Utility of a 3 mm Bipolar Instrument in Laparoscopic Renal Surgery Using the Senhance Robotic System.

We report our initial experience and the utility of 3 mm bipolar forceps in laparoscopic renal surgery using the Senhance robotic system. We performed laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma in two patients: an 80-year-old female with a left renal pelvic tumor and an 80-year-old male with a right ureteral tumor. Both surgeries were successfully completed without conversion to conventional laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy. The console times for the procedures were 101 and 108 minutes, with estimated blood losses of 5 and 50 milliliters, respectively. The postoperative courses were uncomplicated, with histopathological examinations confirming high-grade urothelial carcinoma with negative surgical margins in both patients. The 3 mm Maryland bipolar instrument was able to grasp membranes with sufficient gentleness and precision. The relatively narrow diameter of the shaft posed a challenge in terms of shaft strength; however, it did not deflect even when it was used to lift the kidney, indicating sufficient robustness. When utilized in the cutting mode, the incision capacity of the 3 mm Maryland bipolar instrument was higher than that of the 5 mm instrument, which allowed for expedient and precise incision. Since only the tissue held by the forceps was incised, it was possible to perform a safe incision even in areas near blood vessels and other organs. Although the tip of the 3 mm Maryland instrument is more sharply pointed than that of the 5 mm instrument, no tissue damage was observed even when the 3 mm instrument was used for blunt dissection. Our initial results suggest that the 3 mm Maryland bipolar instrument is efficacious for performing laparoscopic renal surgery. The instrument may be suitable for a range of surgical procedures in laparoscopic renal surgery using the Senhance system. Further studies are necessary to establish the role and effectiveness of this instrument in broader clinical applications.

Aggressive variant prostate cancer with multiple subcutaneous metastases: a case report.

A 71-year-old man with bone metastasis of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer was treated with androgen deprivation therapy and apalutamide. Radium-223 and radiation therapy were administered after it become castration resistant. Although prostate-specific antigen levels remained low, multiple subcutaneous metastases of neuroendocrine prostate cancer were observed. A review of the pre-treatment prostate needle biopsy revealed a small component with features suggestive of neuroendocrine differentiation. Phosphatase and tensine homolog loss and tumor protein p53 overexpression were observed, confirming the diagnosis of aggressive variant prostate cancer. Platinum-based chemotherapy was administered; however, the patient died 28 months after diagnosis. In this case, if the diagnosis of aggressive variant prostate cancer had been made at an earlier time by biopsy specimens, there might have been a possibility to improve the prognosis by the earlier introduction of the platinum-based regimen. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13691-024-00673-7.

Robot-Assisted Partial Cystectomy Using the "Double Bipolar Method".

The "double bipolar method" (DBM) in robotic surgery has been widely used in Japanese general surgery and gynecology; however, it is not commonly used in the field of urology. A 55-year-old female was diagnosed with stage IA endometrial cancer. A 2-cm cystic lesion was incidentally observed at the dome of the bladder on magnetic resonance imaging. A simultaneous robot-assisted total hysterectomy and partial cystectomy using the da Vinci Xi system was planned. The gynecological procedure was first performed with the DBM, and the DBM was also used in the partial cystectomy without additional instruments to reduce surgical costs. Maryland bipolar forceps was used to excise the peritoneum, fat, and bladder wall without bleeding, enabling delicate and precise resection using the forceps' tips. Robot-assisted partial cystectomy using the DBM was feasible. When performing combined surgeries with other departments, if the DBM is already being utilized, it is worthwhile to attempt to decrease surgical cost.

Prognostic significance of inflammatory markers in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma receiving nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

BACKGROUND: A useful biomarker for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not yet been established. This study aims to investigate whether inflammatory markers are associated with the efficacy of nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy before and during treatment. METHODS: Data from patients with advanced clear cell RCC who received a combination treatment of nivolumab plus ipilimumab were retrospectively analyzed. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed at baseline and 3, 6, and 9 weeks after treatment initiation. The correlation between these inflammatory markers and the patient's prognosis was investigated. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were identified. The multivariate analysis identified NLR at week 3, CRP at week 6, and NLR and CRP at week 9 as the consistent predictor associated with poor overall survival (OS) at each time point. The survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that an NLR of ≥ 2.4 at week 3, CRP of ≥ 1.4 mg/dL at week 6, and NLR of ≥ 4.8 and CRP of ≥ 1.0 mg/dL at week 9 were associated with worse OS (hazard ratios (HR) = 5.70, P = 0.008, HR = 3.23, P = 0.004, HR = 7.38, P < 0.001 and HR = 3.55, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Both NLR and CRP were considered useful biomarkers for understanding the prognosis during nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy. Furthermore, an NLR of ≥ 4.8 and CRP of ≥ 1.0 mg/dL at week 9 are helpful in reconsidering treatment continuation.

