Comparability and reproducibility of adult male anogenital distance measurements for two different methods.

The distance from the genitals to the anus, anogenital distance, reflects androgen concentration during prenatal development in mammals. The use of anogenital distance in human studies is still very limited and the quality and consistency of measurements is an important methodological issue. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of adult male anogenital distance measurements by two different methods. All men were attending an outpatient clinic at a university hospital and underwent an andrological examination and completed a brief questionnaire. Two variants of anogenital distance [from the anus to the posterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS ) and to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDAP )] by two methods (lithotomy or frog-legged position) were assessed in 70 men. Within and between coefficient of variations, intra-class correlation coefficients, two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, and scatter and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. The two methods produced similar values for AGDAP but different estimates for AGDAS . Nonetheless, the overall agreement (ICC ≥ 0.80) was acceptable for both measures. Therefore, both methods are internally consistent and adequate for epidemiological studies, and may be used depending on the available medical resources, clinical setting, and populations.

Cumplimentación del consentimiento informado para la transfusión de hemoderivados en los Servicios de Urología y Cirugía / Enforcement of informed consent request for blood transfusion in urology and surgery departments

Objetivo: Aplicar un círculo de mejora a la petición de consentimiento informado (CI) para la transfusión de hemoderivados en los servicios de Cirugía General y Urología. Métodos: Durante 8 meses se incluyeron 120 pa­cientes intervenidos en el Hospital General Reina Sofía de Murcia. Tras realizar un análisis de causa-efecto de Ishikawa, se establecieron 4 criterios: C1: identifica­ción del médico; C2: identificación del paciente; C3: firma del paciente; C4: fecha del documento. En el pri­mer periodo se incluyeron 60 pacientes. Se analizaron Ias causas de incumplimiento y se aplicaron las medidas correctoras, reevaluando los criterios en otros 60 pacientes. Resultados: Todos los criterios estaban por debajo del estándar: C1: 3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% y C4: 65%. En la segunda evaluación el cumplimiento de C1 (70%), C3 (98%) y C4 (88%) mejoró significativamente pero aún así los resultados continúan, también significativamente, por debajo de los estándares establecidos. Los resultados se expresan en porcentaje de cumplimiento con un intervalo de confianza del 95%. Conclusiones: La realización de un ciclo de mejora ha permitido detectar y corregir incumplimientos en el C1 de transfusiones sanguíneas. El nivel de cumplimiento de los criterios mejoró en la segunda evaluación aunque continuamos por debajo del estándar establecido. Hemos conseguido una mayor concienciación por parte de los profesionales a la hora de cumplimentar el consentimiento.

Objective: To analyze the degree of compliance with a variety of standards defined for the quality control of the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion in our departments of Surgery and Urology. Material and method: Retrospective study of patients treated during 8 consecutive months in a university teaching hospital (n=120). Assessment of quality was performed through measurements of compliance using 4 criteria: C1, Physician Identification; C2, patient identification; C3, patient signature; C4, document date. In the first period 60 patients were included. Corrective measures aimed at resolving the quality problem were applied to the deficient criteria during one month, paying particular attention to those criteria with the highest percentage of errors in the study. During a third period of six months (60 patients) the information of all criteria was gathered again and the improvement with regard to the standard values and to the compliance of the first period was evaluated. Results: Compliance of all criteria was significantly below standard values in the first evaluation: C1 :3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% and C4: 65%. In the second period all the criteria below its standard improved with regard to the first period; nonetheless the results are, also significantly, below the established standards. Conclusions: This improvement cycle enabled us to detect and correct breaches on the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion. Corrective measures introduced were effective since it was improved in all the criteria below standard. We have achieved a good awareness of health professionals to complete the authorization.

[Bladder carcinoma with osteoclast-type giant cells. A case with a rare presentation. Review of the literature]. / Carcinoma con células gigantes tipo osteoclasto de vejiga. Un caso de rara presentación. Revisión de la literatura.

