Independent risk factors for contralateral patent processus vaginalis undetected by pre-operative ultrasonography in boys with unilateral inguinal hernia.

PURPOSE: Many trials have been done to make sure probability of metachronous contralateral side hernia (MCH) and contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV). But the necessity of contralateral side exploration is still on debate. The aim is to investigate the risk factors for the consideration of contralateral examination on operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as retrospectively. Patients with unilateral inguinal hernia from January 2010 to May 2015 were enrolled. Pre-operative ultrasonography was done in all patients. Patients with obvious contralateral side hernia on pre-operative US were excluded. The presence of CPPV was evaluated by transinguinal laparoscopy during the operation. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, hernial sac size only shows difference (P value: 0.001). The others, location of the hernia, age at surgery, gestational age (preterm), low birth weight and parent's age, did not show statistically significant differences. Multivariate analysis also demonstrates CPPV is more common in patients with large hernial sac (Odds ratio: 2.727, 95% confidence interval 1.495-4.974, P value: 0.001). CONCLUSION: We propose that surgeons should consider contralateral evaluation during operation in case with large ipsilateral hernial sac, although CPPV was not detected by pre-operative US.

Can Prostate-Specific Antigen Kinetics before Prostate Biopsy Predict the Malignant Potential of Prostate Cancer?

PURPOSE: To predict the malignant potential of prostate cancer (PCa) according to prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV), PSA density (PSAD), free/total PSA ratio (%fPSA), and digital rectal examination (DRE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 548 adult male patients were diagnosed with PCa by prostate biopsy at four hospitals in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed 155 adult male patients with an initial PSA level≤10 ng/mL and whose PSA levels had been checked more than two times at least 6 months before they had been diagnosed with PCa, with test intervals of more than 3 months. Patients with a urinary tract infection, and patients who had previously undergone cystoscopy or surgery of the prostate were excluded. We separated patients into two groups according to Gleason sum [Gleason sum≤7 (n=134) or Gleason sum≥8 (n=21)] and the presence of extracapsular invasion [organ confined (n=129) or extracapsular invasion (n=26)]. Differences between the groups were compared. RESULTS: The group with a Gleason sum≥8 or extracapsular invasion of PCa showed high PSAV and significantly lower %fPSA. There were no significant differences in PSAD and the presence of an abnormality on DRE between two groups. CONCLUSION: In PCa patients treated with other therapies besides prostatectomy, a high PSA velocity and a low %fPSA may predict high grade PCa with a Gleason sum≥8 or the presence of extracapsular invasion.

Which Patients Should We Follow up beyond 5 Years after Definitive Therapy for Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma?

PURPOSE: Up to 10% of recurrences develop beyond 5 years after curative treatment of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clinicopathologic features were evaluated to determine which factors are associated with late recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 753 patients were diagnosed with localized RCC from January 2000 to June 2008. We enrolled 225 patients who were treated surgically and had a minimal recurrence-free survival of 60 months. Patients who had recurrence beyond 5 years after nephrectomy were defined as the late recurrence group and the remaining patients as the recurrence-free group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and the Cox proportional hazard model were used for determination of features associated with late recurrence. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, age older than 60 (p=0.030), Fuhrman grade ≥ 3 (p=0.042), and pT stage ≥ pT2 (p=0.010) showed statistical association with late recurrence. The Cox proportional hazard model showed significant differences in recurrence-free survival when we classified the patients based on pT2 (p=0.007) and on patient age ≥ 60 years (p=0.039). CONCLUSION: Patient age greater than 60 years, Fuhrman grade ≥ 3, and tumor stage ≥ pT2 are independent risk factors of recurrence more than 5 years after surgery in patients with RCC. Therefore, close lifelong follow-up is recommended for patients with these risk factors.

Practice patterns of urologists in managing Korean men aged 40 years or younger with high serum prostate-specific antigen levels.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the practice patterns of urologists in managing Korean men aged 40 years or younger with high serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from general health screenings conducted at 4 university hospitals between 2004 and 2012. Eligibility criteria were Korean men aged≤40 years who were seen by urologists for high PSA (>2.5 ng/mL). After excluding individuals with chronic prostatitis and any infectious symptoms and/or signs, the practice patterns of urologists managing 237 eligible men were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common practice was observation after antibiotics (40.5%), followed by reassurance (38.4%), prostate biopsy (PBx) after antibiotics (11.8%), PBx after PSA follow-up (7.6%), and immediate PBx (1.7%). Antibiotics were prescribed empirically to 124 patients (52.3%). Of the entire patients, 145 of 237 (61.2%) had at least 1 follow-up PSA, and the follow-up PSA with median interval of 43 days (interquartile range, 26-149) was higher than initial PSA in 66 of 145 (45.5%). Of the 98 patients undergoing follow-up PSA after initial antibiotic treatment, 53 (54.1%) experienced a decline in PSA, whereas 45 (45.9%) experienced a rise in PSA. PBx was performed in 50 of 237 (21.1%), and only a single case (2%) of prostate cancer was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: In managing men≤40 years with high PSA, the most common practice pattern was observation after antibiotic treatment despite lack of evidences. Furthermore, 1 in 5 urologists performed PBx to rule out cancer. Given the very low prevalence of cancer in this age group, clear guidelines are needed for appropriate management and consistency of care.