Choroidal Metastasis From Papillary Renal Cell Carcinomas: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature.

Choroidal metastasis originating from renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) is rare. To the best of our knowledge, 31 cases of choroidal metastasis from RCC have been reported in the English literature as of January 31, 2024. Nevertheless, physicians need to be vigilant in recognizing this condition, as its progression impacts the quality of life (QOL) of affected patients. In Case 1, a 60-year-old male with a medical history of papillary RCC experienced a deterioration in visual acuity (VA) and was diagnosed with solitary choroidal metastasis. Subsequently, multiple metastases were identified, prompting the initiation of a combination therapy regimen consisting of pembrolizumab plus axitinib. Despite treatment, progression of choroidal metastasis and a further decline in VA were observed. The patient underwent stereotactic radiotherapy and experienced complete resolution of the choroidal metastasis, accompanied by a slight improvement in VA. In Case 2, a 76-year-old man presented with a renal tumor accompanied by lung metastases. He underwent nephrectomy, and the histological diagnosis was papillary RCC. We initiated combination therapy consisting of nivolumab plus cabozantinib. The patient experienced a decrease in VA during treatment. We identified extensive fine metastases scattered throughout the bilateral choroid. We administered axitinib, but the patient experienced bilateral blindness. Given the absence of established therapy for choroidal metastasis, it is crucial to maintain flexibility in treatment selection. Local or systemic approaches should be used as deemed appropriate for each individual case.

New risk stratification for adjuvant nivolumab for high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate the risk of recurrence after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy, particularly in ypT2 disease in patients with urothelial carcinoma, because it is not clear if all eligible patients with high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma should be treated with adjuvant nivolumab. Materials and Methods: We analysed the radiological and clinicopathological features, including cT and ypT stages, of 197 patients who had undergone two to four cycles of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy. We stratified the risk of postoperative recurrence by these factors. Results: The median observation period was 29.6 (interquartile range, 11.4-71.7) months, and disease recurrence was observed in 58 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that ypT stage (P = 0.019) and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.015) were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence. The ypT2 group (n = 38) had significantly better recurrence-free survival than the ypT3 group (n = 41) (median recurrence-free survival: not reached vs. 13.4 months, respectively, P = 0.005). In ypT2 disease, the cT2 and ypT2 group (n = 15), which was diagnosed as cT2 preoperatively and then diagnosed as ypT2 postoperatively, had significantly better recurrence-free survival than the cT3/4 and ypT2 group (n = 23) (median recurrence-free survival: not reached vs. 63.1 months, respectively, P = 0.034). There was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival between the ypT ≤ 1 (n = 106) and the cT2 and ypT2 groups (median recurrence-free survival: not reached in both, P = 0.962). Conclusion: Patients with cT2 and ypT2 stage have a relatively low risk of recurrence and thus have a lower need for adjuvant nivolumab, particularly those with ypT2.

Association between immune-related adverse events and survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab: immortal time bias-corrected analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients treated with immune check inhibitors are associated with favourable response rate and survivals in multiple cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of this study was to investigate how irAEs were associated with improved survivals in advanced RCC patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who received nivolumab plus ipilimumab at six centres, institutions, or hospitals between September 2018 and February 2022. We assessed associations of the development and the number of irAEs with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). To eliminate immortal time bias, landmark analysis and a Cox model with time-dependent variables were used. RESULTS: This study included 129 patients with a median follow-up of 12.3 months. The 2-year OS and PFS rates were 55% and 42%, respectively. Ninety six patients experienced irAEs. The development of irAEs was positively associated with OS and PFS rates (hazard ratio [HR] 0.328, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.165-0.648, p = 0.001; HR 0.334, 95% CI 0.151-0.737, p = 0.007). Patients who experienced multiple irAEs had longer OS (HR 0.507, 95% CI 0.235-1.097, p = 0.085 or HR 0.245, 95% CI 0.110-0.544, p < 0.001) and PFS (HR 0.572, 95% CI 0.316-1.036, p = 0.085 or HR 0.267, 95% CI 0.113-0.628, p = 0.002) compared with those who experienced single or zero irAE. CONCLUSIONS: Developing irAEs, particularly multiple irAEs, is associated with favourable survivals in advanced RCC patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

