[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.

[Cryosurgery in the management of prostate cancer]. / Criocirugía en el tratamiento del cáncer de próstata.

This article reviews the current status of the prostatic cryosurgery in the management of patients with prostate cancer. Recent advances in cryoablative technology have allowed to treat these patients successfully with decreased morbidity. Using transrectal high-resolution ultrasound imaging, prostate cryotherapy is delivered with multiple ultrathin (17-gauge) cryo-needles, via percutaneous transperineal approach. The extent of freezing can be precisely controlled and monitored with thermic devices, tissue destruction is monitored with real-time visualization of the prostate and surrounding structures, and urethral warming is used to avoid urethral sloughing. However, the results with the second and third-generation cryosurgical equipment will have to be confirmed by means of prospective and randomized trials, because up to now we only have data based on retrospective analyses, which are very heterogeneous. The ability of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to predict long-term outcome after cryotherapy for localized prostate cancer is not well known because experience with this treatment modality is still limited; however, it seems that a PSA value of 0.5 ng/ml or less after 6 months or longer after cryotherapy would be associated with a high probability (greater than 95%) of negative post-treatment biopsy. Cryosurgery could also be an option of treatment for men with recurrent local disease who have undergone radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy. We have to keep in mind possible complications (incontinence, impotency, urethrorectal fistula or bladder outlet obstruction. The favorable side effect profile and preliminary oncologic and funtional results could suggest that cryosurgery will have a role in the minimally invasive management of selected patients with prostate cancer.

[Yield diagnosis of the peripheral cores in 10 needle extended prostate biopsy]. / Rentabilidad diagnóstica de los cilindros de los cuernos laterales en las biopsias prostáticas ampliadas a 10 muestras.

OBJECTIVE: To value if the increase in the number of cylinders in the prostate's biopsy raise the diagnostic performance of this test. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In March 2005 we initiate this prospective study with patients who are subject to a first prostate Biopsy by a PSA between 4 and 10 ng/ml and negative rectal touch. Transrectal, echodirected prostatic biopsies with ten punctures are carried out according to the following programme as follows: 6 Biopsies according to classic sextant technique, to what we add 4 cylinders from the most lateral zones of the prostate (lateral horns). The variables are analyzed: Age, Total PSA, Free PSA/Total PSA, prostatic volume and PSA density. RESULTS: We value 90 patients consecutively. Prostatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed to 37 of the 90 patients, which means that the diagnostic rate of the extended Biopsy reached a 41%. Nevertheless, the rate for the classic sextant Biopsy was 32.3%. These differences are statistically significant (Mcnemar test 0.008); besides, this supposes a 27% increase in the diagnostic rentability. The "extra" cylinders in the lateral horns detected 8 tumours which were not detected in the cylinders of the the sextant, and 5 of them presented a Gleason higher or equal to 6. CONCLUSIONS: In our centre we think that the Biopsy extended to 10 cylinders is an adequate strategy for potential prostatic adenocarcinoma patients who are going to be subject to their first Biopsy. Realizing the clinic relevance of the tumours diagnosed thanks to "extra" cylinders, we do not think that this modality implies an over-diagnosis and consequently an overtreatment of the prostate cancer.

[Conservative surgery of bilateral renal angiomyolipoma during pregnancy]. / Cirugía conservadora del angiomiolipoma renal bilateral durante el embarazo.

The existence of bilateral renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is fairly infrequent, especially when not associated with such syndromes as tuberous sclerosis or linfangioleimiomatosis. Here we present the case of a 40-year-old woman who was accidentally diagnosed at week 33rd of gestation by an ultrasound, of bilateral renal AML and that could be treated with kidney sparing conservative treatment. We have also done a review of the literature focusing on its management and its relationship with pregnancy.

[Leiomyoma of renal pelvis]. / Leiomioma de pelvis renal.

Renal leiomyoma are uncommon mesenchymal tumours, which can arise from any organ of the genitourinary tract with smooth muscle cells. The diagnostic imaging techniques available can not differentiated easily leiomyoma from other malignant renal masses. Since preoperative diagnosis cannot be made, management usually involves radical nephrectomy as in the case described. After treatment, prognosis is excellent.

