Elevating precision: A thorough investigation of multiparametric prostate MRI for prolonged insights into early continence prediction after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: While radical prostatectomy stands out as one of the most effective curative treatments for prostate cancer, it does come with annoying side effects, such as urinary incontinence (UI). We aimed to investigate the predictability of UI using MRI measurements, along with clinical and disease-related variables. METHODS: We included 191 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between July 2020 and October 2022 in the study. Preoperative MRIs of the patients are re-evaluated by an experienced uroradiologist, and membranous urethral length (MUL), urethra wall thickness, levator ani thickness, outer levator distance, Lee's apex shape, intravesical prostate protrusion length, prostate apex depth, and pubic height measurements were made. Additionally, retrospective data on patients' age, BMI, PSA, PSA density, prostate volume, IPSS, clinical stage, and nerve-sparing status were collected. Patients were categorized into two groups based on continence status in the third postoperative month: continent or incontinent. The definition of UI was accepted as the use of one or more pads per day. RESULTS: UI was observed in 38.21 % of the patients in the postoperative third month. Among MRI measurements, only MUL showed a significant relationship with UI (p < 0.001). IPSS (p = 0.004) and Clinical Stage (p < 0.001) were also significantly associated with continence status. Logistic regression analysis identified BMI (p = 0.023; CI 0.73-0.97), IPSS (p = 0.002; CI 1.03-1.17), MUL (p = 0.001; CI 0.66-0.90), and Clinical Stage (p < 0.001; CI 1.53-2.71) as significant predictors. In Multivariable Regression analysis, Clinical Stage emerged as the most powerful predictor of UI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Except for MUL, MRI measurements may not predict postoperative UI. A combination of IPSS, clinical stage, and MUL effectively informs patients about postoperative outcomes. These findings contribute to enhancing preoperative counseling for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Preoperative Prediction of Muscle Invasiveness in Bladder Cancer: The Role of 3D Volumetric Radiomics Using Diffusion-Weighted MRI, the VI-RADS Score, or a Combination of Both.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer treatment decisions hinge on detecting muscle invasion. The 2018 "Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System" (VI-RADS) standardizes multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) use. Radiomics, an analysis framework, provides more insightful information than conventional methods. PURPOSE: To determine how well MIBC (Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer) and NMIBC (Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer) can be distinguished using mp-MRI radiomics features. METHODS: We conducted a study with 73 bladder cancer patients diagnosed pathologically, who underwent preoperative mp-MRI from January 2020 to July 2022. Utilizing 3D Slicer (version 4.8.1) and Pyradiomics, we manually extracted radiomic features from apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps created from diffusion-weighted imaging. The LASSO approach identified optimal features, and we addressed sample imbalance using SMOTE. We developed a classification model using textural features alone or combined with VI-RADS, employing a random forest classifier with 10-fold cross-validation. Diagnostic performance was assessed using the area under the ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Among 73 patients (63 men, 10 women; median age: 63 years), 41 had muscle-invasive and 32 had superficial bladder cancer. Muscle invasion was observed in 25 of 41 patients with VI-RADS 4 and 5 scores and 12 of 32 patients with VI-RADS 1, 2, and 3 scores (accuracy: 77.5%, sensitivity: 67.7%, specificity: 88.8%). The combined VI-RADS score and radiomics model (AUC = 0.92 ± 0.12) outperformed the single radiomics model using ADC MRI (AUC = 0.83 ± 0.22 with 10-fold cross-validation) in this dataset. CONCLUSION: Before undergoing surgery, bladder cancer invasion in muscle might potentially be predicted using a radiomics signature based on mp-MRI.

Risk Factors of Open Surgery Conversion in Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy to Achieve Nephron Sparing.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for the conversion from laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) to open surgery to achieve partial nephrectomy (PN). METHODS: Data from patients who underwent LPN between June 2020 and September 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients in whom the PN procedure could be completed laparoscopically were recorded as the 'Fully Laparoscopic' (FL) group (n = 97), and those converted to open surgery from laparoscopy were recorded as the 'Conversion to Open' (CTO) group (n = 10). The demographic and pathologic variables were compared between groups. Regression analyses were used to define predictor factors, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to define the cut-off value of the surgical bleeding volume. RESULTS: Conversion to open surgery was found in 10/107 patients (9.3%). There was no statistical difference between groups in demographic and pathologic variables. Intraoperative blood loss volume, upper pole localized tumor, and posterior localized tumor were found to be statistically higher in the CTO group (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.043, respectively). Furthermore, these factors were only found to be statistically significant predictors of conversion to open surgery in both univariate and multivariate regression analyses. 235 cc was found to be the cut-off value of intraoperative blood loss volume for predicting conversion to open surgery (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Using these predictive factors in clinical practice, treatment planning will lead to the possibility of starting the treatment directly with open surgery instead of minimally invasive options, and it may also provide a chance of being prepared for the possibility of conversion to open surgery peroperatively.