We report a case of neoplasm of the urinary bladder with pseudosarcomatous stromal differentiation. Heterologous carcinosarcomas are extremely rare malignant neoplasms (seventy-eight cases have been previously described). This is a case of carcinoma containing numerous osteoclast type giant cells that stained for vinmentin and acid phosphatase and were negative for cytokeratin and lysozyme.

[Nephrogenic bladder adenoma associated with glandular cystitis. Immunohistochemical study and significance]. / Adenoma nefrogénico vesical asociado a cistitis glandular. Estudio inmunohistoquímico y significado.

A histopathological and immunohistochemical study of a case of nephrogenic adenoma of the bladder associated to glandular cystitis is presented with a very similar immunostaining to adenomatoid tumors in other organs and probably of a mesothelial origin. Its pathogenesis seems to correspond to a metaplastic change of the bladder's urothelium through anomalous differentiation of the reserve cells faced with different irritating agents. Because of its benign characteristics, we think that treatment can be confined to endoscopic observation and conservative technique.

[Hemorrhagic cystitis caused by BK and JC polyomavirus in patients treated with bone marrow transplantation: clinical features and urologic management]. / Cistitis hemorrágica por poliomavirus BK y JC en pacientes sometidos a transplante de médula ósea: aspectos clínicos y manejo urológico.

INTRODUCTION: Differential diagnosis of hematuria after bone marrow transplantation (B.M.T.) may include polyomavirus (BK and JC)-associated haemorrhagic cystitis. Many reports have implied BK virus as the major pathogen in the development of hemorrhagic cystitis after BMT. BK viruria is also associated with ureteric stenosis in renal allografts recipients. Viral urinary tract infections are uncommon in healthy individuals, but we can find them frequently in patients under immunosuppressive conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 123 consecutive B.M.T. recipients in the period from 1995 to 2000, evaluating those with polyomavirus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis. We present patient's characteristics, primary disease, clinical features, diagnosis aspects and treatment of these "hidden hosts of urinary tract". RESULTS: 7 patients (5.7% of B.M.T.) developed BK or JC virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis; 3 men and 4 women; median patient age was 29 years (range 14 to 45 years). Bacterial, mycobacterial and parasitic urine cultivates had negative results in all of them. The clinical course was characterized by a late onset of haemorrhagic cystitis (days +30 to +132 after BMT). All 7 patients developed macroscopic haematuria (duration 3 to 30 days). In 6 cases Graft Versus Host Disease (G.V.H.D.) criteria were found. Ultrasonographic studies revealed diffuse thickening of bladder wall in 5 patients. Hematuria was managed by hyperhydratation, blood transfusions, transurethral catheter and evacuation of blood clots, continuous bladder irrigation, urine alkalinization and antiviral therapy. No other more aggressive measures were required to stop the bleeding. Only 1 case of transient elevated creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: Polyomavirus-associated haemorrhagic cystitis must be considered in differential diagnosis of hematuria in bone marrow transplantation recipients. Urological management, according with the severity and duration of hematuria, is frequently required.

[Primary vaginal lithiasis associated with urethrovaginal fistula. Report of a case and review of the literature]. / Litiasis vaginal primaria asociada a fístula uretrovaginal. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Vaginal stones are rare. We can classify them as primary or secondary, depending on the presence or the absencse of a foreign body nidus. Various cases can led to stone formation. Most of them developed in women with a vesicovaginal or urethrovaginal fistula, as well as in patients with congenital anomalies of the genitourinary tract, previous pelvic radiotherapy, neuropathic bladder and other different causes of vaginal outlet obstruction. Secondary vaginal stones, formed around foreign bodies, are not so frequent. Radiological examination and urethro-vaginoscopy make easy the right diagnosis. Sometimes the stone may be fragmented by lithotripsy before the extraction. The associated etiology should be treated concomitantly in order to prevent recurrence. We report a case of primary vaginal stone associated with an urethrovaginal fistula in a 25 years old women and a review of the related literature.

[Juvenile gangrenous vasculitis of the scrotum. Report of a new case and review of the literature]. / Vasculitis gangrenosa juvenil del escroto. Aportación de un nuevo caso y revisión de la literatura.

