Sacral chordoma: an unusual cause of neurogenic bladder - a case report.

Sacral chordoma is a rare tumor arising from notochord remnants. Sacral pain is the most common sign. The authors report the case of a sacral chordoma diagnosed in a urology department. It was a rare cause of erectile dysfunction and it was unusually revealed by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs). Case Presentation: A 67-year-old man had severe dysuria associated with erectile dysfunction. On digital rectal examination, we palpated a mass protruding through the posterior wall of the rectum. The gluteal region is infiltrated by a firm mass. MRI revealed an osteolytic sacral tumor. A percutaneous biopsy of the tumor was performed. A pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of sacral chordoma. The patient had palliative radiotherapy. One year after radiotherapy, he had rectal stenosis associated with severe constipation. Clinical Discussion: Sacral chordoma is a rare malignant tumor. Sacralgia is the most common sign. LUTS and erectile dysfunction were rarely reported in patients affected by this bone tumor. MRI is very suggestive of this pathology. Diagnostic confirmation requires pathological examination. The curative management consists of a large resection of the tumor. For inextricable tumors, palliative radiotherapy can be carried out. The prognosis of sacral chordoma is defined by a high recurrence potential and a low metastatic risk. Conclusions: Sacral chordoma is a rare bone tumor. It is an unusual cause for LUTS and erectile dysfunction. Complete tumor excision is the only curative treatment. Recurrence after treatment is the main challenge for surgeons.

[Lichtenstein versus Lichtenstein plus plug in prosthetic inguinal hernia repair: preliminary results of a prospective randomized controlled trial]. / Lichtenstein versus Lichtenstein plus pluf dans les cures prothétique des hernies inguinales: résultats préliminaires d'une étude contrôlée prospective randomisée.

BACKGROUND: Mesh- based hernioplasties became the reference in inguinal hernia repair. AIM: To evaluate the results of combining a conic Plug to the Lichtenstein Mesh for inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: Between January 2007 and January 2009 we included 50 patients with primary or recurrent inguinal hernia in a prospective comparative randomized controlled trial. The randomization concerned the association of the conic Plug to the Lichtenstein Mesh. The primary objectives were to establish if any differences in operation time, postoperative pain response and/or postoperative recovery time, chronic pain and recurrence could be detected between the 2 groups. All patients were seen and data were collected after 2 weeks, 6 months and 2 years. RESULTS: Twenty two patients were treated by Lichtenstein Mesh (group A) and we associated the conic Plug to 28 patients (group B). The mean age was 56 years. Forty three patients were discharged after 24 hours. The postoperative pain was low with visual analogue scores ≤ 5 for 48 patients. One patient had residual pain treated efficiency with medical treatment. No recurrence in the 2 groups in 2 years outcome. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Results of the Lichtenstein plus Plug technique are similar to the Lichtenstein results. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups concerning early or late complications. The recurrence will be revaluated after 5 and 10 years outcome.

Intraprostatic hydatid cyst: an unusual presentation.

A case of intraprostatic cyst is reported. The patient presented with a completely evacuated hydatid cyst of the prostate. The intraprostatic cystic cavity that was communicating with the urethra developed urinary stones. The patient had transurethral resection of the prostate, the stones in the cyst were pushed into the bladder and fragmented using a ballistic lithotripter. Pathological examination concluded to a prostatic hydatid cyst that had evacuated through the urethra and was complicated by stone formation within the residual cavity. Postoperative course was uneventful and follow-up did not show evidence of recurrence. This is the first case of hydatid cyst of the prostate to present as an intraprostatic stone pouch.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal ureterolithotomy: initial experience and review of literature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the place of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy in the management of ureteral calculi through an initial experience and review of previously reported cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy was attempted in six patients (five men and one woman) with an age of 31 to 56 years (mean 41.5 years) who had large and impacted stones in the upper ureter. The stone size ranged from 18 to 40 mm (mean 25.7 mm). The retroperitoneal route was used in all cases. RESULTS: The stone was removed in all but one case. The operative time ranged from 120 to 180 minutes (mean 160 minutes). No intraoperative complications were encountered. Postoperative complications included prolonged urinary leak in one patient. On follow-up, all patients were stone free with decompression of the upper urinary tract. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is safe and effective and should be performed each time a ureterolithotomy is indicated.