Real-world effectiveness of nivolumab and subsequent therapy in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (POST-NIVO study): 36-month follow-up results of a clinical chart review.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term effectiveness of nivolumab monotherapy and following subsequent therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in Japanese real-world settings. METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study, with a 36-month follow-up, and conducted in Japanese patients with mRCC who initiated nivolumab monotherapy between 1 Feb 2017 and 31 Oct 2017. Endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Of the 208 patients, 36.5% received nivolumab monotherapy as second-line, 30.8% as third-line, and 31.7% as fourth- or later-line therapy. By 36 months, 12.0% of patients continued nivolumab monotherapy; 88.0% discontinued, mainly because of disease progression (66.7%). The median (m) OS was not reached irrespective of treatment line, with a 36-month OS rate of 54.3% (second-line, 57.4%; third-line, 52.6%; fourth- or later-line, 52.9%). The ORR was 24.2% and five patients achieved complete response. The OS from first-line therapy was 8.9 years. In the 95 patients receiving therapy after nivolumab, 87.4% received vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with mOS and mPFS of 27.4 and 8.1 months, respectively. Irrespective of treatment line, the mOS was not reached in patients with International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) favorable or intermediate risk at mRCC diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This 36-month real-world follow-up analysis showed a survival benefit of nivolumab monotherapy for patients with mRCC. The long-term effectiveness of sequential therapy from first-line therapy to therapy after nivolumab was also demonstrated. Additionally, nivolumab monotherapy was beneficial for patients with favorable IMDC risk at the time of mRCC diagnosis.

Clinical outcomes of nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Real-world data from a Japanese multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Although nivolumab plus ipilimumab has become a standard treatment regimen for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), its efficacy in non-clear cell carcinoma (nccRCC) has not been fully examined. In the current study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of nivolumab plus ipilimumab in nccRCC compared with ccRCC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 22 patients with metastatic and/or locally advanced unresectable nccRCC who received nivolumab plus ipilimumab as a first-line therapy and compared them with 107 patients with ccRCC. Objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity were compared between the nccRCC and ccRCC groups. RESULTS: The histology of nccRCC included eight papillary, six unclassified, three chromophobe, two collecting duct carcinoma, and three other subtypes. Best objective response in nccRCC patients included three complete responses and five partial responses, resulting in an ORR of 36%, while that in ccRCC patients was 50% (p = 0.22). With a median follow-up of 11.9 months, OS was significantly shorter in patients with nccRCC than in those with ccRCC (median 20.8 months vs. not reached, p = 0.04), while there was no significant difference in PFS (median 6.3 vs. 10.8 months, p = 0.21). Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 14 (64%) nccRCC patients and 81 (76%) ccRCC patients. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab demonstrated modest clinical efficacy in patients with nccRCC compared with patients with ccRCC, suggesting it could be a therapeutic option for metastatic nccRCC patients.

Progressive metastatic pheochromocytoma induced by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A with a lethal outcome.

Introduction: Patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) harboring a pathological variant in the RET gene are characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma, and hyperparathyroidism. Although pheochromocytoma is currently defined as a malignant tumor, MEN2A-associated pheochromocytoma is known to have a small risk of metastasis. Case presentation: The case was a 62-year-old Japanese male with bilateral pheochromocytoma, multiple metastases in the liver and bones, and a cardiac thrombus. Genetic testing revealed a pathological variant at codon 634 of the RET gene, thereby leading a diagnosis of MTC. We considered that the multiple metastases were due to MTC; however, a liver biopsy revealed metastasis of pheochromocytoma. Conclusion: When pheochromocytoma precedes MTC, the diagnosis of MEN2A may be difficult.

Efficacy of abiraterone acetate for high-risk hormone-naïve metastatic prostate cancer: A comparison with combined androgen blockade therapy with bicalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy alone.