Juvenile gangrenous vasculitis of the scrotum is a peculiar form of scrotal gangrene of undetermined etiology, with clinical and pathological features of its own, described in 1973 by Piñol et al. We report a new case, considering this entity as part of the differential diagnosis of scrotal gangrene, and a review of relative literature.

[Prostatic mucinous adenocarcinoma. Report of a new case and review of the literature]. / Adenocarcinoma mucinoso de próstata. Presentación de un nuevo caso y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To present an additional case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland. The histochemical and immunohistochemical findings demonstrating its prostatic origin are presented and the literature is reviewed. METHODS/RESULTS: A 53-year-old male with no previous symptoms or signs presented for a prostatic examination. DRE was normal and PSA was 35 ng/ml. A prostate biopsy demonstrated adenocarcinoma of the prostate with a Gleason score of 3 + 3. Complementary studies were negative. The patient was submitted to radical prostatectomy. Anatomopathological analysis of the surgical specimen demonstrated a prostatic mucinous adenocarcinoma. At one-year follow-up, the patient is alive and disease-free and PSA values have returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate is a rare anatomopathological variant whose natural history and prognosis are not well-known. This tumor type generally does not respond to any treatment and is hormone-resistant.

[Synchronous tumor of the upper urinary tract with bladder cancer. Opportunity for nephroureterectomy and block-cystectomy]. / Tumor sincrónico de vías altas con cáncer vesical. Oportunidad de nefroureterectomía y cistectomía en bloque.

OBJECTIVE: One of the basic characteristics of urothelial carcinoma is its tendency to synchronous or metachronous multifocality. Thus the need to explore the entire urinary tract of patients with urothelial neoformations. The aim of this article is to study the tumors of the upper urinary tract that appear synchronously with infiltrating carcinoma of the bladder. The clinicopathological characteristics and the morbidity and mortality of en bloc surgery of both tumors are analyzed. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 170 radical cystectomies for infiltrating bladder tumor performed in our department over a 13-year period. Patient history, clinicopathological characteristics, complementary tests, type of surgery performed, postoperative complications and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: Tumor of the upper urinary tract appeared in 14 (1 bilateral) of these patients and were synchronous in 10 cases. All patients were male; mean age 63 years. Three were localized in the pelvis, 2 in the proximal ureter and 6 in the distal third. Diagnosis was made by IVP in 6 patients and by US and antegrade pyelography in the other 4 patients. Nephroureterectomy and radical cystectomy were performed en bloc in 8 cases; 6 had a Bricker procedure and 2 ileal substitution. Salvage radical cystectomy + distal ureterectomy were performed in the other two patients. Two patients submitted to en bloc surgery had postoperative complications; one presented prolonged ileua and the other required surgery for retroperitoneal hemorrhage. The two patients submitted to palliative surgery died of and sepsis during the postoperative period. At 33 months' mean follow-up, 3 patients have shown tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high proportion of synchronous tumor of the upper urinary tract in our series of patients with infiltrating carcinoma of the bladder undergoing radical cystectomy, therefore we consider it necessary to explore the entire urinary system. Surgical removal of both tumors en bloc does not increase the morbidity and mortality.

[Metastasis priapism. Report of 4 new cases and review of the literature]. / Priapismo metastásico. Presentación de cuatro nuevos casos y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: Four additional cases of malignant priapism or priapism secondary to penile metastasis from urogenital tumors are presented and the literature is reviewed. METHODS: Chest and abdominal radiological evaluation, cavernosal and abdominal US, abdominal and pelvic CT and MRI, and cavernosal biopsy were performed for the localization and staging of the primary tumor. RESULTS: Conservative palliative management achieved a survival of only a few months in three of the patients with tumor dissemination to adjacent vital organs. Radical surgery was performed in one patient with tumor localized to the genital area. Currently, this patient has no clinical symptoms, although the follow-up is only 4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant priapism is rare and usually secondary to GU tumors. The prognosis is poor since it generally indicates the presence of multiorgan metastasis. However, the prognosis is better for single metastasis, which is an indication for radical surgery.

