Endoscopic Imaging Technology Today.

One of the most applied imaging methods in medicine is endoscopy. A highly specialized image modality has been developed since the first modern endoscope, the "Lichtleiter" of Bozzini was introduced in the early 19th century. Multiple medical disciplines use endoscopy for diagnostics or to visualize and support therapeutic procedures. Therefore, the shapes, functionalities, handling concepts, and the integrated and surrounding technology of endoscopic systems were adapted to meet these dedicated medical application requirements. This survey gives an overview of modern endoscopic technology's state of the art. Therefore, the portfolio of several manufacturers with commercially available products on the market was screened and summarized. Additionally, some trends for upcoming developments were collected.

Extended Versus Limited Lymph Node Dissection in Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy: Survival Results from a Prospective, Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The extent of lymph node dissection (LND) in bladder cancer (BCa) patients at the time of radical cystectomy may affect oncologic outcome. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether extended versus limited LND prolongs recurrence-free survival (RFS). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective, multicenter, phase-III trial patients with locally resectable T1G3 or muscle-invasive urothelial BCa (T2-T4aM0). INTERVENTION: Randomization to limited (obturator, and internal and external iliac nodes) versus extended LND (in addition, deep obturator, common iliac, presacral, paracaval, interaortocaval, and para-aortal nodes up to the inferior mesenteric artery). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint was RFS. Secondary endpoints included cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and complications. The trial was designed to show 15% advantage of 5-yr RFS by extended LND. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In total, 401 patients were randomized from February 2006 to August 2010 (203 limited, 198 extended). The median number of dissected nodes was 19 in the limited and 31 in the extended arm. Extended LND failed to show superiority over limited LND with regard to RFS (5-yr RFS 65% vs 59%; hazard ratio [HR]=0.84 [95% confidence interval 0.58-1.22]; p=0.36), CSS (5-yr CSS 76% vs 65%; HR=0.70; p=0.10), and OS (5-yr OS 59% vs 50%; HR=0.78; p=0.12). Clavien grade ≥3 lymphoceles were more frequently reported in the extended LND group within 90d after surgery. Inclusion of T1G3 tumors may have contributed to the negative study result. CONCLUSIONS: Extended LND failed to show a significant advantage over limited LND in RFS, CSS, and OS. A larger trial is required to determine whether extended compared with limited LND leads to a small, but clinically relevant, survival difference (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01215071). PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we investigated the outcome in bladder cancer patients undergoing cystectomy based on the anatomic extent of lymph node resection. We found that extended removal of lymph nodes did not reduce the rate of tumor recurrence in the expected range.

[Thermochemotherapy with Mitomycin C: an update on alternative treatment strategies in non-muscleinvasive bladder cancer]. / Thermochemotherapie mit Mitomycin C: Update zur Therapiealternative beim nicht-muskelinvasiven Harnblasenkarzinom.

Bladder cancer is the second most common urological malignant disease. There are various treatment strategies which, depending on tumor stage and grade, can minimize recurrence and lower progression rate. Alternative treatment modalities of instillation therapy after failure with first line Mitomycin C or BCG do exist and have become a point of interest, especially in times of shortage of agents such as BCG.This article aims to give an overview of the current existing thermotherapeutic treatment options (electroinductive and electroconductive). The article starts with the first publication presenting thermochemotherapy with Mitomycin C using the Synergo ® device and highlights the first randomized controlled study comparing Mitomycin C (Synergo ® ) with conventional BCG therapy. The article also presents data about first conductive Mitomycin C therapy using the new Combat ® and the Unithermia ® device.Finally, it discusses in which cases thermotherapy with Mitomycin C can be applied safely based upon the current available data.

Detection of obstructive uropathy and assessment of differential renal function using two functional magnetic resonance urography tools. A comparison with diuretic renal scintigraphy in infants and children.