BACKGROUND: The treatment landscape for men with metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC) has dramatically changed with the approval of next-generation anti-androgen drugs. We compared the treatment efficacy of abiraterone with that of combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone in men with high-risk mHNPC. METHODS: In total, 146 Japanese men with high-risk mHNPC were retrospectively analyzed. As initial hormonal therapy, 30, 83, and 33 men were treated with ADT plus abiraterone (ABI group), ADT plus bicalutamide (CAB group), and ADT alone (ADT group), respectively. Treatment efficacy was compared using time to castration resistance (TTCR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response among the groups. Propensity score matching analysis was also performed to adjust for baseline differences. RESULTS: The median (95% confidence interval [CI]) TTCR in the ABI, CAB, and ADT groups were not reached, 10.7 (7.6-13.8) months and 11.0 (7.9-12.4) months, respectively, and it was significantly longer in the ABI group than in the other groups (p = 0.0012, p = 0.0008). In propensity score matching analysis, the median TTCR was also significantly longer in the ABI group than in the other groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22-0.98; p = 0.010; HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12-0.85; p = 0.004). The number of men who achieved PSA levels ≤0.2 ng/mL after propensity score matching were significantly higher in the ABI group than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide important evidence regarding the superiority of abiraterone over CAB therapy and ADT alone for initial treatment for men with newly diagnosed mHNPC.

Case Study: A Japanese patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who achieved long-term treatment-free survival with pembrolizumab and axitinib in the KEYNOTE-426 phase III trial of pembrolizumab and axitinib versus sunitinib.

Introduction: Our patient treated with pembrolizumab and axitinib is one of the longest survivors in Japan on KEYNOTE 426, despite adverse events, including delayed-onset hepatitis. We herein present a detailed clinical course and short discussion on the case. Case presentation: This was a 49-year-old male with clear cell renal cell carcinoma and lung metastases. After cytoreductive nephrectomy, treatment with pembrolizumab plus axitinib was initiated and the patient demonstrated a radiographic partial response as best response. The main adverse event was pembrolizumab-induced delayed-onset hepatitis, which was successfully treated with prednisolone. Pembrolizumab was re-initiated and completed. Conclusion: The survival benefit in the present case may be due to the initial potent anti-cancer effects of axitinib and durable immune effects of pembrolizumab, leading to long-term treatment-free survival.

Impact of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Following Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Therapy for Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: CheckMate 214 study revealed that nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy showed a strong and durable effect compared to sunitinib for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). Most of the patients underwent previous nephrectomy before systemic treatment. We retrospectively investigated the clinical outcomes of Japanese patients treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy following nivolumab plus ipilimumab for aRCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine patients were treated with systemic therapy for aRCC between October 2018 and August 2021 at the Saitama Medical University International Medical Center. Ten of 61 patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy after the combined immunotherapy. RESULTS: The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 24.3 and 15.9 months, respectively. The objective response rate was 50.8%; 9.8% of patients had a complete response, and the median time to objective response was 3.2 (range=1.3-19.7) months. The estimated percentage of patients who sustained an objective response at 30 months was 73.0%. Twenty-three patients (74%) in the complete or partial response (CR/PR) group, 11 patients (52%) in the stable disease (SD) group, and two patients (22%) in the progressive disease (PD) group had immune-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher, respectively. For all 10 patients, cytoreductive nephrectomy following nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment were completed safely. Three patients achieved a pathological complete response without viable cancer cells. Only two patients had residual lesions on images after deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy; the remaining patients achieved radiological CR. CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive nephrectomy after nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment could be useful in a limited number of cases, possibly resulting in curative nephrectomy due to the durable therapeutic effect of immunotherapy.

Potential therapeutic effects of adjuvant chemotherapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although the administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been associated with improved prognosis in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, the therapeutic effects of adjuvant chemotherapy remain unknown in real-world settings. Therefore, we herein evaluated the clinical outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy in pT3/4 muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 587 bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy, 200 with a pathological T3 or higher muscle-invasive bladder cancer were included in the present analysis. Recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival were assessed by multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Median age was 73 years, and the median follow-up duration was 17 months. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 53.6% in 66 patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, which was significantly higher than that in those without adjuvant chemotherapy (34.0%, P = 0.025). The absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio = 2.114, P = 0.004) and lymphovascular invasion (hazard ratio = 2.203, P = 0.011) was identified as independent prognostic indicators for cancer-specific death. In patients treated without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 143), the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio:1.887, P = 0.030) remained an independent indicator for cancer-specific death. For those treated with adjuvant chemotherapy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, three or more adjuvant chemotherapy cycles were independently associated with favourable outcome (hazard ratio = 0.240, P = 0.009). In contrast, for neoadjuvant chemotherapy-treated patients (N = 57), adjuvant chemotherapy was not independently associated with disease recurrence or cancer-specific death. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improvements in the prognosis of patients, even in those with pT3 or higher muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Although three or more cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were effective for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients treated without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, no therapeutic advantages were observed with additional adjuvant chemotherapy in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Initial experience of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy using the Senhance® robotic system for renal cell carcinoma.

