Prognostic nomogram for disease-free survival in patients with renal adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a postoperative prognostic nomogram for disease-free survival in patients with renal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 224 patients with organ-confined or locally advanced renal adenocarcinoma were treated with radical or partial nephrectomy. The variables included in the model were age, histological type, pathological stage, Fuhrman grade and DNA ploidy. Tumor recurrence was defined as any clinical evidence of recurrence. The probability of progression-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier estimate, and multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox regression. The nomogram was created using the data obtained from the Cox regression. RESULTS: Tumor recurrence was detected in 89 patients (39.74%). The median progression-free time in these patients was 9.55 months (range 0-133). Of these patients, 70.9% relapsed during the first 2 years, and only 15 patients (6.9%) were alive but ill at the end of the study. The probability of progression-free survival at 5 and 10 years was 66.64 and 61.97%, respectively. We performed a statistical validation of the model with accurate predictions that were discriminated with a confidence interval of 0.75 (comparing the predicted and actual probability). According to the nomogram obtained, patients with low-grade, diploid, organ-confined tumors would be candidates for follow-up not exceeding 5 years due to the low probability of recurrence (<40 points). CONCLUSION: The nomogram we developed is clinically relevant and can provide prognostic information for both patients and researchers. In addition, it can be used by researchers during the monitoring protocols that categorize patients based on their relative risk of disease progression.

[Usefulness of new schemes to group Fuhrman grades in clinical practice for clear cell renal tumour]. / Utilidad de los nuevos esquemas de agrupación de los grados de Fuhrman en la práctica clínica para el tumor renal de células claras.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if re-grading renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) in two or three-tiered grading schemes versus the traditional Fuhrman classification maintains the same prognostic value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study of a cohort of 383 treated CRCC with radical or partial nephrectomy between 1990-2009 was made. We analyzed the demographic data, evolution and survival of these patients. An uropathologist reassigned the Fuhrman grades blindly to the first classification. In order to study if the prognostic value was maintained with the different classification, three Cox multivariate regression analysis were performed, classifying the variable of grade into four categories: (I-II-III-IV), into three (I+II-III-IV) and into two (I+II-III+IV). The explanatory variables were: age, gender, tumor size, study stage and grade. The response variables were progression-free survival (local-regional recurrence/metastasis) and cancer specific survival time. RESULTS: The median overall survival was 125 months (95% CI: 92-159). In the three multivariate analyses carried out, the Fuhrman classification showed independent predictive value (p=:0.0001) compared to progression-free survival and cancer specific survival. The predictive power was maintained in the new classifications. In the three categories, the changing from grade I+II to III meant RR: 2.31 (p=0.0001) and from grade III to IV RR: 2.47 (p=0.0001) and in two-tiered classification an RR: 2.8 (p=0.001) was found when changing from I+II to III+IV. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that categorizing the Fuhrman grade into three or two-tiered grading schemes provide the same predictive accuracy on progressive free survival and cancer specific survival. Grades III and IV have different outcomes so that the three-tiered classification seems to be more appropriate to described the course of these patients.

[Prognostic value of venous tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma]. / Análisis del valor pronóstico de la trombosis tumoral venosa en el adenocarcinoma renal.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of venous tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 167 patients with renal cell carcinoma and stage pT3 who underwent radical nephrectomy and extended lymphadenectomy from July 1969 to May 2008 was conducted. Patients with any kind of venous involvement were selected for the analysis (73 patients; 43.7%). The Kaplan Meier survival curves and log-rank test for comparisons were used for the survival analysis. Multivariate analysis was done by Cox regression. RESULTS: Lymph node involvement was present in 30 patients (41.1%) and metastatic disease in 9 patients (12.3%). The most frequent histologic renal cell carcinoma subtype was 50 (68.5%) conventional carcinoma, followed by nondifferentiated in 11 (15.5%), and chromophobe in 9 (12.3%). High grade tumors (Furhman 3-4) were present in 57% of the cases. Venous thrombus level extended to renal vein in 61 patients (83.6%), to inferior vena cava in 9 patients (12.3%) and to the cardiac right atrium in 3 cases (4.1%). The survival analysis showed worse survival in those patients with venous tumor thrombosis (p=.001) and with vein wall invasion (p=.0042), but not in function on the level of the thrombus (p=.12). The multivariate analysis identified the Furhman grade and venous tumor thrombosis as independent survival prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, venous tumor thrombosis, together with the Furhman nuclear grade, is an independent survival prognostic factor. However, neither cephalic extension of the thrombus nor the invasion of the vein wall showed independent prognostic value.

