Is the Voided Volume at Office Uroflowmetry Physiological and Reliable? A Comparison between Voiding Diary and Uroflowmetry.

INTRODUCTION: We compared voided volumes (VV) at voiding diaries (VD) and at uroflowmetry (UF) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter study. In a cohort of males with LUTS, VV reported in 3-day VD was compared to VV recorded at UF. Demographic data were analyzed. The patients were stratified according to VV. A sub-analysis dividing males by age strata was also performed. RESULTS: We enrolled 169 patients. Mean VV were higher at UF than at VD in the entire population and in each group, stratified by age. VV significantly decreased with aging. Males with the lowest threshold difference (50 mL) were 29%, with a moderate threshold difference (<100 mL) 55.6%, with an intermediate threshold difference 49.1% (51-150 mL), whereas 21.9% of men had a large threshold difference (>150 mL). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: VV correlation between VD and UF was poor. A large part of men performed UF with VV which were poorly comparable to the habitual VV assessed by 3-day VD. Therefore, our results indicate the relevance to obtain more than 1 UF in these patients.

Post-void residual urine ratio: A novel clinical approach to the post-void residual urine in the assessment of males with lower urinary tract symptoms.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between post-void residual urine ratio (PVR-R) and pathological bladder emptying diagnosed by pressure-flow studies (PFS) in males with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: PVR-R and PVR urine were evaluated in 410 males underwent PFS for LUTS. PVR-R was the percentage of PVR to bladder volume (voided volume+PVR). Schafer and International Continence Society (ICS) nomograms, Bladder Contractility Index (BCI) were used to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DUA). We subdivided the cohort in 4 groups: Group I, BOO+/DUA+; Group II, BOO-/DUA+; Group III, BOO+/DUA-; Group IV, BOO-/DUA- (control group). We subdivided the 4 groups according to PVR-R strata: (1) 0%-20%; (2) 21%-40%; (3) 41%-60%; (4) 61%-80%; (5) 81%-100%. RESULTS: Group I had a greater median PVR-R (50%) with a >40% in 61.4% of the cohort. Median PVR-R was 16.6% in Group II, 24% in Group III, and 0% in the control Group. According to ICS nomograms and BCI, median PVR-R and PVR were significantly higher (p<0.001) in obstructed and underactive males. PVR-R threshold of 20% allowed to recognize males with voiding disorders with high sensibility, specificity, PPV, and NPV. A PVR-R cut-off of 40% identified males with associated BOO and DUA and more severe voiding dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: A higher PVR-R is related to a more severe pathological bladder emptying, and to the association of BOO and DUA. PVR-R may have a clinical role in first assessment of males with LUTS and severe voiding dysfunction.

Nocturnal polyuria in men performing uroflowmetry for lower urinary tract symptoms.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of nocturnal polyuria (NP) in males performing uroflowmetry (UF) for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), the impact of NP on UF outcomes, and bladder emptying, the association between NP and LUTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Men scheduled for UF were recruited in two Centres. Data collected were medical history, IPSS, UF, post-void residual urine volume (PVR), 3-day frequency-volume charts (FVC). The NP index was used to assess NP with a threshold of ≥ 33%. The relationship between NP and patient's aging was assessed. RESULTS: 162 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 70.95 ± 8.04 years. The prevalence of NP was 54.9% (89/162). 110 (68%) patients reported nocturia, and among these, NP was documented in 76 (69%). Nocturia was found in 85% (76/89) of the population with NP. Total IPSS score, IPSS items #1, #2 and #7 showed a significant difference in men with NP compared with those without. Maximum flow rate and PVR did not significantly change comparing men with or without NP. Mean voiding volume (VV) of the night-time micturitions was significantly higher in men with NP compared to those without NP (532.1 ± 275.6 ml vs 175 ± 168.7 ml respectively, p < 0001), while mean VV day-time micturitions and mean VV at UF did not change between groups. CONCLUSIONS: NP had a high prevalence in men with LUTS performing UF. Aged males were more commonly affected by NP. Data demonstrated a strong relationship between NP and nocturia and increased urinary frequency while voiding symptoms were poorly related to NP.