The Senhance® robotic system (TransEnterix, Morrisville, NC, USA), previously called the TELELAP Alf-X system, is a novel robotic system with a telesurgical concept. We herein describe our initial experience of Senhance® assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with detailed figures and videos. Case 1: A left renal tumor was incidentally detected in a 52-year-old female on ultrasonography. Case 2: A right renal tumor was detected in a 67-year-old male with epigastric pain on computed tomography. They were referred for further examination and diagnosed with RCC (clinical T1bN0M0 and clinical T2aN0M0, respectively). Senhance® assisted LRN was completed without conversion to conventional LRN or open surgery in both cases. The pneumoperitoneum time, console time and estimated blood loss in case 1 and case 2 were 173 min, 143 min and 3 mL, and 154 min, 122 min and 50 mL, respectively. The postoperative course was uneventful. Senhance® assisted LRN for RCC was safely and precisely performed. Furthermore, the operator was comfortable during the surgery. Although further surgical experience and long-term follow-up are required to assess surgical and oncological outcomes, Senhance® assisted LRN for RCC may be a promising procedure. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13691-021-00487-x.

On-treatment C-reactive protein control could predict response to subsequent anti-PD-1 treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the on-treatment C-reactive protein (CRP) status during systemic treatment as the predictive marker for the response of subsequent nivolumab monotherapy in patients with refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 73 mRCC patients treated with nivolumab were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the serum CRP levels before and after molecular-targeted treatments. Patients whose CRP did not exceed baseline value were defined as the CRP-control group and the others were defined as the CRP-progression group. The clinical impact of CRP-control on the efficacy of nivolumab was assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (33%) were categorized into the CRP-control group. The CRP-control group patients (median PFS not reached) had significantly longer PFS than the CRP-progression group (median PFS 11.9 months, 95% confidence interval, CI 4.1-19.8, p = 0.038). The CRP-control group had a tendency of longer OS from nivolumab initiation than the CRP-progression group (p = 0.071). By multivariate analysis, the on-treatment CRP-control was the independent predictive factor for PFS (hazard ratio HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.14-0.99, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: The on-treatment CRP-control could be the predictive factor for the efficacy of nivolumab in refractory mRCC patients.

Laparoendoscopic single-site simple nephrectomy and reduced port procedure for inflammatory nonfunctioning kidney.

INTRODUCTION: To describe laparoendoscopic single-site simple nephrectomy and reduced port simple nephrectomy for inflammatory nonfunctioning kidney. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1: a 58-year-old female with fever was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography demonstrated a markedly atrophic right kidney and mild hydronephrosis. Case 2: a 64-year-old male with a history of several intra-abdominal surgeries visited our hospital with a complaint of left back pain and fever. Computed tomography demonstrated left marked hydronephrosis, thinning of renal parenchyma, and duplicated inferior vena cava. After antibiotic treatment, transperitoneal reduced port simple nephrectomy and retroperitoneal laparoendoscopic single-site simple nephrectomy were performed in Case 1 and 2, respectively, because the function of the affected kidney was almost lost on renography. Although adhesion was slightly noted around the renal hilum in Case 1, neither conversion to laparotomy nor placement of additional ports was needed. CONCLUSION: Laparoendoscopic single-site simple nephrectomy and reduced port simple nephrectomy for inflammatory nonfunctioning kidney may be options for experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

Test-retest repeatability of quantitative bone SPECT/CT.