[Evaluation of pT3a stage in the current classification for renal cancer]. / Evaluación del estudio pT3a de la actual clasificación TNM del cáncer renal.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prognostic value of a stage pT3a diagnosis based on perirrenal fat infiltration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of 300 patients diagnosed of renal cell carcinoma (CCR) between 1992 and 2001 were retrospectively analyzed. Focusing on pT3a tumors as defined by perirrenal fat infiltration, a group of 92 patients (91,08%) regardless lymph node involvement (Nall) were included. Patients with distant metastases were excluded. In patients with pT3a Nall M0 tumors, tumour size was a significant parameter predicting survival. The most significant cut-off value for tumor size based on ROC curve was 5,5 cm. Therefore two groups were defined (up to 5,5 cm or greater than 5,5 cm) and actuarial survival were compared between both groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were found comparing actuarial survival of selected pT3a and tumour size less than 5,5 cm with pT1 and pT2 tumors. After classifying selected pT3a less than 5,5 cm as pT1, multivariate analysis showed no differences regarding to prognostic variables before and after classification. Subsequently multivariate analysis showed that modified T stage was an independent significant predictor of cancer specific actuarial survival. CONCLUSIONS: Perirrenal fat infiltration in renal cell carcinoma should not be used to assign T category. In our series grading tumors pT3a lesser than 5,5 cm as pT1/pT2 TNM stage does not affect their prognostic value.

[Cell cycle and apoptosis mechanisms implicated in intravesical chemotherapy resistances in superficial bladder cancer]. / Mecanismos del ciclo celular y la apoptosis implicados en las resistencias a los fármacos de uso intravesical en el cáncer superficial de vejiga.

It is well documented the effectiveness of intravesical chemotherapy following transurethral resection to prevent recurrences of superficial bladder cancer. But it is also known that efficacy may be limited by tumour cell resistance to one or several of the drugs available for instillation. In addition to the genetically determined unicellular mechanisms classically described in the literature such as glycoprotein P-170 expression (mdr-1), overexpression of Bcl-2 or glutation S-transferase activity, it has been recently shown that multicellular mechanisms may also be involved in drug resistance. Multicellular resistance can only be demonstrated in three-dimensional cultures and fails to be shown in monolayers or cell suspensions. This is explained by the fact that cell-to-cell and cell-to-stroma adhesion limits drug penetration and by the variable susceptibility to cytotoxicity determined by oxygen and tissue proliferation gradients. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in drug resistance is necessary to increase intravesical chemotherapy effectiveness. Current research includes improving drug penetration, searching resistance reversing agents and developing in vitro chemosensitivity tests to identify drug resistance.

[Endoscopic treatment of pielo-uretheral lithiasis with Holmium-YAG laser. Two years of experience]. / Tratamiento endoscópico de la litiasis pieloureteral mediante láser Holmium-YAG. Dos años de experiencia.

OBJECTIVE: To show the efficiency and safety of Holmium laser in the treatment of pyeloureteral lithiasis, based on our own experience since the introduction of this source of energy in our department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2002 to February 2004, we have carried out 198 ureterorenoscopies using Holmium laser to treat lithiasis located in the upper urinary tract. In all cases, a previous radiological study demonstrated the stone. Follow-up, where the efficacy of the treatment was assessed, was done with a scout x-ray after 3-4 weeks. We evaluated the localization and features of the lithiasis, technical aspects, results and complications of our series. RESULTS: The most common localization of the lithiasis was the pelvic ureter (59%), with the number of treated cases in both the iliac and lumbar ureter being similar (16%). 70% of the lithiasis had a size between 0.5 and 1.5 cm, and 15% showed a diameter bigger than 1.5 cm. In 61.8% of cases, laser lithotripsy was carried out under spinal anaesthesia, being the average of the pulses used 2532 (confidence interval 95%), using a working power of 1 J in all cases. The overall efficacy of the procedure in terms of size and localization was 95.5%. The complication rate was scarce (2.19%). CONCLUSIONS: Holmium laser lithotripsy is a very effective and safe procedure since in our experience it is 95.5% efficient for pyeloureteral lithiasis treatment and has a low rate of complications.

[Neo-adjuvant M-VAC in the treatment of infiltrating bladder tumors]. / M-VAC neo-adyuvante en el tratamiento de los tumores vesicales infiltrantes.