In vivo aneuploidization during the expansion of renal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A correlation has been observed between DNA ploidy and other prognostic parameters such as tumor stage and grade. The present study evaluates tumor aneuploidization during renal adenocarcinoma expansion and growth. METHODS: A total of 252 renal tumors were analyzed between 1969 and 2001. Evaluated variables were age, TNM, Fuhrman classification, histology, size and DNA. A tumor was homogeneous when all the samples were diploid or aneuploid, and a heterogeneous tumor was the coexistence of aneuploid and diploid samples, or all-aneuploid with different aneuploid clones. RESULTS: A total of 224 tumors were included (coefficient of variation <8). The DNA study classified 129 (57.6%) as diploid and 95 (42.4%) as aneuploid. The percentage of aneuploid tumors increased significantly with the pathological stage. Both aneuploid patterns were also significantly more frequent in advanced pathological stages. Tumors with multiple aneuploid clones (n = 17) were significantly more frequent in tumors measuring `4 cm. Both aneuploid patterns showed no differences in survival (p = 0.83), indicating that the heterogeneous pattern probably represents an intermediate step between diploid and homogeneous aneuploid tumor status. CONCLUSIONS: The aneuploid pattern is more common in more advanced stages of the disease, with no clear correlation to primary tumor size. This suggests gradual aneuploidization with tumor expansion and growth.

[Causes, characteristics and mid-term course of acute urinary retention in women referred to a urodynamics unit]. / Causas, características y evolución a medio plazo de la retención aguda de orina en las mujeres remitidas a una Unidad de Urodinámica.

OBJECTIVES: Acute urinary retention (AUR) is uncommon in women and can be related to different conditions. Only some patients are referred to the urodynamics units for a more extensive study. We intend to describe the charcteristics and causes of AUR in women referred to our unit and to analyze their middle term evolution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive retrospective study (January 1982-December 2006), including the women referred to our Uro-Neurology and Urodynamics Unit after suffering an AUR. Medical charts were reviewed with special emphasis on medical history, physical examination, and also complete urodynamics study during the AUR event and after its resolution. RESULTS: A total of 202 women were included, median age of 57 years (12-87 years). Prior to the AUR, 59 women (28.7%) reported voiding symptoms. The urodynamics findings were: 65 (32.2%) detrusor hypocontractility; 64 (31.7%) normal study; 37 (18.3%) detrusor acontractility; 21 (10.4%) bladder outlet obstruction; 15 (7.4%) poor pelvic floor relaxation. The causes of the AUR were: 53 neurological (26.2%); 46 unknown (22.8%); 19 gynecological (9.4%); 22 diabetes mellitus (10.9%); 16 urological (7.9%). Renal insufficiency was observed in 14 patients (6.9%). After the AUR 106 women (52.4%) needed some kind of prolonged treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, AUR in the female is mainly related to underlying neurologic/urogynecologic disease, even though the etiology could not be known in a significant percentage of patients. Half of the patients recovered completely and did not require any treatment.