AIM: After detection of obstructive uropathy (OU), the indication for or against surgery is primarily based on the differential renal function (DRF). This is to compare functional magnetic resonance urography (fMRU) with dynamic renal scintigraphy (DRS) to assess OU and DRF in infants and children. PATIENTS, METHODS: Retrospective analysis in 30 patients (female: 16; male: 14; median age: 5.5 years [0.2-16.5]), divided into subgroup A (age: 0-2 years; n = 16) and B (> 2-17 years; n = 14). fMRU was assessed by measuring renal transit time (RTT) and volumetric DRF with CHOP fMRU tool (CT) and ImageJ MRU plug-in (IJ). OU detection by fMRU was compared with DRS (standard of reference) using areas under the curves (AUC) in ROC analyses. Concordant DRF was assumed if absolute deviation between fMRU and DRS was ≤ 5 %. RESULTS: DRS confirmed fixed OU in 4/31 kidneys (12.9 %) in subgroup A. AUC of CT was 0.94 compared with 0.93 by IJ. Subgroup B showed fixed OU in 1/21 kidneys (4.8 %) with AUCs of 0.98 each. RTT measured neither by CT nor by IJ in confirmed fixed OU was < 1200 s - resulting in negative predictive values of 1.0 each. In subgroup A, DRF was concordant in 81.3 % of the kidneys for CT and DRS compared with 75.0 % for IJ and DRS. In subgroup B, CT and DRS were concordant in 91.7 %, and IJ and DRS in 45.8 % of the kidneys. CONCLUSION: fMRU accurately excluded fixed OU in infants and children, independent from the software used for quantification. However, assessment of DRF with fMRU deviated from DRS especially in infants who may profit most from early intervention. Thus, fMRU cannot fully replace DRS as primary functional examination. If, for clinical reasons, fMRU is performed in first place and it cannot exclude fixed OU, it should be followed by DRS for validation and DRF quantification.

Measurement of Procedure-Specific Irrigation-Fluid Absorption in Transurethral Therapy of Lower Urinary Tract Syndrome, Using Ethanolic Saline and Breath Alcometry.

INTRODUCTION: Transurethral resection risks excessive absorption of irrigating fluid with potentially severe or life-threatening consequences. We determined the amount of absorbed saline irrigation fluid during photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) and bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (bTURP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients at our institution treated by one of these methods were monitored by the alcometric method: ethanol is added to the irrigation fluid and blood alcohol is measured with a breathalyser. Various possible correlations were investigated. RESULTS: Data from 71 patients (36 PVP, 35 bTURP) were analysed. Detection of any absorption was more frequent under bTURP (71% of patients) than under PVP (39%; p = 0.006). Absorption in the volume range 500-1,000 ml was conspicuously more frequent in the bTURP procedure than in PVP. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of absorption was more frequent under bTURP than under PVP. However, high-volume absorption was more frequent during bTURP than in PVP.

Irreversible Electroporation (IRE): Standardization of Terminology and Reporting Criteria for Analysis and Comparison.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) as newer ablation modality has been introduced and its clinical niche is under investigation. At present just one IRE system has been approved for clinical use and is currently commercially available (NanoKnife® system). In 2014, the International Working Group on Image-Guided Tumor Ablation updated the recommendation about standardization of terms and reporting criteria for image-guided tumor ablation. The IRE method is not covered in detail. But the non-thermal IRE method and the NanoKnife System differ fundamentally from established ablations techniques, especially thermal approaches, e.g. radio frequency ablation (RFA). MATERIAL/METHODS: As numerous publications on IRE with varying terminology exist so far - with numbers continuously increasing - standardized terms and reporting criteria of IRE are needed urgently. The use of standardized terminology may then allow for a better inter-study comparison of the methodology applied as well as results achieved. RESULTS: Thus, the main objective of this document is to supplement the updated recommendation for image-guided tumor ablation by outlining a standardized set of terminology for the IRE procedure with the NanoKnife Sytem as well as address essential clinical and technical informations that should be provided when reporting on IRE tumor ablation. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize that the usage of all above recommended reporting criteria and terms can make IRE ablation reports comparable and provide treatment transparency to assess the current value of IRE and provide further development.

Inability of shear-wave elastography to distinguish malignant from benign prostate tissue - a comparison of biopsy, whole-mount sectioning and shear-wave elastography.

