Oncological and Functional Outcomes of Penile Shaft Sparing Surgery for Localised Penile Cancer: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Penile shaft sparing (PSS) surgery for localised penile cancer (PeCa) aims to balance oncological and functional outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To summarise the published evidence on different PSS approaches. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We performed a systematic review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The systematic search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases up to February 14, 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed retrospective or prospective studies including patients ≥18 yr of age with localised PeCa treated with different PSS approaches, classified as laser ablation, circumcision, wide local excision, glansectomy with or without split skin graft, glans resurfacing, and mixed technique excision. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A quantitative synthesis was not performed due to anticipated data heterogeneity and a lack of comparative studies. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Out of 4343 articles identified, 47 met our inclusion criteria, including 10 847 patients. The year of publication ranged between 1983 and 2021. Nine studies were prospective case series, while the remaining studies were retrospective. No comparative studies were identified. Most of the cases included in these studies were Ta and T1. The oncological outcomes were good for all the approaches, with cancer-specific mortality ranging between 0% and 18%. Sexual and cosmetic outcomes, despite being under-reported, were good for all the approaches, with almost all patients being satisfied with their quality of life after surgery. The Newcastle and Ottawa scale revealed a high or severely high risk of bias in all the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: PSS approaches were safe and had good functional outcomes, considering however the overall low quality of the studies on this issue. PATIENT SUMMARY: The perioperative, function, and oncological outcomes of penile shaft sparing approaches are good. However, high-quality studies are needed to determine whether these approaches benefit patients with localised penile cancer.

What is the effect of laser anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate on the ejaculatory functions? A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Laser anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (LAEEP) has emerged as a promising new approach in endoscopic surgery for BPH. LAEEP could still result in ejaculatory dysfunction. AIM: This systematic review aimed to examine the impact of LAEEP on male ejaculatory functions. METHODS: The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, and 15 records were included. Outcomes of interest included ejaculatory dysfunction (retrograde ejaculation, painful ejaculation, etc.) and validated questionnaire scores. The quality of studies included in the systematic review was determined using QUADAS scoring. RESULTS: We retrieved data for 1877 men in 15 clinical studies investigating LAEEP surgery and reporting EjD rates. While only three of the obtained studies were on thulium fiber (ThuLEP), the rest were on holmium (HoLEP). The definition of "Ejaculatory Dysfunction" was not standardized, but in most works, it is referred to as retrograde ejaculation (RE). There were no data on the relationship between other LAEEP techniques and ejaculation functions. The authors compared the outcomes of used standard laser enucleation techniques with the modified techniques. The RE rate in LAEEP was 62.1 ± 25.1%, 71.3 ± 16.1% in standard techniques, and 27.2 ± 18.1% in ejaculation-preserving modified techniques (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This review demonstrated that ejaculation-preserving techniques, i.e., modified techniques are superior to standard techniques. Studies have also shown that ejaculatory dysfunction rates gradually decrease with long-term follow-ups. Future well-designed studies could further investigate the ejaculation-preserving modification of LAEEP techniques and how they impact EjD rates and other sexual function outcomes.

