes the relevance of cytokeratin 7 and 20 immunostaining in such differential diagnosis.

[Inpatient and outpatient follow-up of grade I malignant melanoma]. / Etude comparative du suivi des malades atteints de mélanome de stade Ien pratique libérale et hospitalière.

BACKGROUND: In 1995, the French consensus conference on management of patients with grade I malignant melanoma recommended clinical examination for patient monitoring. To date, only one survey has been conducted to evaluate these recommendations and their consequences, providing no means of assessing follow-up practices. The aim of this study was to assess follow-up practices in patients with grade I malignant melanoma followed in an outpatient private practice setting and in a hospital setting with regular appointments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in collaboration with private practice and hospital dermatologists, all members of an association of continuing medical education. Medical records of 584 patients with grade I malignant melanoma who had undergone surgery between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1995 were reviewed. Three hundred twenty-nine patients were followed in an exclusively outpatient setting by their private dermatologist and 265 were followed in a hospital setting. Follow-up data were: age, sex, date of surgical excision of the melanoma, Breslow thickness, date of each follow-up visit, presence of possible metastases and mode of diagnosis. RESULTS: Patient features were different in the two groups: mainly greater Breslow thickness and more frequent metastatic course in patients followed in a hospital setting. Among all patients, 65 (11 p. 100) developed metastases. Diagnosis of metastasis was made clinically in 95 p. 100 whatever the mode of monitoring considered. The number of patients lost to follow-up was 11p. 100 among those followed in a hospital setting and 42 p. 100 in those followed in a private practice setting. Patients lost to follow-up had a higher risk of developing metastasis as their average Breslow thickness was 1.7 mm. CONCLUSION: This study shows that patients followed in a hospital setting have a more severe prognosis than patients followed in private practice. It confirms that systematic use of complementary tests is of little interest in detecting metastases since over the period considered, the diagnosis of metastasis was made clinically in most cases. It also discloses difficulties encountered in exclusively outpatient follow-up as a high number of patients were lost to follow-up in this setting. A systematic appointment fixed by the private dermatologist during the follow-up period appears to be needed to ensure good quality follow-up. Such an appointment system should help reduce the number of patients lost to follow-up.

[Evaluation of the diagnosis of pigmented tumors of the skin and factors leading to a decision to excise. Dermatologists of the Postgraduate Association of Haute-Normandie]. / Evaluation du diagnostic des tumeurs pigmentées de la peau et des éléments conduisant à une décision d'exérèse. Dermatologues de l'Association de FMC de Haute-Normandie.

INTRODUCTION: The necessity of excising melanomas characterized by a slight thickness at an early stage, leads dermatologists to remove pigmented lesions which do not correspond to melanomas. The aims of this study were: a) to prospectively assess the accuracy of melanoma diagnosis, b) to quantify the number of excisions performed according to the degree of melanoma suspicion, c) to determine the specific clinical sign or signs of relevant diagnostic value. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted prospectively from January 1996 to August 1997 by dermatologists in private practice and dermatologists from a University Hospital staff. When it was decided to excise a pigmented lesion, a form was filled out choosing the most appropriate clinical diagnosis, the degree of melanoma suspicion, and clinical signs which lead to surgery. Based on histological findings as the reference, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of melanoma diagnosis and the kappa test that evaluates the concordance between clinical and histological diagnosis, were performed. The diagnostic value of clinical signs was assessed by variance analysis. RESULTS: Of the 353 excised lesions, 38 (10.7 p. 100) were identified as melanoma on histologic examination. The sensitivity, the specificity and diagnostic accuracy were: 79 p. 100, 94 p. 100 and 53 p. 100 respectively. The kappa test concordance between clinical and histological diagnosis was 0.66. Two hundred and two lesions (57 p. 100) were excised even though the clinical suspicion of melanoma was poorly considered. Only one of these 202 lesions was identified histologically as a true melanoma. Thirty seven (24.5 p. 100) of the 151 remaining excised lesions with an "average" or "strong" suspicion were true melanomas. The clinical signs considered, alone or associated, had a poor predictive positive value (< 38 p. 100). An analytical approach performed with a logistic model permitted the identification of two associated signs suggesting a best diagnostic value. DISCUSSION: This is the only study, to our knowledge, reported in the literature which prospectively assesses the sensitivity, specificity and concordance between clinical and histological diagnosis of melanoma. Results were considered from average to good. The originality of this study was to assess the number of pigmented lesions excised according to the degree of melanoma suspicion, suggesting the possibility of reducing the number of nevi removed when the melanoma risk was considered clinically poor. Finally, this study emphasizes the limits of clinical semiology and the need for future diagnostic methods in the assessment of melanoma.

[Bologna procedure in stress urinary incontinence with stage III cystocele (with or without vaginal hysterectomy)]. / Intervention de Bologna pour incontinence urinaire d'effort avec cystocèle stade III (avec ou sans hystérectomie vaginale).