Between June 1987 and December 1990, systemic chemotherapy following an M-VAC protocol was applied to 38 patients with infiltrant vesical carcinoma (T2-T4). Eight of them (21.05%) were excluded for treatment response evaluation (four due to withdrawal and four to severe toxicity, one of whom died). Of the 30 evaluable patients, 63.3% (19 patients) showed complete response (pT0) after three complete courses of chemotherapy. Of this group, 11 have relapsed within an average interval of 21 +/- 18 months, 5 cases infiltrant (three with cystectomy) and 6 superficial. Mean survival of these 11 patients was 32.9 +/- 16.3 months. Of those showing complete response, 4 (13.3%) developed systemic tumoral progression in an average time of 12.5 +/- 4.2 months, to the point of being impossible to perform any kind of rescue surgery, with a mean survival of 13 +/- 4.5 months. In five patients, 16.6% of sample, stage at post-MVAC biopsy was lower than the initial one, requiring a new TUR (survival, 25.2 +/- -- months). Of these, 4 relapsed with 3 requiring rescue surgery. The remaining 6 patients in the sample (20%) showed no response to chemotherapy, and radical surgery was indicated which was only possible in three of them (survival, 14 +/- 6.8 months). The poor results of this series question the effectiveness of the MVAC protocol for chemotherapy in infiltrant vesical tumours. Only in low stages (T2) good results are observed, while in other cases it delays radical surgery, presumably curative if performed timely.

[Prognostic factors in tumors of the upper urinary tract]. / Factores pronósticos de los tumores del tracto urinario superior.

Review of patients treated for tumours of the upper urinary tract (UUTT) in our hospital during the 1969-1992 period. The characteristics studied were: stage (TNM 1987), grade (OMS), associated vesical tumour, location of primitive tumour, size, number, surgery performed and presence of tumoral relapse. Cox's regression model was used for the analysis of prognostic factors with survival time as the response variable. The sample has 92 patients (78% men and 22% women), average age 64 years. The tumours were: 46 pyelitic, 36 ureteral and 10 mixed. Stage distribution was: 13 pTa (14%), 41 pT1 (45%), 16 pT2 (17%), 15 pT3 (17%), 3 pT4 (7%); grade distribution: 22 grade I (24%), 54 grade II (59%) and 16 grade III (17%) 48% cases presented associated vesical tumour and 15% relapsed. The sample's median survival was 81 months and survival probability at 5 and 10 years was 52% and 45%. A significant association with survival time was shown by: stage, grade, sex and renal annulment. The multivariant analysis selected: 1) stage; 2) renal annulment and 3) sex. The predictive power of staging is indisputable, thus becoming the first selected variable. Renal annulment and sex factors add independent information on evolution. The information provided by the tumour's grade highly correlates to that of the stage, and therefore it was not selected in the multivariant analysis.

[Complications of uretero-renoscopy]. / Complicaciones de la uretero-renoscopia.

INTRODUCTION: Since its clinical introduction ureteroscopy (URS) has experienced an impressive development due to the technical improvements of new and smaller urological armamentarium. Currently, ureteroscopy is a worldwide procedure with a varied number of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. However, the technique has complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyse the complications of URS in a series of 4.645 ureteroscopic procedures performed from january 1990 to december 2001, 2972 (64%) female and 1673 (36) male. The objectives of URS were diagnostic (haematuria) and therapeutic (ureteral stones, tumors, strictures and placement of stents). RESULTS: Fever was the most frequent complication (11.7%), with sepsis in 15 patients. Another complications were: ureteral perforation (1.2%), ureteral avulsion (0.06%), renal injury (0.04%), extrusion (0.4%) and uretero-iliac fistulae (0.02%). The most common treatment was conservative with endourological approach. CONCLUSION: Carefully performed ureteroscopy is a superb tool for the urologist either for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes with a low ratio of complications. The majority of these complications can be solved with conservative management.

[Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with finasteride. Results after 7 years of follow-up]. / Tratamiento de la hiperplasia benigna de próstata con Finasteride. Resultados a los siete años de seguimiento.

Our centre took part in an international, multicentre, Phase III trial with Finasteride (MK-906) in the treatment of BPH. In the first year, this was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study which included 25 patients who were randomly assigned: 9 to treatment with placebo, 8 to finasteride 1 mg and 8 to finasteride 5 mg. After the first year, all patients were assigned to finasteride 5 mg as a single daily dose taken before breakfast. Of the 25 patients who started the trial, 7 have completed 7 years treatment (28%): 1 from the placebo group. 1 from finasteride 1 mg, and 5 who took finasteride 5 mg throughout the study. Total symptoms score, assessed by the modified Boyarsky questionnaire, improved during the first year 4.97 points (51%) and remained unchanged up to year 7 with a final reduction of 6.2 points (64%). Percentual increase in peak urinary flow during follow-up ranged between 21 and 45.9% with an absolute increase at 7 years of 4.2 mL/seg (47.5%) and a reduction in prostate volume of 26%. Finasteride tolerance was excellent at all times, and no serious clinical reaction was seen in laboratory parameters. Two patients reported decreased libido and sexual potency and 1 decreased libido. In summary, since after 7 years of treatment efficacy is maintained in at least 30% of patients with an excellent safety profile, finasteride can be considered an alternative in the medical treatment of BPH.