A Comparative Study of Outside-In and Inside-Out Transobturator Tape Procedures for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: 7-Year Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term surgical outcomes of the "inside-out" (TVT-O) and "outside-in" (TOT) transobturator tape procedures for treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of women who underwent a transobturator tape procedure and were followed for at least 7 years. Patients' baseline characteristics and urodynamic parameters were compared between the two groups and analyzed to identify factors related to failure of therapy. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients were followed for > 7 years (TOT, n = 129; TVT-O, n = 86), with a median follow-up period of 7.1 years. No significant differences were observed in the baseline characteristics or urodynamic parameters between the groups, except incontinence type (TOT 33.3% vs. TVT-O 52.3% with mixed urinary incontinence, P < 0.05). The TOT group had significantly higher cure rate, satisfaction with surgery, willingness to undergo the procedure to others, and willingness to receive the same procedure than those of the TVT-O group (87.1 vs. 66.7%, 87.6 vs. 64.0%, 89.1 vs. 77.9%, and 77.5 vs. 57.0%, all P-values < 0.05), respectively. A Univariate analysis identified maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) (odds ratio, 0.980; 95% confidence interval, 0.960-1.000; P = 0.046) as a risk factor for surgical failure. CONCLUSIONS: TOT and TVT-O procedures are safe and effective for the treatment of SUI in women over a 7-year follow-up period. The TOT procedure had higher cure rate and satisfaction rates than TVT-O. MUCP may be associated with surgical outcome.

Comparison of oncological outcomes between retropubic radical prostatectomy and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: an analysis stratified by surgical experience.

OBJECTIVES: To compare oncological outcomes of a consecutive retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) series performed by a single surgeon who had performed >750 prior RRPs and was starting to perform RARPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively collected longitudinal data of 277 RRP and 730 RARP cases over a 5-year period were retrospectively analyzed. The RARP series were divided into 3 subgroups (1st, <250 cases; 2nd, 250-500; and 3rd, >500) according to the surgical period. The positive surgical margin (PSM) and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) rates were compared at each pathological stage. RESULTS: The pT2 PSM rates showed no significant difference between the RRP (7.8%) and RARP series (1st, 9.5%; 2nd, 14.1%; and 3rd, 9.8%) throughout the study period (P = 0.689, 0.079, and 0.688, respectively). Although the pT3 PSM rates of the 1st (50.6%) and 2nd RARP series (50.0%) were higher than that of the RRP series (36.0%; P = 0.044 and P = 0.069, respectively), the 3rd RARP series had a comparable pT3 PSM rate (32.4%, P = 0.641). The 3-year BCRFS rates of the RRP and RARP series were similar at each pathological stage (pT2, 92.1 vs. 96.8%, P = 0.517; pT3, 60.0 vs. 67.3%, P = 0.265, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The pT2 PSM and short-term BCRFS rates were similar between RRP and RARP, and RARP showed comparable pT3 PSM rate with RRP after >500 cases of surgical experience. Our data suggest that an experienced robotic surgeon at a high-volume center may achieve comparable oncological outcomes with open prostatectomy even in locally advanced disease.

Effect of patient-optimized doses of tamsulosin on erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship of improvement in erectile function (EF) with improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to assess the contribution of tamsulosin dose to the improvement of EF apart from the indirect influence of LUTS improvement in men with LUTS and erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients received tamsulosin 0.2 mg/d for the first 4 weeks and were subsequently divided into two groups by patient-reported outcomes. Nonescalators were maintained starting dose and escalators increased to 0.4 mg for the remaining 8 weeks. International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and underwent uroflowmetry were evaluated at baseline, and weeks 4 and 12. RESULTS: LUTS parameters were significantly improved in both groups but insignificant between the 2 groups. The degree of the improvement in the total IPSS and in the voiding, storage, and quality of life (QoL) subscores were significantly correlated with the degree of the improvement in EF; this was especially prominent in patients successfully treated LUTS. The escalators experienced a significantly greater increase in IIEF-5 scores than did the nonescalators (3.3 vs. 1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Dose escalation provided similar LUTS improvement in patients with refractory to starting dose. The improvements of LUTS were correlated with the improvement of EF. The increase in the IIEF-5 score was significantly higher in escalators. These findings imply that tamsulosin may contribute to the improvement in EF through the improvement of LUTS and QoL and direct relaxation of the corpus cavernosum in a dose-dependent fashion.