[Information needs of patients with prostate cancer. Pronounced differences between individuals after diagnosis of localised prostate carcinoma]. / Informationsbedürfnisse von Prostatakrebspatienten. Große individuelle Unterschiede nach Diagnose eines lokalisierten Prostatakarzinoms.

BACKGROUND: In the context of shared decision-making it is important to know more about information needs of prostate cancer patients. Therefore, this study investigates content and extent of these information needs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We surveyed 330 patients of 4 urological Clinics in Switzerland with a well-established written questionnaire between 3 and 24 months after their diagnosis of an early-stage prostate cancer. A total of 179 patients responded and 128 (39%) questionnaires were entered into final statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patients expressed broad information needs and pronounced differences between individuals were observed. Each of the 92 questions presented was rated as "essential" by at least 18% of the patients. On average 50 questions were rated as 'essential'. One patient rated only four questions as 'essential' whereas another participant reported all 92 questions as being 'essential' to him. CONCLUSIONS: Concerning patient education it is important to identify the individual information needs of each prostate cancer patient separately.

Second transurethral resection of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a must even for experienced urologists.

INTRODUCTION: As even experienced urologists have a high percentage of persisting carcinoma after transurethral bladder tumour resection (TUR-B) the importance of a routine second resection in the management of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients treated with TUR-B at our institution between January 1989 and September 2000 were reviewed. 214 patients with pTa and pT1 carcinoma undergoing a second resection 4-6 weeks later were included in the analysis. The rate of persisting carcinoma in the second resection was compared to the actual tumour stage and grade, the patient's age, sex and the experience of the urologist performing the resection. RESULTS: Of the 214 patients 99 had pTa and 115 pT1 carcinoma. The rate of persisting tumour in the second resection was 27% in pTa and 37% in pT1 carcinoma. This rate was independent of the patient's age and sex. Urologists in training had an equally low rate of persisting carcinoma in the second resection compared to senior urologists (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Routine second resection of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder should be part of the treatment even in larger operative experience.

[Submucous lipoma of the colon--report of 2 cases]. / Submuköses Lipom des Kolons--Bericht zweier Fälle.

Gastrointestinal lipomas are benign but rare lesions, mainly located in the colon. Depending on their size they are responsible for obstructive bowel symptoms. Diagnostic tools are either the endoscopy or computer tomography. It is recommended to investigate the entire large bowel as other pathologies are often found. Any lipoma found should be removed. Two cases with symptomatic lipoma are presented. In both cases the lipoma was removed by open surgery.

[Seminal vesicle cyst and ipsilateral kidney failure. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature]. / Samenblasenzyste und ipsilaterale Nierenagenesie. Bericht über 2 Fälle und Literaturübersicht.

The seminal vesicle cyst is a congenital malformation of the male urogenital tract, which seems to be more frequent than originally presumed. It is usually combined with an ipsilateral renal agenesis and an ectopic ureter. Two relevant cases are reported and embryology, major presenting symptoms, diagnostic procedures, differential diagnosis and therapy are extensively discussed.

[Reversible neurological complications in chronic alcohol abuse with hypophosphatemia]. / Reversible neurologische Komplikationen bei chronischem Alkoholabusus mit Hypophosphatämie.

Severe hypophosphatemia is rare, usually affecting chronic alcoholics and patients under total parenteral nutrition. The most important clinical features are rhabdomyolysis and neurological deficits. The latter may take various forms and can affect the peripheral as well as the central nervous system. Symptoms of polyradiculitis with progressive paresis or cerebellar symptoms such as dysarthria, dysphagia and ataxia are frequent manifestations. Rarely, hypophosphatemia can cause confusional states, epileptic seizure or coma. The differential diagnosis includes Guillain-Barré polyradiculitis, diffuse encephalopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy and central pontine myelinolysis. We describe the neurological signs in a female chronic alcoholic who developed severe ataxia and tetraparesis after a week's course of parenteral, phosphate-free nutrition. Complete recovery occurred after adequate substitution of phosphate.