Penile Autophotography Underestimates the Degree of Penile Curvature in Peyronie's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Penile curvature is the most debilitating symptom of Peyronie's disease (PD); the evaluation of the degree of angulation is essential for planning treatment strategy. However, the most used method of penile at-home autophotography (AHP) is associated with some potential pitfalls and discrepancies compared with different assessment methods. OBJECTIVE: To compare the degree of penile curvature quantified by AHP and in-office intracavernosal alprostadil injection (ICI) prior to therapy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 55 PD patients of a single tertiary referral center were analyzed. All patients provided standardized AHP of the erect phallus. Clinic-based assessment included ICI with curvature measurement and completion of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Wilcoxon and/or chi-square test was used to compare the degree of curvature obtained using AHP and ICI, and to evaluate whether erectile dysfunction was a predictor of a relevant difference of >10° in curvature assessment between AHP and ICI. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Our study showed a significant (p < 0.001) difference in the degree of penile curvature between AHP (48° [38°; 55°]) and ICI (50° [40°; 65°]). Patients suffering from erectile dysfunction tend to have a higher difference in the degree of penile curvature between AHP and ICI than patients with good erectile function (p < 0.001). Our study is not devoid of limitations. First, we did not use Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire, as suggested by the European Association of Urology guidelines. Second, we did not evaluate inter- and intraobserver variations in the measurements. CONCLUSIONS: AHP tends to underestimate the extent of penile curvature compared to ICI. Erectile dysfunction is an independent predictor of measurement differences of >10° between AHP and ICI. PATIENT SUMMARY: It is necessary to evaluate the degree of penile curvature in Peyronie's disease prior to therapy decision. The at-home self-photography underestimates the real degree of penile curvature compared with an erection by in-office penile drug injection. Especially men suffering from erectile dysfunction carry the risk of a high difference in the measured degree of penile curvature, with a potential impact on the further treatment.

Are finasteride-related penile curvature/Peyronie's disease Adverse Event Reports worthy of further clinical investigation? Disproportionality analysis based on both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) pharmacovigilance databases.

A limited number of studies have described patients on finasteride showing findings which were consistent with Peyronie's disease (PD). We aimed to detect a pharmacovigilance signal of possible association between finasteride and PD-related clinical features. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database was queried to identify the ten drugs which were associated the most with the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) recorded as "penile curvature" and/or "Peyronie's disease". A similar analysis, including the same drugs, was carried out for the EMA (European Medicines Agency) EudraVigilance (EV) database. Descriptive data have been analyzed, and Proportional Reporting Ratios (PRRs) have been computed against the other nine drugs of the database. Overall, 860 reports of "penile curvature" and/or "Peyronie's disease", were identified in the FAERS database, 214 of which (24.9%) were associated with finasteride. Most reports (56.9%) were submitted by healthcare professionals. Where a treatment-indication was stated, the vast majority of reports (176/210; 83.8%) were associated with androgenetic alopecia. The outcome of most ADRs was "serious" (82.2%), with 96 ADRs resulting in levels of permanent disability. For 97/214 individual cases, penile curvature/PD reports were not part of a syndromic cluster suggestive of post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). The PRR resulted 6.6 (95% CI: 5.6-7.8) and 11.8 (95% CI: 9.08-15.33), respectively, in the FAERS and in the EV databases. Notwithstanding the related limitations and biasing factors of pharmacovigilance studies based on spontaneous reporting, the PRR values here identified should be interpreted as strong signals of disproportionality. These findings, per se, are however not useful to confirm any causal association. Clinical studies are needed to investigate on the possible role for finasteride in causing PD-related clinical features, an hypothesis which remains highly speculative due to the very questionable quality of present data.

Advances in Penile Prosthesis Surgery: A Clinical Update.

Despite the introduction of effective oral pharmacotherapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), penile implants are still the standard care for patients who do not respond well to medical therapy. Since the first inflatable penile implant surgery was performed almost 40 years ago, a variety of improvements in the penile prosthesis design, and advancements in material science, surgical technique, and post-operative care have been developed to increase patients' satisfaction, as well as that of their partners. Penile implants have evolved vastly during that same time frame and now represent the cutting-edge technology, durability, and function. Here, advancements are reviewed with a focus upon recent developments in surgical techniques and device technology.

Multidisciplinary approach and management of patients who seek medical advice for penile size concerns: a narrative review.