OBJECTIVE: Technological innovations in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have enabled a more accurate quantitative evaluation of the uptake, and the standardized uptake value (SUV) can be measured as a semi-quantitative value, as in positron emission tomography. Nevertheless, the reliability of the SUV of bone SPECT has not been well established. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the test-retest repeatability of the SUV of bone SPECT/CT in clinical settings. METHODS: This prospective study recruited patients with prostate cancer planning to receive bone SPECT/CT for the evaluation of bone abnormality between August 2017 and September 2019. Bone images were acquired twice by an integrated SPECT/CT scanner (Symbia Intevo, Siemens) within a 4- to 10-day interval. The maximum SUV (SUVmax) and peak SUV (SUVpeak) were calculated for the volumes of interests on the normal bone areas, degeneration/fracture lesions, and metastatic lesions. To determine repeatability, we calculated statistical indicators, including intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), repeatability coefficient (RC), and mean absolute percentage difference (MAPD). For the ICC, the 95% confidential interval (CI) was also calculated, and an ICC of ≥ 0.8 was defined as an almost perfect correlation. RESULTS: Twelve male patients were enrolled in the study (58-86 years; median, 71 years), and a total of 229 volumes of the interest were included in the analyses. The ICCs were 0.968 [95% CI (0.959, 0.975)] for SUVmax and 0.976 [95% CI (0.969, 0.981)] for SUVpeak. The RCs of the relative difference were 30.7% for SUVmax and 27.6% for SUVpeak, and the MAPDs (± standardized deviation) of all lesions were 12.3 ± 9.9% for SUVmax and 11.5 ± 8.3% for SUVpeak. The RCs and the MAPDs showed comparable value with the previous report regarding repeatability studies on PET. CONCLUSION: An almost perfect correlation was demonstrated by repeated SUVmax and SUVpeak measured by quantitative integrated SPECT/CT. The quantitative values could be reliable indicators in patient management.

Significance of prophylactic urethrectomy at the time of radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic urethrectomy at the time of radical cystectomy is frequently recommended for patients with bladder cancer at a high risk of urethral recurrence without definitive evidence. The present study attempted to clarify the survival benefits of performing prophylactic urethrectomy. METHODS: We identified 214 male patients who were treated by radical cystectomy with an incontinent urinary diversion in our seven institutions between 2004 and 2017. We used propensity score matching and ultimately identified 114 patients, 57 of whom underwent prophylactic urethrectomy (prophylactic urethrectomy group) and 57 who did not (non-prophylactic urethrectomy group). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the 5-year overall survival rate between the prophylactic urethrectomy and non-prophylactic urethrectomy groups in the overall. However, the local recurrence rate was significantly lower in the prophylactic urethrectomy group than in the non-prophylactic urethrectomy group (P = 0.015). In the subgroup of 58 patients with multiple tumours and/or concomitant carcinoma in situ at the time of transurethral resection of bladder tumour, the 5-year overall survival rate was significantly higher in the prophylactic urethrectomy group than in the non-prophylactic urethrectomy group (P = 0.021). A multivariate analysis revealed that performing prophylactic urethrectomy was the only independent predictor of the overall survival rate (P = 0.016). In those patients who were treated without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 38), the 5-year overall survival rate was significantly higher in the prophylactic urethrectomy group than in the non-prophylactic urethrectomy group (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic urethrectomy at the time of radical cystectomy may have a survival benefit in patients with multiple tumours and/or concomitant carcinoma in situ, particularly those who do not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Reduced port laparoscopic radical nephrectomy using an umbilical zigzag skin incision for renal cell carcinoma.

Reduced port laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (RPLRN) is an equivalent approach to conventional laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN). In LRN, one wound generally needs to be extended for specimen extraction; therefore, some ingenuity is needed to achieve a good cosmetic outcome. We herein describe our initial experience of RPLRN using an umbilical zigzag skin incision for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A 64-year-old female [body mass index (BMI): 20.0 kg/m2] was diagnosed with right RCC, which was 35 mm in diameter (clinical T1aN0M0). Case 2: a 68-year-old male (BMI: 23.2 kg/m2) was diagnosed with right RCC, which was 58 mm in diameter (clinical T1bN0M1), and perinephric fat was relatively thick. The procedure was safely completed in both cases. Total operative times, pneumoperitoneal times, and estimated blood loss in Case 1 and 2 were 90 and 145 min, 49 and 90 min, and 5 and 80 ml, respectively, and the times required to construct umbilical ports and close umbilical wounds were 8 and 9 min and 33 and 46 min, respectively. In Case 1, the specimen was easily extracted without the extension of the umbilical skin incision, whereas it was extended by an additional 2 cm in Case 2. The umbilical wound was inconspicuous in both cases. RPLRN using an umbilical zigzag skin incision for RCC was safely performed without complications, and clashing between instruments was minimized. The high level of cosmesis is advantageous and an umbilical zigzag skin incision may contribute to more widespread use of RPLRN for RCC; however, further studies on long-term oncological outcomes are needed.