[Watchful waiting in incidental adenocarcinoma of the prostate]. / Actitud expectante en el adenocarcinoma incidental de próstata.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcome of patients diagnosed of incidental prostate adenocarcinoma managed by watchful waiting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included patients with PSA< 4 ng/mL or higher with previous negative biopsy, who underwent surgery for BPH being diagnosed of incidental prostate adenocarcinoma. We performed a descriptive and retrospective study in patients with this diagnosis between 1992 and 2007. Salvage curative treatment was offered to those patients who progressed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS program. Progression variables were: age, preoperative and postoperative PSA, stage, Gleason score, prostate volume, initial treatment, PSA evolution and salvage treatment if necessary. RESULTS: 47 patients were diagnosed of incidental prostatic adenocarcinoma, finding an incidence of 4.25%. The medium follow up was 37 months. Of the patients who opted for watchful waiting, 72.5% remain on it. 11 patients progressed. Postoperative PSA and Gleason score showed up as prognostic variables of progression in T1a stage and postsurgery PSA did so in T1b patients. CONCLUSION: Watchful waiting is a useful option in patients with incidental prostate adenocarcinoma and favourable prognostic criteria. Postoperative PSA and Gleason score can predict progression in T1a stage and postoperative PSA in T1b stage.

[Nocturnal enuresis. A frequent problem with a difficult estimation of its prevalence]. / La enuresis nocturna. Un trastorno frecuente con una prevalencia difícil de estimar.

INTRODUCTION: Nocturnal enuresis is a disorder with a maintained historical interest. Not only the multifactorial etiopathology, also its prevalence. OBJECTIVE: We consider reviewing the literature for knowing the problematic in the calculation of the prevalence of this disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We searched in Pubmed database with Mesh terms: "Enuresis", "Nocturnal Enuresis", we added in the search box terms bedwetting and epidemiology or prevalence. We included manuscripts in English and Spanish with more than 1000 patients as sample, we also included review papers. We analyzed the methodology and the prevalence, when it was possible, we stratified results in age, sex and the frequency of wet nights. RESULTS: The analyzed study's methodology is heterogeneous. Therefore comparisons are difficult. Due to the difficulty within the interpretation of the overall frequency, the results are not interesting unless methodology, age range of the sample and diagnosis criteria are previously detailed. CONCLUSIONS: An own epidemiology study is necessary in order to solve our problematic.

[De novo urological neoplasms in kidney transplant patients: experience in 1,751 patients]. / Neoplasias urológicas de novo en pacientes trasplantados renales: experiencia en 1.751 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosuppressive treatment promotes development of neoplasms in kidney transplant patients. Cancer prevalence in these patients is 4 to 5 times higher as compared to the general population. Tumors are also known to behave more aggressively in transplant patients. OBJECTIVE: To perform a descriptive analysis of de novo urological tumors in kidney transplant patients and to analyze patient survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 1751 transplant patients from January 1980 to December 2006. Patients in whom the tumor occurred in the first year after transplantation were excluded. The primary variables considered included sex, age at transplant, age at cancer diagnosis, site, clinical stage, treatment, and outcome. A Chi-square test was used for univariate statistical analysis. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty-nine de novo tumors (1.6%) were diagnosed in the 1751 transplanted patients, with a median follow-up of 35.28 months (2-121) from tumor diagnosis. Tumors were found in 24 males (82%) and 5 females (18%). Median age at transplantation was 50.8 (17-70) years, and median age at tumor diagnosis was 56.4 (19-79) years. Eleven patients (38%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer, seven (24%) with bladder tumors, 4 (60%) with non-muscle invasive tumors, and 3 (40%) with muscle invasive tumors. A renal adenocarcinoma in the primitive kidney was diagnosed in 6 patients (20%). Five patients (18%) were detected a tumor in the transplanted kidney. Median survival was 75 months for patients with bladder tumors, 82 months for prostate cancer, 59 months for tumors in the native kidney, and 86 months for graft tumors. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, de novo urological tumors in kidney transplant recipients were more common in males. Prostate cancer is the most common tumor and renal cell carcinoma of the native kidney has the worst survival rate.

Cutaneous horn in glans penis: a new clinical case.

This report presents a case of a 65-year-old male suffering from a penile cutaneous horn. This lesion is usually seen in sun-exposed areas and its occurrence on the penis is rare. One-third of cases of penile horns are associated with underlying malignancies. Standard treatment is electrosurgical excision with removal of a broad base.