We aimed to provide an overview of the strategies available to manage patients concerned about their penile size and to provide useful surgical hints regarding the most common penile enlargement approaches, based on our surgical expertise in this field. A comprehensive research was carried out on MEDLINE/PubMed database to identify pertinent studies concerning penile enlargement issues. The search strategy included a range of keywords; e.g. penis, penile, enlargement, augmentation, lengthening, girth. Management of penile size-related concerns represents a real challenge for the urologist, especially when dealing with patients suffering from penile dysmorphophobic disorder (PDD). A multidisciplinary preoperative assessment, including a psychiatric/psychological evaluation, may help in discerning those patients who would benefit the most from counselling/conservative management from those who would benefit from surgery instead. Conservative approaches include the use of vacuum-based and penile-stretching devices, which have shown encouraging levels of efficacy and safety. Over the last decades, different surgical strategies have been developed, aimed at either increasing flaccid penile length or improving penile girth. Penile lengthening procedures are more established, and satisfactory results can be achieved by experienced, large referrals' volume, surgeons. To date, there is lack of consensus regarding the penile girth enhancing techniques, and therefore these should be regarded as experimental. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to identify patients with PDD, who should not be offered surgical intervention and should be referred for psychiatric/psychological counselling instead. The surgical approach should be tailored to the subject's unique anatomy and underlying conditions.

Surgical technique and outcomes following coronal-sparing glans resurfacing for benign and malignant penile lesions.

The aim of this study is to describe the outcomes for a modified glans-resurfacing technique for benign and malignant penile conditions in which the uninvolved glans corona is preserved in order to maintain glans erogenous sensation. A total of 13 patients underwent coronal-sparing glans resurfacing (CSGR), with follow-up every 3 months for ≥2 years. Positive surgical margin and local recurrence (LR) rates were evaluated. Surgical complications and cosmetic outcomes were also recorded. Patients were asked to complete the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire starting 12 months after the surgery. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age and follow-up periods were 63 (53-68) years and 29 (14-38) months, respectively. Eight patients were diagnosed with primary penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), three had refractory lichen sclerosus, and two had penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN). No surgical complications were recorded. All patients had a complete graft take and reported satisfactory cosmetic results with preserved erogenous sensation. Two cancer patients developed LR which was managed with further penile preserving surgery. The median (IQR) postoperative IIEF-5 value was 20 (17-23). This modified coronal-sparing technique was suitable for glans lesions that spare the coronal ridge and coronal sulcus. Preservation of the coronal ridge helps maintain sexual function and provides excellent cosmetic outcomes.

Clinical features, molecular characteristics and surgical management of primary penile mucosal melanoma based on the European Association of Urology Penile Cancer Guidelines.

Penile mucosal melanoma is an aggressive and rare genital malignancy. The aim of the present study was to review the management and outcomes of a homogenous cohort of patients with histologically confirmed penile mucosal melanoma, at a single specialist centre. A retrospective review of an institutional database identified patients with penile mucosal melanoma over a 10-year period. Patient demographics, histopathological characteristics, type of primary surgery, recurrence, presence of metastatic disease and molecular markers were evaluated. The management of the patients was initially based on the European Association of Urology (EAU) penile cancer guidelines which are primarily for squamous cell carcinoma with inputs from a melanoma multidisciplinary team. Twelve patients with penile mucosal melanoma were analysed. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] age was 69.5 (67.25-81) years. The overall median follow-up (IQR) was 69.5 (20-114) months, while median follow-up for cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 11.5 (8-37) months. Location of the primary tumour was glans penis (n = 7), urethra (n = 2) and inner prepuce (n = 3). The CSS at 1, 2 and 5 years after primary surgery was 33%, 16.7% and 0%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival at 1, 3 and 5 months after the primary surgery was 90%, 67% and 56%, respectively. All patients with metastatic disease or with inguinal lymph node invasion at presentation, died within 25 months of the primary diagnosis. Management based on the modified EAU penile cancer guidelines still led to poor outcomes. We present a management diagram based on our experience.

Technological Advances in Penile Implant Surgery.