AIM: This study was designed to assess the possible usefulness of shear-wave elastography in differentiating between benign and malignant tissue in prostate neoplasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 prostate tissue samples were obtained from 10 patients treated by radical prostatectomy and investigated pre-operatively by ultrasound elastography followed by directed biopsy. After resection, whole-mount sectioning and histological examination was performed. The predictions based on shear-wave elastography were compared with biopsy and histological results. RESULTS: The comparison between the results of shear-wave elastography and those of biopsy was performed by receiver operating characteristic analysis, which suggested an optimum cut-off tissue elasticity value of 50 kPa, in agreement with earlier studies aimed at distinguishing between benign and malignant tissue. However, the diagnostic selectivity (and thus the diagnostic power) was poor (area under the curve 0.527, which hardly differs from the value of 0.500 that would correspond to a complete lack of predictive power); furthermore, application of this cut-off value to the samples led to a sensitivity of only 74% and a specificity of only 43%. An analogous comparison between the results of shear-wave elastography and those of whole-mount histology, which itself is more reliable than biopsy, gave an even poorer diagnostic selectivity (sensitivity of 62%, specificity of 35%). Meaningful association with Gleason score was not found for D'Amico risk groups (p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: The (negative) findings of this investigation add to the dissonance among results of studies investigating the possible value of shear-wave elastography as a diagnostic tool to identify malignant neoplasia. There is a clear need for further research to elucidate the diversity of study results and to identify the usefulness, if any, of the method in question.

First Delayed Resection Findings After Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) of Human Localised Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) in the IRENE Pilot Phase 2a Trial.

INTRODUCTION: It is postulated that focal IRE affords complete ablation of soft-tissue tumours while protecting the healthy peritumoral tissue. Therefore, IRE may be an interesting option for minimally invasive, kidney-tissue-sparing, non-thermal ablation of renal tumours. AIM: With this current pilot study ("IRENE trial"), we present the first detailed histopathological data of IRE of human RCC followed by delayed tumour resection. The aim of this interim analysis of the first three patients was to investigate the ablation efficiency of percutaneous image-guided focal IRE in RCC, to assess whether a complete ablation of T1a RCC and tissue preservation with the NanoKnife system is possible and to decide whether the ablation parameters need to be altered. METHODS: Following resection 4 weeks after percutaneous IRE, the success of ablation and detailed histopathological description were used to check the ablation parameters. RESULTS: The IRE led to a high degree of damage to the renal tumours (1 central, 2 peripheral; size range 15-17 mm). The postulated homogeneous, isomorphic damage was only partly confirmed. We found a zonal structuring of the ablation zone, negative margins and, enclosed within the ablation zone, very small tumour residues of unclear malignancy. CONCLUSION: According to these initial, preliminary study results of the first three renal cases, a new zonal distribution of IRE damage was described and the curative intended, renal saving focal ablation of localised RCC below <3 cm by percutaneous IRE by the NanoKnife system appears to be possible, but needs further, systematic evaluation for this treatment method and treatment protocol.

New aspects in shear-wave elastography of prostate cancer.

AIM: This study was designed to evaluate the performance of shear-wave elastography as a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer in a larger cohort of patients than previously reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients with suspected prostate carcinoma were investigated by ultrasound elastography followed by directed biopsy. The elastographic and histological results for all biopsies were compared. RESULTS: After exclusion of invalid and non-assessable results, 794 samples were obtained for which both a histological assessment and an elastometric result (tissue stiffness in kPa) were available: according to the histology 589 were benign and 205 were malignant. Tissue elasticity was found to be weakly correlated with patient's age, PSA level and gland volume. ROC analysis showed that, for the set of results acquired, elastometry did not fulfil literature claims that it could identify malignant neoplasia with high sensitivity and specificity. However, it did show promise in distinguishing between Gleason scores ≤6 and >6 when malignancy had already been identified. Unexpected observations were the finding of a smaller proportion of tumours in the lateral regions of the prostate than generally expected, and also the observation that the elasticity of benign prostate tissue is region-sensitive, the tissue being stiffest in the basal region and more elastic at the apex. CONCLUSIONS: Shear-wave elastography was found to be a poor predictor of malignancy, but for malignant lesions an elasticity cut-off of 80 kPa allowed a fairly reliable distinction between lesions with Gleason ≤6 and those with Gleason >6. We demonstrate an increase in elasticity of benign prostate tissue from the basal to the apical region.

Traumatically shattered kidney without urine extravasation or vascular amputation.

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) injury scoring scale is commonly used for genitourinary injuries. Normally, grade 4-5 lacerations of the kidney show involvement of the pelvicalyceal system (PCS) with urine extravasation (UE). We present a case of a 41-year-old woman who was hospitalised with macrohaematuria and retroperitoneal haematoma after severe blunt acceleration flank trauma. CT scan showed an extended laceration of the left kidney with separation of upper pole. This is the first case of an extended kidney laceration without UE due to rupture within the dichotomous PCS, which healed up after selective embolisation. If possible, severe renal bleeding should be treated with selective embolisation as an alternative to surgery. Any suspected involvement of the PCS should undergo retrograde ureteropyelography and urinary diversion.