A New Nephrometry Score for Predicting Positive Surgical Margin After Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To introduce the KESKIN ratio as a novel predictor of positive surgical margin (PSM) after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) and to evaluate other clinical characteristics and nephrometry scores (including RENAL, PADUA, and C-index) for predicting PSM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 95 patients who underwent laparoscopic PN between June 2020 and April 2023. The KESKIN ratio was defined for all patients. The KESKIN ratio, tumor and patient-related paramaters, and nephrometry scores were analyzed to predict PSM. RESULTS: Positive surgical margin was found in 12 of 95 patients (12.6%). There was no statistical difference between the PSM and negative surgical margin (NSM) groups in RENAL, PADUA, and C-index scores. Only the KESKIN ratio was found to be a statistically significant predictor of PSM in both univariate and multivariate regression analysis (p = 0.007 and p = 0.043, respectively). Mean endophytic diameter and endophytic percentage were found to be statistically significant predictors of PSM in only univariate analysis (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01, respectively). The value of 0.5 was determined as the cut-off value for the KESKIN ratio. Values higher than 0.5 indicate an increase in PSM. CONCLUSIONS: The KESKIN ratio is a novel, easily measurable, and calculable image-based parameter that can be used to predict PSM after laparascopic PN. If externally validated in a larger patient population, the KESKIN ratio may be used in future versions of the current nephrometry scoring systems for predicting the PSM.

Effect of preoperative single-dose methylprednisolone administration on early postoperative pain following retrograde intrarenal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of preoperative single-dose methylprednisolone use on postoperative early pain after retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). METHODS: Patients who had 10-20 mm solitary kidney stones and underwent RIRS procedures were included in this prospective cohort study between February 2022 and May 2023. Patients who were administered methylprednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg preoperatively were included in group 1 (n: 31), and the other first 90 patients who met the inclusion criteria and did not receive methylprednisolone before surgery were included in group 2 (n: 90). Demographic data, features of stone, postoperative pain at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hour, the need for analgesics, changes in serum glucose levels, and the prevalence of postoperative fever were compared. RESULTS: Age, sex, stone laterality, localization, size, Hounsfield Unit, modified Satava scores, stone-free status, duration of the RIRS procedure, and duration of the ureteral access sheath were found to be similar between groups. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at postoperative 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h were found to be statistically significantly lower in group 1 (p = .001, p = .001, p = .001, p = .001, and p = .001, respectively). Similarly, postoperative analgesic requirements were found to be significantly lower in group 1 (p = .048) with a similar postoperative fever rate and changes in serum glucose levels between groups. CONCLUSION: Giving a single dose of methylprednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg preoperatively for the RIRS procedure is safe and effective at preventing early pain and the need for analgesics after the RIRS procedure.

Use of autologous fascia in midurethral sling surgeries; comparison of transobtrator and retropubic ways.

OBJECTIVES: To compare autologous transobturator-tape (A-TOT) and autologous transvaginal tape (A-TVT) surgeries in terms of effectivity and complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Preoperative data, duration of the operation, complications and postoperative visual analogue scores were noted. Patients were assessed 12 months after surgery. An objective cure was defined as a negative CST and no need for reoperation due to SUI. Subjective cure was defined as a PGI-I score ≤ 2. Symptom severity and QoL were measured using the total score and the total QoL score of the ICIQ-FLUTS. RESULTS: Retrospectively 44 patients (A-TOT:29, A-TVT:15) were enrolled in this study. Mean follow-18 months. Preoperative parameters were similar. The VAS score at the 8th hour postoperatively was higher in the A-TOT group and similar at the 24th h (p = 0.007 and p = 0.587, respectively). Grade 3 complications according to clavien dindo were only observed in the A-TOT group. At 12 month the objective cure rates according to CST were 96.5% and 100 the subjective cure rates according to PGI-I veew 96.5% and 100%. A positive CST findingwasrecorded in one patient (3.3%) in the A-TOT group. Total score and total quality of life (QoL) scores on the ICIQ-FLUTS were found to be significantly improved in both groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) (Tab. 4). Similar improvements were found in both groups in the overall and quality of life subscores of the ICIQ-FLUTS filling and voiding sections (p = 0.476, p = 0.315, p = 0.520, and p = 0.448, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The A-TOT technique has objective, subjective cure, and overall complication rates comparable to those of the A-TVT technique. The use of autologous fascia provides an opportunity to avoid mesh-related complications.

Transrectal shear wave elastography for detection of prostate cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the value of transrectal shear-wave-elastography(SWE) to differentiate benign and malignant tissues in patients with suspected prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January and May 2019, the study was designed as a prospective clinical study. The SWE value of 504 cores measured before biopsy and the pathology result of each core were used in the statistical analysis. The SWE values of benign and malignant cores were compared according to pathology results. ROC analysis was used to calculate the best cut-off SWE value for differentiating malignancy from benign tissues. Specificity, sensitivity, negative, and positive predictive values (NPV, PPV) were also calculated for cut-off value. RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 74 (14.7%) of 504 core biopsies. The mean SWE values were found significantly higher in malignant cores (71.1 kPa) than benign cores (42.3 kPa) (p < 0.001). Cores with gleason score 7 had a significantly higher SWE value than Gleason score 6 (p = 0.009). The cut-off value to differentiate malignancy and area-under-curve were calculated 35.85 kPa, 0.733, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV were 83%, 49%, 78%, and 95%, respectively for 35.85 kPa value. CONCLUSIONS: The malignant tissues have significantly higher SWE values. Also high gleason score was shown to be associated with high SWE values. To predict the prostate cancer, the difference of SWE values of between benign and malignant tissues has high sensitivity. In the near future, to prevent unnecessary prostate biopsies, SWE will be part of the standard protocol for prostate imaging.