BACKGROUND: During the last century, surgical management of erectile dysfunction has evolved from an experimental concept to a core treatment modality with widespread use among the men's health community. Over time, innovations in materials, mechanical design elements, device coatings, and surgical technique have provided patients with low-risk, reliable, and reproducible erectile function with high satisfaction rates. AIM: To provide a foundation for future innovation by improving understanding of historical penile prosthetics and the rationale behind incremental technological improvements for the contemporary Men's Health physician. METHODS: Literature review was conducted to generate a comprehensive review of historical technological innovations in penile implant surgery. Companies with FDA approved penile prosthetics in use in the United States were contacted for information regarding technological innovations in the past and future devices in development. A separate literature review was performed to identify any significant future device design elements being tested, even in the ex vivo setting, which may have future clinical applications. OUTCOMES: Technological innovations in penile implant surgery were described. RESULTS: Current options for the prosthetic surgeon include malleable penile prostheses (MPP), self-contained (2-piece) inflatable penile prostheses, and multicomponent (3-piece) inflatable penile prostheses. Current MPPs consist of a synthetic coated solid core which allow for manipulation of the penis for concealability while maintaining sufficient axial rigidity to achieve penetration when desired. Multi-component (3-Piece) IPPs currently include the Coloplast Titan and Boston Scientific/AMS 700 which consist of a fluid reservoir, intrascrotal pump, and intracavernosal cylinders. The devices have undergone numerous design updates to the cylinders, pump, reservoir, tubing, and external coatings to increase reliability and decrease short- and long-term complications. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Future innovations in penile prosthetic surgery seek to broaden the indications and applicability to the transgender community and improve both safety and functionality for patient and partner. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The review is limited primarily to penile prosthetics approved for current or historical clinical use in the United States and may not be representative of the global prosthetic environment. Additionally, the research and development of future innovations, particularly those provided by device manufacturers, is likely limited by non-disclosure to maintain a competitive advantage. CONCLUSIONS: Penile prosthetic surgery will undoubtedly remain integral to the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and education regarding the current state of technological innovation will empower the prosthetic surgeon and biomedical engineering community to improve contemporary patient care and drive the development of the next generation of implantable penile prosthetics. Barnard JT, Cakir OO, Ralph D, et al. Technological Advances in Penile Implant Surgery. J Sex Med 2021;18:1158-1166.

Efficiency of intracavitary levobupivacaine infusion for pain management during cystoscopic procedures: A randomised study.

AIM: This study evaluated the effect of intracavitary levobupivacaine infusion diluted with locally applied isotonic solution for pain control in cystoscopy. METHODS: Included in this study are 100 patients who had previously undergone transurethral tumour resection for bladder tumour and were followed up by cystoscopy. The patients were randomised into five groups (n = 20). In the first, second, third, and fourth groups, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mL of levobupivacaine HCl (5.0 mg/mL) were mixed with 26, 24, 22, and 20 mL of isotonic solution, respectively. Hence, the total mixture was 30 mL for each group. The fifth group was the control group. In this group, the standard method commonly used in most clinics was utilised. That is, a gel containing Cathejell-2% lidocaine (25 mg lidocaine) was applied for local analgesia. Cystoscopic interventions were performed with a 17.5 Fr rigid cystoscope and 0°, 30°, and 70° lens. During cystoscopy and 30 min later, the pain status of patients was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and patient satisfaction was questioned. RESULTS: The mean VAS score during and after the cystoscopy procedure was significantly lower in the levobupivacaine groups compared with the lidocaine group. In addition, patient satisfaction in the levobupivacaine groups was significantly higher than in the lidocaine group. No drug-related side-effects were observed in all groups. CONCLUSION: Thus, levobupivacaine is a more effective drug than lidocaine alone to control pain during cystoscopy. The use of levobupivacaine is recommended to prevent possible complications of general anaesthesia by eliminating the need for the aforementioned as well as its cost-saving advantage.

