Sonic hedgehog, TBX18, and TSHZ3 proteins involved in pyeloureteral motility development are overexpressed in ureteropelvic junction obstruction. An immunohistochemical, histopathological, and clinical comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare pathological samples obtained from cases that underwent surgery for ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction with samples obtained during autopsies of subjects.  METHODS: Retrospectively, 42 patients who had undergone surgery due to UPJ obstruction (group 1) were included in the study. Histopathological and immunohistochemical features for sonic hedgehog (SHH), TBX18, and TSHZ3 of UPJ were evaluated and findings were compared with 20 autopsy cases (group 2).  RESULTS: In group 1, the scores were statistically significantly higher in terms of cytoplasmic SHH, nuclear TBX18, cytoplasmic and nuclear TSHZ3 staining. Statistically, no correlation was found between age and the staining scores belonging to these 3 antibodies in group 1 and group 2. Intense inflammation was found to be related with nuclear staining for TBX18.  CONCLUSION: Gene product expressions of SHH, TBX18 and TSHZ3 are statistically higher in patients with UPJ obstruction, when compared with control group. The explanation may be the reactivation of the processes, which had shown their effects in the embryological period, due to the chronic inflammation and long-term micro-trauma created by the disease.

Urachal urothelial carcinoma diagnosed at a radical prostatectomy operation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Urachal carcinomas are rare tumors, and the majority of them are adenocarcinomas. Up to now, only 21 urachal urothelial carcinomas (UCas) have been reported. Here, we describe a case of high grade UCa arising from the urachal remnants. CASE: A 66-year-old man presented with voiding difficulties. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 5.46 ng/mL. Prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) (Gleason score 6) was diagnosed by needle biopsies. After the diagnosis of high grade, muscle invasive UCa with intact mucosa on frozen examination of the dome of bladder wall during the radical prostatectomy operation (RPO), partial cystectomy was performed. Microscopically, among the tumoral islands, cystic structures lined by cells with a benign appearance, which are considered urachal remnants, were noted. Cytokeratin 7 and high-molecular-weight cytokeratin were strongly positive, PSA and carcinoembryonic antigen were negative. Radiotherapy was given for both UCa and PCa. Six months after the diagnosis, an undifferentiated tumor was detected in a bladder transurethral resection specimen; thus, chemotherapy was given. After 1 course of chemotherapy, the patient was doing well. CONCLUSION: The origin of urachal carcinomas is usually obscured as it is a highly invasive carcinoma. The patient presented here was diagnosed incidentally during RPO. Although the stage was advanced, the tumor was detected before urachal remnants were destroyed. The treatment choice for urachal carcinomas is cystectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are controversial.