Circular Abscess Formation of the Inner Preputial Leaf as a Complication of a Penile Mondor's Disease: The First Case Report.

Introduction. Mondor's disease of the penis is an uncommon condition characterized by thrombosis or thrombophlebitis involving the superficial dorsal veins. An accompanied lymphangitis is discussed. There is typical self-limiting clinical course. Case Presentation. This paper firstly reports a secondary abscess formation of the preputial leaf two weeks after penile Mondor's disease and subcutaneous lymphangitis as complication of excessive sexual intercourse of a 44-year-old man. Sexual transmitted diseases could be excluded. Lesions healed up completely under abscess drainage, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory medication. Conclusion. Previous reports in the literature include several entities of the penile Mondor's disease. Our patient is very unusual in that he presented with a secondary preputial abscess formation due to superficial thrombophlebitis, subcutaneous lymphangitis, and local bacterial colonisation. Abscess drainage plus antiphlogistic and antibiotic medication is the treatment of choice.

A Randomised Phase II Trial Comparing Docetaxel Plus Prednisone with Docetaxel Plus Prednisone Plus Low-Dose Cyclophosphamide in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel plus prednisone is a standard treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Cyclophosphamide may be an effective combination partner. METHODS: This randomised, multicentre, phase II trial compared the combination therapy of docetaxel plus prednisone plus cyclophosphamide with the standard therapy of docetaxel plus prednisone. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients received six 3-week treatment cycles (in total 171 cycles). During treatment, an adequate decline in prostate-specific antigen was seen in both groups (p = 0.068) without between-group differences (p = 0.683). No relevant differences between within-group changes were observed for blood pressure, weight, pain score, laboratory variables or quality of life. There were no serious side effects apart from leucopenia requiring treatment (docetaxel + prednisone + cyclophosphamide arm) and no drug-related withdrawals; all three fatalities were considered to be cancer related. CONCLUSIONS: The oncological effectiveness and tolerability of docetaxel plus prednisone were supported; an additional effect of cyclophosphamide was not detected. However, the small number of patients and short observation period restrict the generalisability of the results.

Urinary tract effects after multifocal nonthermal irreversible electroporation of the kidney: acute and chronic monitoring by magnetic resonance imaging, intravenous urography and urinary cytology.

PURPOSE: The nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) is a novel potential ablation modality for renal masses. The aim of this study was the first evaluation of NTIRE's effects on the renal urine-collecting system using intravenous urography (IVU) and urinary cytology in addition to histology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Eight percutaneous NTIRE ablations of the renal parenchyma, including the calyxes or pelvis, were performed in three male swine. MRI, IVU, histology, and urinary cytology follow-ups were performed within the first 28 days after treatment. RESULTS: MRI and histological analysis demonstrated a localized necrosis 7 days and a localized scarification of the renal parenchyma with complete destruction 28 days after NTIRE. The urine-collecting system was preserved and showed urothelial regeneration. IVU and MRI showed an unaltered normal morphology of the renal calyxes, pelvis, and ureter. A new urinary cytology phenomenon featured a temporary degeneration by individual vacuolization of detached transitional epithelium cells within the first 3 days after NTIRE. CONCLUSIONS: This first urographical, urine-cytological, and MRI evaluation after porcine kidney NTIRE shows multifocal parenchyma destruction while protecting the involved urine-collecting system with regenerated urothelial tissue. NTIRE could be used as a targeted ablation method of centrally located renal masses.

Angiography in the isolated perfused kidney: radiological evaluation of vascular protection in tissue ablation by nonthermal irreversible electroporation.

PURPOSE: The nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) is a novel nonthermal tissue ablation technique by local application of high-voltage current within microseconds leading to a delayed apoptosis. The purpose of this experimental study was the first angiographic evaluation of the acute damage of renal vascular structure in NTIRE. METHODS: Results of conventional dynamic digital substraction angiography (DSA) and visualization of the terminal vascular bed of renal parenchyma by high-resolution X-ray in mammography technique were evaluated before, during, and after NTIRE of three isolated perfused porcine ex vivo kidneys. RESULTS: In the dedicated investigation, no acute vascular destruction of the renal parenchyma and no dysfunction of the kidney perfusion model were observed during or after NTIRE. Conspicuous were concentric wave-like fluctuations of the DSA contrast agent simultaneous to the NTIRE pulses resulting from NTIRE pulse shock wave. CONCLUSION: The NTIRE offers an ablation method with no acute collateral vascular damage in angiographic evaluation.