[Cystic pyeloureteritis and infection. Presentation forms and review of the literature]. / Pieloureteritis quística e infección. Formas de presentación y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To present three illustrative cases of pyeloureteritis cystica and review the literature. METHODS: Three illustrative cases diagnosed at our department are described. Patient history, clinical features, diagnostic procedures and treatment are analyzed and the literature is reviewed. RESULTS: Our patients had no specific symptoms. All three patients had urinary tract infection with pyeloureteral involvement, which was bilateral in two cases. One of these patients had a long-indwelling catheter. CONCLUSIONS: Pyeloureteritis cystica is a benign and uncommon condition whose etiology is not well-known. It is generally associated with chronic infection and inflammation, and may be difficult to distinguish from other filling defects of the urinary tract. Due to its benign nature, treatment must always be conservative and close follow-up is recommended.

[Trigonocervicoprostatomy. Indications and results from 100 case reports]. / La trigonocervicoprostatotomía. Indicaciones y resultados de 100 casos.

Trigonocervicotomy is a barely invasive technique for the treatment of infravesical obstruction, first introduced in the 60's by Turner-Warkic and Orandi. To achieve good results with this procedure, the selection criteria must take into account a series of parameters such as age, sexual activity, PSA, prostate weight (below 30 grams) and others. In addition to its low morbidity, a larger percentage of patients preserve ejaculation than with the use of other techniques, also the neck sclerosis rate being lower as seen in all our series and expertise. The efficacy of this technique was studied on 100 patients.

[The management of urinary candidiasis in cystectomized patients]. / Manejo de la candidiasis urinaria en pacientes cistectomizados.

Presentation of eight cases of urinary candidiasis in patients who underwent radical cystectomy and were managed using by-pass of the urinary tract, oral antifungal therapy and solutions in the way of intermittent instillation through nephrostomy catheters.

[Tumors of the upper urinary tract]. / Tumores de tracto urinario superior.

A series of 60 cases of tumours of the Upper Urinary Tract (UUT) diagnosed in our centre between 1987-1996 and affecting 57 patients is presented. Patient's mean age was 63.7 years, males being clearly predominant, 4:1, there was no predominant laterality and the preferential location was the renal pelvis. Fifty-two (52) out of all tumours were transitional, 1 was a fibroepithelial polyp and 2 were metastasis from prostate and colon cancers. Pathoanatomy of the remaining cases is not known since no surgery was performed, although the cytologic diagnosis has identified them as transitional tumours. Our series shows a significant association to other transitional tumours as demonstrated by the existence of 2 cases with a background of UUT tumours and other 31 cases associated to transitional tumour of the bladder. Haematuria was the predominant sign (54%) and UIV the leading examination technique. Nephroureterectomy was the most commonly used therapeutical approach. UUT appear to be highly predominant in our environment, with a clear male predominance and preferential location in the renal pelvis. Haematuria continues to be the most frequent presentation sign and UIV the exploratory technique offering better performance in the diagnosis. Also a high association was found to other types of transitional tumours, the diagnosis and follow up of which allowed us to diagnose a large number of tumours of the upper tract.

[Transitional cell carcinoma and renal cell adenocarcinoma: unusual case of association in the same kidney]. / Carcinoma de células transicionales y adenocarcinoma de células renales: caso inusual de asociación en el mismo riñón.

Presentation of one patient with a highly infrequent association of transitional cells carcinoma and renal cells adenocarcinoma synchronically developed in the same renal unit. There has been very few cases diagnosed up to now, and only around 25 have been described in the literature. There is a clear predominance of males versus females, with haematuria being the most frequent sign present in 90% cases. Elective complementary examination is CT and the choice treatment can be either nephroureterectomy or extended nephrectomy based on early suspicion of transitional cells carcinoma or renal cells adenocarcinoma.