OBJECTIVES: The vaginal approach constitutes a solution for all types of urinary stress incontinence (USI). The type of surgery depends on the position of the bladder neck and urethra, the quality of the sphincter and the severity of genital prolapse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Bologna procedure in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence (USI) with stage III cystocele. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This procedure can repair genital prolapse and USI via a 2 cm suprapubic incision, with vaginal hysterectomy, and intraoperative cystoscopy. The patient is placed in the lithotomy position and a Crossen T-shaped vaginal incision is made releasing the anterior wall and allowing the creation of 2 pedicled vaginal flaps posterior to the urethral meatus. The flaps, passed through the suprapubic pelvic fascia, support the bladder neck by means of 2 nonresorbable sutures to the rectus abdominis muscles. Fifty-four patients were treated by the Bologna procedure with or without vaginal hysterectomy from 1990 to 1996 and were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 30 months (16 to 46 months). All women (mean age: 63.4 years) underwent a preoperative clinical examination, renal ultrasound, cystoscopy and urodynamic assessment (37 cases). RESULTS: Twelve patients developed postoperative complications (9 local infections, 3 cases of deep vein thrombosis with one pulmonary embolism). All complications were treated by local drainage and/or removal of the suspension sutures. Continence was excellent in 45 women (83.3%), improved in 4 (7.4%), and unchanged in 5 (9.3%). The anatomical results were excellent with correction of prolapse in 48 patients (89%). Six patients subsequently developed prolapse of the vaginal dome and 5 complained of voiding discomfort. CONCLUSION: USI and genital prolapse must be treated simultaneously. The vaginal approach is minimally invasive and can treat both diseases during the same operation.

Prostate specific antigen levels in the follow up of localised prostate cancer: how does radiotherapy compare to radical prostatectomy?

This study aimed to evaluate tumor progression as assessed by PSA level of curative treatment for localised prostate cancer by either radiotherapy or prostatectomy. From 1987 to 1993, 180 patients were treated for clinically localised prostate cancer either by radiotherapy or prostatectomy. One hundred and five patients with clinical T1T2N0M0 were eligible for this study. Forty five underwent external beam radiotherapy and 60 had a radical prostatectomy. After radiotherapy PSA slowly decreased to reach a nadir 18 months after treatment. Any subsequent increase from this lowest post treatment level is associated with tumor progression. After radical prostatectomy PSA becomes undetectable and any increase will be regarded as evidence of tumor progression. The median PSA level before treatment and the median length of follow-up were comparable for the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival and biological evidence of disease progression at 5 y. Analysis of the evolution of median PSA level shows a progressive decline during the 4 y after radiotherapy. After radical prostatectomy PSA become undetectable, 4 y after treatment PSA levels become comparable in the two groups. The biochemical free survival was 60% for the prostatectomy group and 62% for the radiotherapy group. PSA is an effective marker of tumour progression after surgery or radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer. In our retrospective study recurrence rates at 5 y were not significant but direct comparisons are limited due to the Gleason score of the two groups. PSA levels can take up to 4 y to reach a nadir after radiotherapy.

[Outcome of renal function in 114 patients who underwent uninephrectomy for renal cancer]. / Devenir de la fonction rénale chez 114 uninéphrectomisés pour cancer du rein.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the medium-term and long-term impact of radical nephrectomy on renal function and to identify prognostic factors able to help predict deterioration of renal function in patients treated for renal cancer by radical nephrectomy, with a functionally and morphologically healthy remaining kidney. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1992 and June 1996, 114 patients (72 males, 42 females) with renal cancer were treated by radical nephrectomy. The contralateral kidney was healthy. The mean age of the patients was 64 years (31-85 years). Pre- and postoperative renal function was assessed by serum creatinine assay, in micromol/l. RESULTS: 105 patients were alive (16 with metastases) and 9 had died. The mean follow-up of the survivors was 19.6 months (3-53 months). A slight elevation of mean serum creatinine was observed in this group after nephrectomy compared to preoperative figures (117.9 micromol/l versus 95.6 micromol/l). 37 patients (35.2%) had a postoperative serum creatinine greater than or equal to 121 micromol/l, most of them were elderly, male (81%) and/or hypertensive (43%) and/or diabetic (11%). 6 (5.7%) of these 37 patients had a serum creatinine greater than or equal to 170 micromol/l and all were hypertensive and/or diabetic. CONCLUSION: This study shows that HT, diabetes, advanced age and male sex constitute risk factors for deterioration of renal function. The indication for conservative surgery for T1 T2 N0 M0 tumours should be discussed in the presence of these factors. In their absence and provided the remaining kidney is healthy, renal function remains relatively stable after radical nephrectomy for cancer.