[Urological findings in spinal cord ischemia]. / Manifestaciones urológicas de los accidentes vásculo-medulares.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord ischemia is a circulatory disorder of acute or subacute establishment and neurological clinic of medullar section, usually incomplete. We describe clinical and anatomical characteristics, as well as diagnostic methods and therapeuthic used in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 1987 to 2007, 65 patients were diagnosed of spinal cord ischemia in our hospital. Clinical interview, neurological examination and image study were performed. Urodynamic study was performed after medullar shock phase, including cystometry, pressure flow study and external urinary sphincter electromyography. We have reviewed treatment applied in these patients. RESULTS: 65 patients (27 women and 38 men), median age 63 years (15-87). 28 patients (43%) presented high lesion (upper to T7), 32 (49%) middle (T7-L2) and 4 (6%) low lesion (below L2). Flaccid paraplegia and acute urinary retention were the most frequent clinical findings at the begining. Aetiology was determined mainly by Magnetic Resonance. Urodynamic study revealed: 9 patients (47.4%) with high spinal cord lesion and detrusor overactivity (with or without dyssynergia), and 6 (31.5%) with arreflexia; 11 patients (47.8%) with middle spinal cord lesion and detrusor overactivity and 7 patients with arreflexia (30.4%); one patient with low spinal cord lesion and detrusor overactivity, and another one with arreflexia (33%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a good correlation among lesion level and clinical findings in traumatic spinal cord injuries, but this is not the same in spinal cord ischemia. Probably, incomplete and patched lesions in vascular spinal cord injuries could explain this lack of correlation. Therefore, it is mandatory to performe an exhaustive neurological and urological evaluation of these patients in order to select the best treatment and prevent upper urinary tract damage in the future.

[Pneumoscrotum secondary to bilateral tension pneumothorax]. / Neumoescroto secundario a un neumotórax a tensión bilateral.

We present a case of pneumoscrotum due to bilateral tension pneumothorax. Although the pneumoescrotum is an uncommon and light disease it can be a symptom of a life threatening pathology. The treatment of the pnemoescrotum is ethiological. It is necessary to treat the specific disease responsible of the pneumoescrotum.

[PSA and hK2 in the diagnosis of prostate cancer]. / PSA y hK2 en el diagnóstico de cancer de próstata.

Serum markers for prostate carcinoma are widely applied for the purpose of early detection of cancer and the differentiation between benign and malignant disease, for the pre-treatment staging of detected prostatic cancers, and for the monitoring of prostate cancer after curative or palliative therapies. Since its discovery in 1979, serum PSA has been the most powerful marker of prostate cancer, but, when used alone, PSA is not sufficiently sensitive or specific to consider it an ideal tool for the early detection or staging of prostate cancer. To optimize the use of PSA, the concepts of PSA velocity, PSA density, and age-related PSA values were developed. Moreover, the molecular forms of PSA, especially the percentage of free PSA, seem to be useful tools for the detection of prostate cancer in men with slightly elevated total PSA. Human kallikrein 2 (hK2), a serine protease closely related to PSA that also is expressed predominantly in the prostate, is a new complementary marker to PSA for early detection of prostate cancer. In this review, we examine PSA testing and its effectiveness in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Further, we also evaluate recent literature regarding the use of hk2.

[Prognostic factors for disease progression in patients with renal cell carcinoma]. / Análisis de los factores pronósticos de progresión tumoral en el adenocarcinoma renal.

