Is there still a role for digital rectal examination in the prostate cancer diagnostic pathway in the COVID-19 and post COVID-19 era?

Digital rectal examination (DRE) is routinely performed as part of a urology clinical assessment in patients with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer. An abnormal DRE or a raised prostate specific antigen (PSA) level are part of the criteria for primary care referral to secondary care due to a suspicion of prostate cancer. The current Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the rapid adoption of virtual consultations in the form of telephone or video consultations making clinical examination difficult. In the case of prostate cancer diagnostic pathways, often clinicians now rely on PSA measurements and MRI, where radiological services are available, without the requirement for a DRE. We discuss the limited role DRE has in the modern prostate cancer diagnostic pathway due to the widespread adoption of MRI particularly in the COVID-19 era.

The role of Rezum ™ team ablation of the prostate in the treatment of patients with acute urinary retention secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. A single center, single surgeon case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Acute urinary retention (AUR) is one of the most significant complication of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The gold standard surgical treatment for BPH, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), is not without significant side effects and a prolonged hospital stay. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of Rezum ™ steam ablation in the treatment of patients with AUR secondary to BPH. METHODS: Patients who developed AUR and failed their trial without a catheter (TWOC) were recruited. They were counselled about the procedure and offered the treatment. Pre-operative, intraoperative and post operate data were collected. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for a mean period of 7.2 months. 100% of patients passed their TWOC and stopped taking any BPH medications after. There was an average of 43.8% decrease in TRUS volume and a fall of 52.5% in PSA value after intervention. The mean operation time was 8.8 min and mean duration in hospital was 5.8 h. No deterioration in sexual function was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Rezum ™ steam ablation of the prostate is safe, fast and effective day case procedure in treating patients with AUR secondary to BPH. All patients were satisfied with the functional outcomes.

Undiagnosed Behçet's Disease Presenting as Fournier's Gangrene in a Young Male.

Behçet's disease is rare, especially in the paediatric population. In this case, a healthy 16-year-old made presented with discrete scrotal ulcers and systemic illness. He was found to have Fournier's gangrene and with subsequent investigation was diagnosed with Behçet's disease as an underlying cause. A PubMed search reveals no similar case reports. His only risk factors for Fournier's gangrene was his raised body mass index. His only risk factor for Behçet's disease was his ethnic origin. An understanding of risk factors and epidemiology can raise suspicion of these rare pathologies.