[Cystadenoma of seminal vesicles]. / Cistadenoma de vesículas seminales.

Cystadenoma of the seminal vesicles is a extremely rare pathology. To our knowledge only eight cases have been reported in the literature. We report a new case of this benign tumor, bilaterally located and incidentally found at surgery. Literature is reviewed and clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of these are discussed.

[Treatment of benign hyperplasia of the prostate using thermal transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)]. / Tratamiento de la hiperplasia benigna de próstata mediante ablación térmica transuretral con aguja (TUNA).

Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA) is a new, fast and minimally invasive device that produce a selective necrosis of the prostatic gland by delivering low level radiofrequency energy. We describe our experience with this new technique. A total of 42 patients suffering from symptomatic BPH were treated with this procedure. The original generator was used in 27 patients (group 1). A new generator allowing a more homogeneous application of intraprostatic temperature was used in 15 patients (group 2). The patients pretreatment evaluation consisted of World Health Organization symptom score and quality of life, digital rectal examination, uroflowmetric parameters, residual volume, transrectal ultrasound and PSA. Follow-up was performed using the same pretreatment parameters at one month, three months, six months and twelve months. All patients were treated using urethral xylocaine with intravenous or intramuscular sedation (petidine clorhidrate) and tolerance was good. IPSS and quality of life decreased significantly in both groups at first month after treatment and kept low up to twelve-month control. Peak flow rate increased from 7.7 +/- 3.7 ml/sec to 10 +/- 4.1 ml/sec at the twelve-month control in group 1 (p > 0.05), and from 7.6 +/- 2 ml/sec to 9.8 +/- 3.3 ml/sec in group 2 (p > 0.05). Residual volume decrease was statistically significant in group 2 (p < 0.05). No significant complications were encountered. Five patients in group 1 and one patient in group 2 required TURP some time in the follow-up (14%). In our experience, after one year of follow-up, improvement in subjective parameters is evident, although uroflowmetric improvement is moderate and with no statistically significance. No differences were found between both groups of treatment.

[Brucellar orchiepididymitis]. / Orquiepididimitis por Brucella.

Brucellosis is a cause of human disease, especially in regions whose brucellosis in animals is enzootic. Brucella orchitis is a rare complication of systemic brucellosis (2-14%). Necrotizing orchitis is posible and it must be distinguished from necrotizing involvement arising from other pathogens (TB or Salmonella). Treatment with specific antimicrobial medication helps to avoid unnecessary orchiectomy and prevent infectious disease in the contralateral testis as well as systemic manifestations. We report a case of brucellar epididymo-orchitis presenting as an acute scrotal mass in a 19 years old male who lived in a city. The anamnesis was crucial in the diagnosis of this rare testicular infection. We review the diagnosis and management of this patology.

[Post-transplantation renal rupture]. / Rotura renal postransplante.

INTRODUCTION: Renal allograft rupture in the transplanted patient represents a usually early postoperatory complication threatening graft and patient survival. Urgent management is often required. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Renal transplanted patients which had rupture of the renal allograft have been reviewed retrospectively. Between February 1980 and June 1996 a total of 868 renal transplants were performed, and 21 (2.41%) suffered from allograft rupture. Diagnosis was based mainly on the symptoms, blood analysis to test hematocrit value, and ultrasounds. RESULTS: Men age of the patients was 34 years old (21-49), 15 (71.4%) males and 6 (28.6%) females. Evolution was as follow: 4 patients underwent extracapsular nephrectomy due to non-functioning kidney; in 16 patients the graft could be preserved using different methods of renal corsetage (lyophilized human dura was applied in 8 cases, fascia lata in one, fascia lata and lyophilized human dura in 3 cases, and polyglycolic acid mesh in other 4 patients); and finally one patient was managed conservatively. There was no intra and post-operatory mortality. Four patients died lately of other causes not related to renal transplantation. Other 4 patients underwent chronic rejection and fail of the renal function. Two of these four patients have already received their second graft. A total of 13 patients have a good renal function (61.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of the renal allograft rupture must be the main objective in order to initiate as soon as possible therapeutic measures that firstly should be aimed to preserve the graft (medically or surgically). Nephrectomy must be reserved for renal allograft rupture secondary to venous thrombosis and other situations threatening life.