Management of penile cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: An eUROGEN accelerated Delphi consensus study.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an international consensus on managing penile cancer patients during the COVID-19 acute waves. A major concern for patients with penile cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is how the enforced safety measures will affect their disease management. Delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation may have an impact on the extent of the primary lesion as well as the cancer-specific survival because of the development and progression of inguinal lymph node metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the COVID-19 literature was conducted in conjunction with analysis of current international guidelines on the management of penile cancer. Results were presented to an international panel of experts on penile cancer and infection control by a virtual accelerated Delphi process using 4 survey rounds. Consensus opinion was defined as an agreement of ≥80%, which was used to reconfigure management pathways for penile cancer. RESULTS: Limited evidence is available for delaying penile cancer management. The consensus rate of agreement was 100% that penile cancer pathways should be reconfigured, and measures should be developed to prevent perioperative nosocomial transmission of COVID-19. The panel also reached a consensus on several statements aimed at reconfiguring the management of penile cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The international consensus panel proposed a framework for the diagnostic and invasive therapeutic procedures for penile cancer within a low-risk environment for COVID-19.

Frequency of etiological factors among patients with acquired premature ejaculation: prospective, observational, single-center study.

Although premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual dysfunction, its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. Several medical problems such as erectile dysfunction, depression, anxiety, hormonal disorders and chronic prostatitis may play a role in the etiology of acquired PE. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of these etiologic factors among patients with acquired PE. Between May and July 2016, 53 men with acquired PE were included in the study. Self-estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) of these patients was recorded along with their medical history and physical examination findings. Moreover, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), premature ejaculation profile (PEP), anxiety and depression scales (STAI-1, STAI-2, and BECK), and chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) were administered. Fasting plasma glucose, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, total and free testosterone, total prostate specific antigen, thyroid and thyroid stimulating hormone levels were measured. Urine analysis and 2 cup tests were also studied. Mean age of the patients was 42.41 ± 11.14 (22-60). Mean duration of the PE complaint was 34.18 ± 36.76 (3-144) months. Mean IELT time of the patients was 38.28 ± 30.79 (3-180) s. Of the patients; 69.81%, 62.26%, 56.60%, 45.28%, 30.19%, 24.53%, 16.98%, 15.09%, and 7.55% had depression, chronic prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, anxiety, diabetes mellitus, abnormal FSH or LH, hypoprolactinemia, hyperthyroidism, and high testosterone levels, respectively. The results of our study revealed that anxiety disorders, depression, erectile dysfunction, and chronic prostatitis are common among patients with acquired PE and may play role in the etiology of this problem. There is a need for further researches related to the exact pathophysiology of acquired PE with larger number of patients.

The use of serum zinc to prostate-specific antigen ratio as a biomarker in the prediction of prostate biopsy outcomes.

AIM: To generate a combination of serum zinc (Zn) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in an attempt to provide better prediction of prostate biopsy outcomes with Zn/PSA ratios. MATERIALS & METHODS: Diagnostic performances of PSA and Zn/PSA were investigated using receiver operating characteristic and the area under the curve analysis and McNemar test in 480 men. Decision curve analysis was also used to determine the net clinical benefits of the two parameters. RESULTS: The receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve analysis established a similar diagnostic performance for both parameters. Although Zn/PSA had a higher diagnostic sensitivity, PSA was superior in terms of specificity and net clinical benefits. CONCLUSION: Zn/PSA has no substantial superiority in the prediction of prostate biopsy outcomes.

Effect of Onabotulinum Toxin A on Substance P and Receptor Neurokinin 1 in the Rat Ventral Prostate.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this work is to examine if sensory innervation impacts lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Onabotulinum toxin A (BoNTA) has been used for the treatment of overactive and neurogenic bladder and as a treatment for LUTS secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The mechanism of how BoNTA impacts LUTS/BPH is unclear. In rats, BoNTA injection causes prostate denervation, apoptosis and atrophy. In clinical trials reduced prostate size and LUTS are observed inconsistently, suggesting a neurologic component. We will examine if BoNTA treatment inhibits substance P production in sensory nerve fibers in the rat prostate. METHODS: Twenty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups including 1X PBS (control, n=6), 2.5 units Onabotulinum toxin A (BoNTA, n=6), 5 units BoNTA (n=6) injected into both lobes of the ventral prostate (VP) and sham surgery (n=2). Rats were Euthanized after one week. Substance P and its receptor neurokinin 1 localization and quantification were performed by counting the number of stained neurons and nerve bundles, by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis and by western analysis. RESULTS: Substance P was localized in neuronal axons and bundles in the stroma of the VP but not in the epithelium. Receptor neurokinin 1 was identified in neuronal bundles of the stroma and in columnar epithelium of the VP ducts. Substance P decreased ~90% after BoNTA treatment (p=0.0001) while receptor neurokinin 1 did not change by IHC (p=0.213) or Western (p=0.3675). CONCLUSIONS: BoNTA treatment decreases substance P in the rat VP.

