Extended radical lymphadenectomy in patients with urothelial bladder cancer: results of a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Previous studies demonstrate a positive correlation between postoperative survival and the extent of pelvic lymphadenectomies in patients with bladder cancer. However, the distribution of nodal metastases has not been examined in sufficient detail. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive prospective analysis of lymph node metastases to obtain precise knowledge about the pattern of lymphatic tumor spread. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1999 and 2002 we performed 290 radical cystectomies and extended lymphadenectomies. Cranial border of the lymphadenectomy was the level of the inferior mesenteric artery, lateral border was the genitofemoral nerve and caudal border was the pelvic floor. We made every effort to excise and examine microscopically all lymph nodes from 12 well-defined anatomical locations. RESULTS: Mean total number and standard deviation of lymph nodes removed was 43.1 +/- 16.1. Nodal metastases were present in 27.9% of patients. The percentage of metastases at different sites ranged from 14.1% (right obturator nodes) to 2.9% (right paracaval nodes above the aortic bifurcation). By studying cases of unilateral primary tumors or with only 1 metastasis we observed a preferred pattern of metastatic spread. However, there were many exceptions to the rule and we did not identify a well-defined sentinel lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: We strongly recommend extended radical lymphadenectomy to all patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer to remove all metastatic tumor deposits completely. The operation can be conducted in routine clinical practice and our data may serve as a guideline for future standardization and quality control of the procedure.

Paediatric lower urinary tract rhabdomyosarcoma: a single-centre experience of 30 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyse the long-term outcome of children with bladder and/or prostate rhabdomyosarcoma who were diagnosed at the authors' institution over the last 17 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 30 children (26 boys and four girls, mean age 5 years, range 15 days to 15 years); 23 had stage III and seven had stage II disease. The initial biopsy showed an embryonal variant in 27 and round-cell sarcoma in three patients. All patients received eight weekly doses of vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide (VAC). Subsequent treatment depended upon the response to chemotherapy. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had a complete or partial response to chemotherapy (> 50% reduction in tumour size); they were maintained on VAC chemotherapy for 2 years. Twelve patients in this group survived with no evidence of disease for 7 months to 10 years. Additional therapies were used in three patients, i.e. radical cystectomy in one and external irradiation in two. Sixteen patients had a minimal response to chemotherapy; in six, radical cystectomy was feasible and was followed by one year of chemotherapy. All patients were free of disease for 4-11 years. Radiotherapy was given to the remaining 10 patients; thereafter radical cystectomy became feasible in five while partial cystectomy was possible in three. Only three of these 10 patients survived for 4-11 years. CONCLUSION: The tumour response to initial chemotherapy can be used to stratify patients into two risk-groups, i.e. low-risk patients with a complete or partial response in whom the bladder could be salvaged, and high-risk patients with a minimal response, in whom intensive treatment should be pursued, with no attempt at bladder salvage.

A predictive model of survival after radical cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of patient and tumour characteristics on the disease-free survival after radical cystectomy for infiltrating bladder cancer, and to use these to help in constructing a meaningful prognostic index. METHODS: The disease-free survival was initially evaluated in 1026 patients (the reference series, 1969-1990). A multivariate analysis showed that the tumour P stage, grade and nodal involvement were the only factors which had an independent and significant association with survival. The computed regression coefficients were then used to classify patients into one of four risk categories and the results then validated by applying the model to a prospective test series (1991-1995). RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival of both groups was similar. When the results for the risk categories of the reference series were compared with those of the test series, there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive prognostic model for the results of radical cystectomy was validated and verified in a prospective group of patients. Adjuvant therapies are indicated for patients with a high risk score.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder: a report of 185 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome after the treatment of primary non-urachal vesical adenocarcinoma and to determine the significant prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 185 patients with vesical adenocarcinoma were reviewed. The pathological evaluation included the determination of pathological stage, tumour grade, presence or absence of mucin and its location, evidence of bilharzial infestation and flow-cytometric DNA analysis. The mean follow-up of the treated patients was 3.1 years. Disease-free survival was estimated and the results correlated with patient and tumour characteristics (univariate analysis). Cox's proportional hazards analysis was used to determine prognostic factors. RESULTS: The overall 5-year disease-free survival was 55%; only three factors had a significant impact on survival, the tumour pathological stage and grade, and lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Radical cystectomy remains the only satisfactory treatment option for primary vesical adenocarcinoma. Tumour stage, grade and lymph node involvement are the only significant prognostic factors.

Radical cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder: critical evaluation of the results in 1,026 cases.