[The treatment of ureteral lithiasis with a pulsed dye laser]. / Tratamiento de la litiasis ureteral con láser pulsado colorante.

PURPOSE: Pulsed dye laser lithotripsy has shown to be an effective and safe procedure for treatment of ureteral calculi. We report our experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1000 patients were treated with pulsed dye laser between January 1990 and February 1996. In 450 patients the procedure was performed under general or regional anaesthesia; the remaining 550 patients were treated with the aid of a mild sedation. RESULTS: In the mild sedation group a total of 417 out of 550 patients (75.8%) had their calculi completely cleared (85.6% of effectiveness in women with pelvic lithiasis). Different facts caused the treatment to fail in the remaining patients: severe pain, vagal reaction and technical difficulties. In the anesthesia group the procedure was effective in 346 cases (76.9%). Laser failed to clear calculi in 104 patients in this group due to technical impossibility and persistence of ureteral fragments. Additional treatment options in order to achieve resolution of the calculi were: ESWL, both ESWL and laser, Dormia basket, Zeiss stent, three-prong grasping forceps, ureterolithotomy and nephrectomy. Morbidity was higher in the group treated under anesthesia, being haematuria the most frequent adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy is an effective, safe and low morbidity procedure for the treatment of ureteral calculi in women with distal calculi. It is often suitable to perform it with mild sedation with the subsequent benefit for both the patient and health care system regarding to cost-effectiveness balance.

[Renal transplantation in patients with enterocystoplasty]. / Trasplante renal en pacientes con enterocistoplastia.

OBJECTIVES: To asses the impact of augmentation enterocystoplasty on the success of cadaveric renal transplantation in patients with dysfunctional bladders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 2001, 3 men and a woman with severe dysfunctional lower urinary tract underwent a total of 4 cadaveric renal transplantations. The etiologies of the bladder dysfunction were bladder contraction secondary to urinary tuberculosis in all cases. In 3 patients were performed an enterocystoplasty with ileocecal segment and one with ileon. RESULTS: The overall allograft survival was 58.7 months. Two patients have functioning grafts 27 and 74 months after transplant, 1 has died due to an intestinal disease and other had chronic rejection after follow-up of 98 months. Technical complications occurred in 3 patients. All patients remain continent without catheterization after the transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Enterocystoplasty is a safe and effective method of restoring lower urinary tract function in the patient with end stage renal disease and a small non compliant bladder.

[Small cell carcinoma of the prostate]. / Carcinoma prostático de células pequeñas.

Pure small cell carcinoma of the prostate is rare (less than 1% of all prostatic neoplasm). As a result there are few reports in the literature that describe the salient features and appropriate management of this cancer (less than 200 cases reported). Small cell carcinomas of the prostate are a heterogeneous group of tumors, a number of them have neuroendocrine differentiation and are highly aggressive, commonly with visceral metastases at time of diagnosis. Complete temporary remission has been reported with chemotherapy but this tumor has a poor prognosis. The median overall survival from the time of diagnosis is between 5-17.5 months. We report 2 new cases of small cell carcinoma of the prostate and a review of the literature.

[Lymphocele as a complication of renal transplantation]. / Linfocele como complicación del transplante renal.

Lymphoceles are a complication of renal transplantation surgery. The source of this lymphatic collections is the lymph draining through the lymphatic vessels located in the transplanted kidney sinus and surrounding the iliac vessels of the receptor. The main etiological factor is the surgical technique used when dissecting these structures for graft placement. Several factors have been suggested as favouring their occurrence, acute rejection being highlighted as one. This paper reviews a series of 517 renal transplantations performed in our service, with a lymphocele incidence of 5.2% (28). Using a log regression model, the influence of age, sex, time in dialysis, presence of tubular acute necrosis in the graft following placement, acute rejection and immunological regime, for the appearance of lymphocele were analyzed. Age and lack of acute tubular necrosis were the only two factors selected by the model. Also, clinical signs and symptoms as well as therapy instituted were analyzed, emphasizing that puncture-drainage and instillation of iodine povidone was 100% effective.