INTRODUCTION: More than 40% of patients with renal cell carcinoma present with disease progression after surgery. The objective of the current study was to identify a clinically useful set of prognostic factors that would correlate significantly with the capacity of progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors studied 252 patients with renal cell carcinoma who underwent radical nephrectomy. Followup ranged from 12-246 months (median 36 months). Several morphologic parameters of the tumors were considered. DNA content was analyzed by flow cytometry and tumor size was determined from the surgical specimen. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify significant independent prognostic factors for disease progression. RESULTS: A total of 224 out of 252 were available for suitable histograms. Of the 224 patients, 95 (42.4%) were aneuploid tumors, 106 (47.2%) were organ-confined renal cell carcinoma and 87 (39.74%) presented disease progression. At 5 and 10 years of followup, disease free survival was found to be 66.31% and 62.23%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that DNA ploidy, Furhman grade and stage (TNM) had a statistically significant predictive value for disease progression. Survival univariate analysis found a worse probability of survival for aneuploid tumors, grade III-IV tumors, non organ-confined tumors and conventional and undiferentiated tumors. Using multivariate survival analyses, Furhman grade, stage (TNM) and DNA ploidy were the only independent prognostic factors. So, the probability of death for aneuploid tumor was 1.7 times higher than for diploid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Stage, DNA content and Furhman grade were the only significant independent predictors of disease progression. Tumoral size and histological type did not provide more additional information.

[Urethral diverticulum. Our casuistic and the literatura review]. / Divertículos uretrales. Revisión de nuestra casuística y de la literatura.

PURPOSE: The possible etiopathogenic factors, symptoms, diagnostic methods, surgical management and complications of the urethral diverticula are reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of the clinical charts with urethral diverticula diagnosis during the period 1986-2006 was carried out. RESULTS: In the last 20 years a total of 19 patients have been treated for this pathology: 15 females and 4 males. Five of the females started with a sensation of vaginal mass; the rest were diagnosed of micturitional (irritative) syndrome, urinary incontinence or urinary infection. In the case of males, 3 of them had a palpable tumour in the penis. The most used diagnostic method was retrograde and voiding cystourethrography; urethrography with double-occlusion balloon catheter was used in 5 cases and urethroscopy in 4 patients; other techniques of image diagnosis like magnetic resonance imaging were necessary for the most complex cases. The treatment was the excision of the diverticulum, except for one of the females who rejected the treatment. The evolution in all treated women was successful, according to follow up 2 years after the treatment. In males, two of them had complex recurrent diverticula. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral diverticula are nosologic entities of difficult diagnosis, due to their low prevalence and their unspecific clinic, therefore diagnosis is sometimes incidental. The etiopathogenity is acquired in most cases and its surgical treatment is more challenging in males than in females probably linked to the fact that diverticula appear in urethras with previous surgery, endourologic manipulation or associated injuries.

[Gene therapy: is possible a vaccine for prostate cancer?]. / Terapia génica en el cáncer de próstata. Es posible una vacuna?

BACKGROUND: New approaches for prostate cancer are needed due to limitations of current therapies for the treatment in advanced stages of the disease. In fact, there is no effective treatment for these patients. Development in molecular biology research on prostate cancer has improved the knowledge of common alterations encoded in DNA sequence, which may be useful as targets for prostate cancer approach. In this review we give an overview of current gene therapy concepts, the most common gene alterations in prostate cancer and the gene therapy treatment strategies.

[Radiofrequency interstitial tumor ablation (RITA) for the treatment of localised prostate cancer]. / Ablación mediante radiofrecuencia intersticial (RITA) en el tratamiento del cáncer de próstata órgano-confinado.

Radiofrequency ablation produces an irreversible destruction of prostate tissue since it reaches temperatures of 110 degrees C that leads the tumour into coagulative necrosis and, based on preliminary studies, it has shown to be a safe therapeutical alternative for localised prostate cancer. It is a non-invasive technique with scarce complications which is especially attractive for those patients whose co-morbidity precludes them from having any others procedures that require general anaesthesia or that make them to be admitted. Another valuable aspect of this treatment modality is that treatment times are short (less than 10 minutes), and controlled lesions can be predictably generated, as well as it is a feasible technique by most urologists since it requires only basic imaging experience and it could be also repeated at any time if needed. However, despite these promising results, long term follow-up are needed before conclusions about the efficacy of RITA can be drawn and, therefore, before setting its role in localised prostate cancer treatment.