Undertreatment of erectile dysfunction: claims analysis of 6.2 million patients.

INTRODUCTION: Prior research conducted on treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been derived from surveys involving relatively small populations of men. There are needs for large population-based studies in this area. Our study addresses that need. AIM: The aim of this study was to characterize ED treatment among a large population of men. METHODS: Patients ≥30 years in commercial insurance dataset with diagnosis code for ED during 12-month period ending June 2011 were identified. Men were considered "treated" if prescription was filled for phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), injection or urethral prostaglandins, or androgen replacement (ART) during study period. "Untreated" patients received the diagnosis but did not fill prescription. Statistical analyses were used to compare prescription frequency with clinical characteristics, including age and comorbidities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ED treatment rates among large population of insured men, treatment types employed, patient demographics, associated medical comorbidities of this population, and prescriber details were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Only 25.4% of 6,228,509 men with ED were treated during study period. While PDE5is were the most commonly prescribed medical therapy (75.2%), ART was utilized as monotherapy or in combination therapy in 30.6% of men. ART was significantly (P < 0.0001) more frequently used in men <40 and >65 years. Although ED frequency was associated with increased age and number of comorbidities, men >60 years were significantly (P < 0.0001) less likely to be treated compared with men aged 40-59 years. Additionally, treatment frequency did not vary as a function of number of comorbidities. However, compared with men with prostate cancer, men with comorbid hypogonadism, sleep disorders, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or components of metabolic syndrome were (P < 0.0001) more likely to be treated. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high prevalence of ED with age and comorbidities, most men continue receiving no treatment. Although benefits of medical intervention for ED are well-recognized, many barriers to treatment continually exist including physician, patient and partner preference and knowledge.

Increased expression of EZH2, a polycomb group protein, in bladder carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Recent experiments have demonstrated that polycomb group gene enhancer zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is highly expressed in many cancer types. Therefore, we aim to demonstrate EZH2 gene expression in transitional cell bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for detection of EZH2 mRNA levels in healthy and cancerous human bladder specimens. Also, expression of the particular protein was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry to confirm RT-PCR results. RESULTS: Gradually increased expression of EZH2 was detected by mRNA and protein levels in highly advanced bladder cancer specimens. In contrast, 100% of control subjects were negative for EZH2 expression. The expression of EZH2 was more frequent in G3 (92%) than G1-G2 (62-63%) and more frequent in T1-2 (72-85%) than Ta (56%). Western blot analysis results confirm the RT-PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: EZH2 overexpression precedes high frequencies of proliferation and the gradual advance of bladder cancer. These observations suggest that deregulated expression of EZH2 is associated with bladder carcinoma.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the epididymis: case report.

Primary epididymal malignancies are uncommon and usually benign. Benign paratesticular tumors are most commonly adenomatoid, while the most common malignant paratesticular tumors are rhabdomyosarcomas. Approximately 25% of all epididymal tumors are malignant, and of the benign tumors, 60% to 78% are adenomatoid tumors. According to a recent MEDLINE search using epididymis and adenocarcinoma as key words, reports of a primary epididymal adenocarcinoma are extremely rare with only 23 cases in the literature. We report a case of epididymal adenocarcinoma with clinical follow up and metastatic natural history of this rare malignancy.