[Congenital bilateral agenesis of the vas deferens associated with cystic fibrosis. A molecular genetic study]. / Agenesia congénita bilateral de vasos deferentes asociada a fibrosis quística. Estudio genético molecular.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of congenital bilateral agenesis of the vas deferens and cystic fibrosis. METHODS: Three azoospermic patients with surgically confirmed congenital agenesis of the vas deferens in whom a molecular genetics study had been performed to discard the more common mutations of cystic fibrosis are described and the literature reviewed. RESULTS: All patients showed azoospermia. The molecular genetics study showed one of the patients to be a heterozygotic carrier of G542X and no other mutations like the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: 15% of patients with azoospermia have chromosomal anomalies. Recently, it has been reported that 50%-65% of patients with congenital bilateral agenesis of the vas deferens have mutations for the CFTR gene, with more than 400 reported. Patients with bilateral agenesis and their partners should be screened for cystic fibrosis prior to any in vitro fertilization techniques.

[Management of priapism induced by PGE1]. / Manejo del priapismo inducido por PGE1.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on priapism following intracavernous injection of PGE1, its management and the physiopathological mechanisms involved. METHODS/RESULTS: The literature on PGE1-induced priapism available on Medline is reviewed and two cases treated at our hospital are described. The diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms are presented. The relationship between drug use and priapism is difficult to establish since patients with the same history who received the same dose of Alprostatil did not develop priapism. CONCLUSIONS: Although infrequent, treatment must be instituted urgently since there is generally low flow.

[AIDS and HIV infections in urologic practice]. / SIDA e infecciones por VIH en la práctica urológica.

The infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a retrovirus, leads to a progressive decline and to the suppression of cell-mediated immunity favouring the development of opportunistic diseases and potentially fatal neoplasias which are practically innocuous in individuals with an intact immunologic system. The number of AIDS cases recorded in Spain until March 1997 was 45,132, with a revised mortality rate of 58%. Cases in Murcia total 713 up to October 1997, of which 217 patients are being monitored in the AIDS Unit in our centre, 414 individuals have died in the region. It is well know that about one third of patients with diagnosed AIDS or who are HIV carriers will develop some type of genitourinary lesion, either as a result of a renal disorder, concurrent or not with HIV, or any other condition directly related to the infection. This is a report on our Service's experience in the treatment of HIV patients with genitourinary symptoms that, in a total of 15 cases, required our intervention. Emphasis is placed on the incidence of nephrolithiasis secondary to therapy with protease inhibitors over the last few months following introduction of this new therapeutic tool, prostatitis due to salmonella, and inlaid cystitis among others.

[Non-urothelial neoplasm in patients with infiltrating bladder carcinoma]. / Neoplasia asociada de estirpe no urotelial en pacientes con carcinoma vesical infiltrante.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of non-urothelial neoplasms in patients with infiltrating bladder tumor submitted to radical surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy for an infiltrating bladder tumor from 1987-1996. The pathological and follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 120 patients submitted to radical cystoprostatectomy for an infiltrating bladder tumor, 23 (19%) had an associated non-urothelial neoplasm: 14 (61%) were metachronous and 9 (39%) were synchronous. Two patients had two secondary tumors (9%). CONCLUSION: We have found a high incidence of non-urothelial tumor in patients with infiltrating bladder tumor. By order of frequency, these were prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, pulmonary cancer, etc. Studies have ascribed the association of prostate and bladder cancer to the deletion of suppressor genes.

[Inverted papilloma: presentation of 5 cases and review of the Spanish literature]. / Papiloma invertido: presentación de 5 casos y revisión de la literatura española.

Vesical inverted papilloma (IP) is a transitional disease most commonly found in the bladder, representing a small percentage within the group of vesical neoformations. Although of benign behaviour, some authors advise that a relatively strict monitoring should be used considering its high rate of proliferative activity. It mainly affects males in their fifth to seventh decade, and it presents as any other transitional tumour. In about one fourth of the cases a transitional carcinoma becomes associated throughout its evolution, thus supporting the theory of periodic monitoring.