Prognostic factors in patients with renal cell carcinoma: retrospective analysis of 675 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To identify independent predictors of cause-specific survival in patients affected by renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 675 patients who underwent in our department from 1976 to 1999 radical nephrectomy for RCC. Pathological stage of the primary tumor (TNM, 1997) was pT1 in 326 cases (48%), pT2 in 133 (20%), pT3a in 66 (10%), pT3b in 138 (20%) and pT4 in 12 (2%). According to TNM classification (Union International Contre le Cancer (UICC), 1997) the pathological stage was I in 303 cases (45%), II in 119 (18%), III in 150 (22%) and IV in 103 (15%). Histological grading was assigned according to Fuhrman's classification in only 333 cases: G1 in 25%, G2 in 35%, G3 in 33% and G4 in 7%. RESULTS: Cause-specific survival was 77% at 5 years, 69% at 10 years, 64% at 15 years and 57% at 20 years. Five and 10 year cause-specific survival was, respectively 91.4 and 88.5% in pT1 tumors, 84.8 and 72.7% in pT2, 57.4 and 35.6% in pT3a, 47.2 and 33.6% in pT3b-c, and 29.6% in pT4 (P < 0.0001). In relation to the pathological stage according to TNM classification, 5 and 10 year cause-specific survival was, respectively 94 and 91.6% in stage I tumors, 89.7 and 78% in stage II, 63.4 and 46.4% in stage III and 28 and 16.3% in stage IV (P < 0.0001). In relation to the nuclear grade of the primary tumor 5 and 10 year cause-specific survival was, respectively 94 and 88% in G1 tumors, 86 and 75% in G2, 59 and 40% in G3 and 31% in G4 (P < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis pathological stage of the primary tumor, lymph nodes involvement, presence of distant metastases at diagnosis and nuclear grading resulted all independent predictors of cause-specific survival in patients with RCC. CONCLUSION: Pathological stage of primary tumors, lymph nodes involvement, presence of distant metastases at diagnosis and nuclear grading according to Fuhrman resulted all independent predictors of cause-specific mortality in patients with RCC.

Métodos de imagen actuales y manejo preoperatorio del feocromocitoma: Revisión de la literatura y comunicación / Modern imaging techniques and preoperative management of pheochromocytoma

OBJETIVO: Se discute en este trabajo las técnicas modernas de imagen y el manejo preoperatorio del feocromocitoma, haciendo la descripción de un caso de feocromocitoma adrenal. MÉTODOS: Se trata de un paciente de 66 años varón en el que se descubrió de forma incidental una masa izquierda adrenal. La médula adrenal acumulaba fuertemente yodo 131 marcado con metayodobencilguanidina (MIBG). Al paciente se le practicó una adrenalectomía izquierda después de terapia con alfa y betabloqueantes. Revisamos además la literatura mas actual en cuanto a las técnicas de imagen en el feocromocitoma. RESULTADOS: La cintigrafia con yodo marcado con metayodobencilguanidina diagnostica sin problemas a los feocromocitomas benignos, permitiendo el manejo preoperatorio. El postoperatorio discurrió sin ningún problema. El diagnóstico de feocromocitoma se estableció por inmunohistopatología. A los 18 meses del seguimiento el paciente estaba vivo y libre de enfermedad. CONCLUSIONES: Se descubre incidentalmente masas adrenales cuando se buscan otros tumores o cuando hay una actividad hormonal excesiva. La gammagrafia con metayodobencilguanidina tiene una especificidad muy alta del 100 por ciento en detectar el feocromocitoma y sus metástasis, también es muy útil para la detección de restos quirúrgicos o de reciva local, también para la investigación de otros tumores suprarrenales. En diferentes trabajos hay comunicaciones de diagnósticos de feocromocitoma con este tipo de gammagrafia. Normalmente la cirugía de estos tumores suprarrenales es una operación segura con una mortalidad que va del 0 al 3 por ciento. El tratamiento preoperatorio con bloqueantes alfa y beta con fenoxibenzamina o prazosin es importante para disminuir los riesgos operatorios. Ocasionalmente son necesarios asociar los betabloqueantes para prevenir arritmias cardiacas. Es fundamental una monitorización intraoperatoria para corregir los cambios hemodinámicos e iniciar un correcto tratamiento tanto pre como postoperatorio. Continuar a estos pacientes en vigilancia a lo largo de toda su vida es importante por posibilidad de recibirlas (AU)