Value of preoperative superselective embolization of the isthmus in a patient with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma and horseshoe kidney.

Standard treatment for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUTUC) implies the radical removal of all urothelium-lined tissue, which requires nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff removal. We report on a patient with a rare coincidence of UUTUC and horseshoe kidney in whom a preoperative angiography helped to identify and subsequently embolize an abberant isthmic feeding artery, which was located in between both collecting systems. Ischemic discoloration of the isthmus area facilitated resection and no major blood loss occurred. Preoperative superselective embolization of the isthmus as the renal split area can be an effective tool to facilitate nephroureterectomy in the case of a horseshoe kidney.

Irreversible electroporation of renal cell carcinoma: a first-in-man phase I clinical study.

PURPOSE: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a newly developed nonthermal tissue-ablation technique in which high-voltage electrical pulses of microsecond duration are applied to induce irreversible permeabilisation of the cell membrane, presumably through nanoscale defects in the lipid bilayer, leading to apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of ablating renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissue by IRE. METHODS: Six patients scheduled for curative resection of RCC were included. IRE was performed during anaesthesia immediately before the resection with electrographic synchronisation. Central haemodynamics were recorded before and 5 min after electroporation. Five-channel electrocardiography (ECG) was used for detailed analysis of ST waveforms. Blood sampling and 12-lead ECG were performed before, during, and at scheduled intervals after the intervention. RESULTS: Analysis of ST waveforms and axis deviations showed no relevant changes during the entire study period. No changes in central haemodynamics were seen 5 min after IRE. Similarly, haematological, serum biochemical, and ECG variables showed no relevant differences during the investigation period. No changes in cardiac function after IRE therapy were found. One case of supraventricular extrasystole was encountered. Initial histopathologic examination showed no immediate adverse effects of IRE (observation of delayed effects will require a different study design). CONCLUSION: IRE seems to offer a feasible and safe technique by which to treat patients with kidney tumours and could offer some potential advantages over current thermal ablative techniques.

MR imaging guided percutaneous nephrostomy using a 1.0 Tesla open MR scanner.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of MR-guided percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) using a 1.0 Tesla open MR-scanner with fast dynamic imaging. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with failed ultrasonographic insertion due to various reasons, such as nondilated pelvic systems, obesity, and parapelvic cysts, were investigated. RESULTS: In summary, 35 nephrostomy procedures were performed; 15 patients received monolateral and 10 patients bilateral placement. For guidance and monitoring, fast T2w single-shot-TSE imaging in a fluoroscopic mode in two orthogonal planes was used to guide the insertion of the needle into a predetermined calyx in freehand technique. Nephrostomy was inserted via Seldinger-technique. The procedure was regarded as technically successful if the placement of the catheter provided adequate drainage of the collecting system. Demonstration of an intrapelvic position of the catheter was verified by antegrade pyelography using T1w GRE imaging after injection of diluted Gd-DTPA into the collecting system. Under the experimental conditions of the study, the time for the complete procedure was 30 (range, 23-39) min. Puncture and placement of the nephrostomy was performed in 5 (range, 3-10) min on average. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated a pinpoint puncture of the pelvic system in a reasonable timeframe even in patients with difficult conditions, suggesting that MR-guided PCN using the open 1 Tesla system can be assessed as a reliable, fast, and safe method applicable in the clinical routine setting.

Successful interdisciplinary treatment of renal cell carcinoma with tumour thrombus into inferior vena cava using multimodal protocol and organ-extending R0 resection in rare horseshoe kidney and doubled right organ.

This is the first case ever reported showing a combination of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with tumour thrombus into inferior vena cava (IVC), horseshoe kidney and doubled right kidney that was successfully treated. Even in advanced tumour lesions of the kidney, curative treatment is a feasible and safe option by using interdisciplinary cooperation and expertise. However, this requires an adequate diagnostic work-up to clarify resectability and optimal perioperative and postoperative care, and also advanced surgical skills exhausting all potential options for complete tumour resection in a centre of excellence. Achieving R0 resection with a reasonable risk-benefit ratio for the patient, which should be the primary aim, can distinctly improve survival chances as published cases in literature have indicated. RCC-derived IVC tumour thrombus as an extra-renal tumour manifestation by continuous intravascular tumour growth (also classified as secondary IVC tumour lesion) can be considered no serious contraindication to aim for curative surgery.