[Acquired scrotal hyperplasia: an unesthetic and functionally troublesome condition]. / Hyperplasie scrotale acquise: situation inesthétique et fonctionnellement gênante.

The authors report a case of acquired scrotal hyperplasia and describe it surgical management. The result at four months was satisfactory. Pathophysiological hypotheses and psychological implications are discussed.

[Ureteral reimplantation on psoas bladder: long-term results]. / Réimplantation urétérale sur vessie psoïque: résultats à long terme.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate indications and long-term results of ureteral reimplantation with psoas hitch bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1985 and December 1997, we performed psoas-hitch ureteral reimplantation in 18 patients (13 females and 5 males). Mean age was 48 years old. All ureteral injuries involved a pelvic portion of the ureter. The indication was: ureteral injury during gynecological procedures in 5 cases, stricture following open uretero-lithotomy in 3 cases, avulsion of the ureter during ureteroscopy in 1 case, stricture following prior ureteral reimplantation in 3 cases, prostate cancer involving the distal ureter in 1 case, megaureter in 1 case, radiation therapy in 1 case, pelvic and ureteral endometriosis in 3 cases. Treatment consisted to adequate mobilization of the bladder, fixation of the posterolateral corner of the bladder to psoas and ureteral reimplantation with anti-reflux system. In all cases, psoas-hitch ureteral reimplantation has been performed because of an inability to perform end-to-end uretero-ureterostomy or direct uretero-neocystostomy. RESULTS: No complications were observed. At follow-up of 7 months to 12 years (mean 5.7 years) we noticed 13 success (72.4%), 4 improvements (22.2%) and one patient (5.4%) was lost at follow-up. No nephrectomy was done. CONCLUSION: Psoas-hitch bladder ureteral reimplantation is simple, effective and a first-line procedure for the replacement of the long defects of the lower ureter.

[Conservative treatment of stage III kidney injuries]. / Pour un traitement conservateur des traumatismes du rein stade III.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of conservative management in stage III renal trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 150 patients who presented in our institution with renal trauma between 1986 and 1995. RESULTS: Minor injuries (stage I and II: 100 cases) were treated with expectant management. Only 3 patients required nephrectomy in this group. Stage III injuries were seen in 40 patients. The great majority (85%) were treated conservatively with renal sparing procedures such as endourologic techniques (14 cases), nephrorraphy or partial nephrectomy (20 cases). Total nephrectomy was performed in 15% of the cases and only for severely injured kidney or major associated intraabdominal injuries. In this group, none of the patients suffered from hypertension at follow-up. All patients (10 cases) with pedicle injury (stage IV) required total nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Stage III renal trauma with urinary extravasation can safely be treated conservatively.

Pretherapeutic erythrocyte polyamine spermine levels discriminate high risk relapsing patients with M1 prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Androgen deprivation is currently the standard treatment for patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma. Few reliable prognostic markers are able to select, at diagnosis, patients who will respond favorably and durably to hormone ablation. Circulating polyamines, markers of cell proliferation that are elevated in prostate carcinoma, have been evaluated as a prognostic tool. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with untreated, M1 classified prostate carcinoma who received endocrine therapy between 1988 and 1993 were included in this study. Performance status, hemoglobin, alkaline phosphatases, prostate specific antigen, Gleason tumor grade, extent of disease by bone scan, and circulating erythrocyte spermidine and spermine were correlated with observed progression free and cause-specific survivals. Multiple correspondence analysis and ascending hierarchical classification were performed to determine significant pretreatment prognostic factors. RESULTS: Pretreatment performance status, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte spermine levels were correlated with progression, with hemoglobin and erythrocyte spermine level being the most significant independent variables (P < 0.00001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). With regard to cause specific survival, only hemoglobin and spermine erythrocyte levels were significant independent variables (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0005, respectively). Patients with spermine levels of less than 9 nmol/8.10(9) had a statistically better outcome than patients with 9 nmol/8.10(9) or more erythrocytes. Erythrocyte spermine was the best sole determinant of progression. A test combining spermine with performance status or hemoglobin improved each variable's predictive values. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating erythrocyte spermine levels, extracted from a blood sample, can discriminate, at diagnosis, patients with hormone-refractory from those with hormone-responsive metastatic prostate carcinoma.

[Synchronous bladder metastasis of a clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the kidney]. / Métastase vésicale synchrone d'un adénocarcinome du rein à cellules claires.

Urinary bladder synchronous metastases from renal cell carcinoma are rare, three cases were reported in the literature and we present the fourth. In these four published cases, the bladder metastases followed a left kidney tumor and in three, a brain metastases was also found. A possible retrograde metastatic dissemination through the left genital and vertebral veins has to be taken in consideration. The short survival after the extirpation of the tumor and the bladder metastases implies a less aggressive approach in the presence of a bladder metastases.