PURPOSE: We performed a critical analysis of the different prognostic factors affecting survival among patients with carcinoma of the bladder for whom cystectomy was indicated. The different patient and tumor characteristics were correlated to survival data by a univariate as well as multivariate analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1969 and 1990, 764 men and 262 women, average age plus or minus standard deviation 43 +/- 8 years, with invasive carcinoma of the bladder were eligible for 1-stage radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. Patients were followed regularly and examined signs for and location of treatment failure. Followup ranged from 0 to 24.2 years, with a median plus or minus standard deviation of 4.05 +/- 4.16 years. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 4%. Most of the patients presented with advanced stage (greater than P3) disease. Squamous tumors accounted for 59% of cases, transitional carcinoma 22% and adenocarcinoma 11%. Bilharzial eggs were seen in 85% of the specimens. Regional lymph nodes were involved in 18.3% of the cases. The 5-year survival rate was 48%. The survival estimate was correlated to patient and tumor characteristics by univariate and multivariate analyses. Only tumor stage and grade, and lymph node status had a significant impact on survival. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary cystectomy with continent diversion for muscle invasive disease provides minimal morbidity, offers good locoregional disease control and results in acceptable quality of life. The presence of positive regional lymph nodes is not a contraindication to this therapy.

Eversion meatoplasty in management of urethral meatal stenosis.

Urethral meatal stenosis is common, producing about 5 per cent of all new patients in paediatric urologist office [1]. It may be congenital or acquired. The acquired type can follow repeated urinary tract infection or urethral instrumentation. Herein we present an eversion meatoplasty which is a simple technique that can be done even under local infiltration anaesthesia especially in children older than 10 years. This technique was applied in 100 cases. The results were excellent, apart from urinary spraying in the first few days that was noticed in 13 cases and disappeared spontaneously. Restenosis was not encountered in any of our cases.

Emergency treatment of renal colic with intravenous ketoprofen.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Ketoprofen (Profenid) is used as intravenous monotherapy incorporated in 0.9% normal saline solution (100 mg Ketoprofen ampoule + 200 ml normal saline) in the treatment of renal colic. We present our experience in 65 patients complaining of clinically diagnosed renal colic who were treated by intravenous saline-Ketoprofen. Prospective investigations revaled urinary calculi in 51 patients, oxaluria (crystalluria) in 5, acute colitis in 2, severe myositis in 2, negative investigations in 3 and radiculitis in 2 patients. Positive response was observed in 93.8% of patients as far as pain relief is concerned. Pain relief started within 5-7 minutes after beginning the infusion. Duration of analgesic effect ranged between 4 and 12 hours. Repeating the injection was done for maintenance of analgesia. Side effects included drowsiness in 2 patients, palpitation in 1 patient, epigastric pain in 1, muscular cramp in 1 patient. Ketoprofen, an antiprostaglandin, is a powerful anti-inflammatory and potent analgesic. Intravenous saline-Ketoprofen is a good emergency treatment for acute episodes of renal colic.

Noninvasive vacuum constriction device in the management of erectile dysfunction.

The effectiveness of a device designed to overcome erectile impotence was assessed in 21 patients: 5 patients with vasculogenic impotence due to venous leakage, 6 with diabetes mellitus with or without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, 2 paraplegic patients after spinal cord injury, 3 severely obese patients and 5 patients with psychogenic impotence. They were instructed how to use the device, which uses suction to induce penile engorgement and maintains erection with a constriction band. A total of 17 patients (81%) achieved an erection or an erection-like state that was satisfactory for intercourse. No serious ill effect from the use of the device has been reported. In selected patients the device is an alternative to either surgical placement of penile prosthesis, intracavernous injection of vasoactive drugs or sexual abstinence.

Transurethral incision of the bladder neck: an objective and subjective evaluation of its efficacy.

This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of treatment of bladder neck obstruction using objective (urodynamic) and subjective (assessment of satisfaction) parameters and to investigate sexual function. The results of transurethral 4 and 8 o'clock incisions of the bladder neck in 62 men (mean age 48.5 years) were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 6-12 months. Preoperative urodynamic evaluation was compared to recent postoperative urodynamic evaluation. There is marked symptomatic improvement after transurethral incision of the bladder outlet. The mean peak urine flow rate increased from 7.2 ml/s to 16.8 ml/s. Fifty-three men (85.4%) reported long-term improvement after transurethral incision of the bladder neck with an overall satisfaction rate of 71% (range 0 to 100). Five men (8%) reported new retrograde ejaculation after transurethral incision of the bladder neck. These results demonstrate that in well selected, properly diagnosed cases 4 and 8 o'clock transurethral incision of the bladder neck is an effective procedure for long-term relief of bladder outlet obstruction.

Adenocarcinoma in an isolated rectosigmoid bladder: case report.

We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum 11 years after a radical operation and construction of an isolated rectosigmoid bladder for squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. The isolated rectosigmoid bladder, which is not exposed to the fecal stream, may be associated with adenocarcinoma as in ureterosigmoidostomy.