Perineal recurrence of prostate cancer along a brachytherapy needle track: A case report.

Metastatic recurrence in an atypical site, such as the perineum, can occur after prostatectomy, cryotherapy, or brachytherapy, but is uncommon. To our knowledge, this is only the third case of perineal recurrence of prostatic cancer along a low dose rate brachytherapy needle track. A 64-year-old man was referred to an urologist with an increased PSA of 6.9ng/mL in December 2008. There were no urinary symptoms. Prostatic biopsies revealed a Gleason 6 adenocarcinoma (3+3), and he was treated with low dose rate brachytherapy in May 2009. Sixty-seven seeds of iodine 125 were loaded under ultrasound control, and the PSA subsequently fell to a nadir of 1.19ng/mL in November 2015. Eight years (May 2017) after the initial treatment, the PSA rose to 5.2ng/mL. Pelvic MRI and choline PET revealed a nodule in the region of the left internal obturator muscle. Nodule biopsies confirmed prostatic origin. This perineal recurrence is thus most likely related to seeding of tumour cells along the track of a brachytherapy needle. To our knowledge, this is only the fourth case of perineal recurrence of prostatic cancer along a low-dose rate brachytherapy needle track. Perineal recurrence of prostatic cancer along a LDR brachytherapy needle track can occur. Improved imaging techniques may help to identify this type of recurrence earlier and optimise treatment.

The accuracy of renal tumor biopsy: analysis from a national prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess preoperative renal tumor biopsy (RTB) accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of the prospective NEPHRON study, data from 1,237 renal tumors were collected, including the use and results of RTB and final histology following nephrectomy. During the 6 months period of inclusion, 130 preoperative biopsies were performed. We used the kappa coefficient of the McNemar test to determine the concordance between the biopsy and the nephrectomy specimen (NS) regarding four parameters: malignant/benign status, histological subtype, Fuhrman grade and microscopic necrosis. RESULTS: Preoperative biopsies were performed in 9.7 and 11.4 % of the 667 radical and 570 partial nephrectomies, respectively. Tumor biopsy was inconclusive in 7.7 % of the cases. In 117 cases, a comparison between RTB and NS was available. Benign tumors accounted for three (2.6 %) and five (4.3 %) of the RTB and NS, respectively (κ = 0.769, good). With seven (6 %) discordant results in terms of histological subtype characterization between RTB and final pathology, RTB accuracy was considered excellent (κ = 0.882). In 33 cases (31.7 %), Fuhrman grade was underestimated at biopsy resulting in an intermediate concordance level (κ = 0.498). Tumor microscopic necrosis was identified in 12 RTB (10.4 %) versus 33 NS (28.4 %) (κ = 0.357, poor). CONCLUSIONS: RTB provides good to excellent diagnostic performance for discriminating malignancy and tumor histological subtype. However, its performance is intermediate or even poor when considering prognostic criteria like Fuhrman grade or microscopic necrosis. Thus, this possible inaccuracy should be taken into consideration when using RTB for accurate guidance of treatment strategy.

[Nephron-sparing surgery is superior to radical nephrectomy in preserving renal function outcome in tumors larger than 4 cm]. / Intérêt de la néphrectomie partielle pour la préservation de la fonction rénale des patients ayant une tumeur rénale de plus de 4 cm.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to analyse whether nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) was superior to radical nephrectomy (RN) in preserving renal function outcome in tumors larger than 4cm. METHODS: The data from 888 patients who had been operated upon at eight french university hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) pre- and post-surgery was calculated with the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. For a fair comparison between the two techniques, all imperative indications for NSS and all GFR<30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were excluded from analysis. A shift to a less favorable DFG group following surgery was considered clinically significant. RESULTS: Seven hundred and thirty patients were suitable for comparison. Median age at diagnosis was 60 years (19-88). Tumors measuring more than 4cm represented 359 (49.2%) cases. NSS and RN were performed in 384 (52.6%) and 346 (47.4%) patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, patients undergoing NSS had a smaller risk than RN of developing significant GFR change following surgery. This was true for tumors≤4cm (P=0.0001) and for tumors>4cm (P=0.018). In multivariate analysis, the following criteria were independent predictive factors for developing significant postoperative GFR loss: the use of RN (P=0.001), decreased preoperative DFG (P=0.006), increased age at diagnosis (P=0.001) and increased ASA score (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: The renal function benefit offered by elective NSS over RN persists even when expanding NSS indications beyond the traditional 4 cm cut-off.

[Renal LESS surgery: Slight modification or surgical revolution?]. / La néphrectomie laparoscopique par accès ombilical unique : évolution ou révolution chirurgicale ?

OBJECTIVE: to present our initial experience of laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) renal surgery. METHODS: between May 2009 and March 2010, nine nephrectomies and one cyst decortication were performed in nine patients. Eight of the procedures were done with three 5mm trocars inserted through a unique peri-umbilical incision. In two cases, a specific single-port device was used. All operations were achieved with a 5-mm 30° lens and conventional laparoscopic instruments. The specimens were entrapped in a 10mm endoscopic bag and extracted through the umbilical incision. RESULTS: mean age was 56 years old. Mean BMI was 23.5 [19-34]. Mean operative time was 149min [80-240], and estimated blood loss was 90ml [20-250]. None of the patients required blood transfusion. Mean length of stay was 4.1 days [3-5]. Only one major complication occurred (functional occlusion). One conversion to conventional laparoscopy was necessary in a case of inflammatory kidney. Histologic exam showed benign lesions (cyst and non functional kidney) in seven cases, and papillary carcinoma in three cases. CONCLUSION: LESS surgery is feasible. Its advantages over conventional laparoscopy are not clear. LESS is a new procedure that should benefit from the improvement of technical instrumentation.

[How radical nephrectomy compares to partial nephrectomy for the treatment of pT1a papillary renal cell carcinomas?]. / Comment se comparent néphrectomies partielles et élargies pour le traitement des carcinomes papillaires pT1aN0M0? Etude comparative rétrospective de 277 cas.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to compare oncologic results of nephron sparing surgery (NSS) versus radical nephrectomy (RN) in T1aN0-x M0 papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 277 patients treated for a pT1aN0M0 PRCC selected from an academic database from 12 centres. We compared the clinico-pathological features by using Chi-square and Student statistical analyses. Survivals analyses using Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank models were performed. RESULTS: The two groups were composed by 186 patients treated by NSS and 91 by RN. The TNM stage was fixed and the two groups were, in terms of age and Fuhrman grade, comparable. Median age at diagnosis was 59 years (27-85). Median tumor size was 2.7 cm (0.4-4). The average follow-up was 49 months (1-246). Very few events arose in both groups: two local recurrences were observed in the NSS group (1.07%), three patients died of cancer in the NSS treated group (1.6%) and five in the RN treated group (5.5%). The five and 10 cancer-specific survival rate were comparable in the two groups (98% vs. 100% and 98% vs. 97%). The specific survival curves were perfectly similar for both groups (log rank test, p=0.25). CONCLUSION: NSS is equivalent to RN as far as oncologic control of pT1aN0M0 PRCC is concerned.

The use of partial nephrectomy in European tertiary care centers.

PURPOSE: The objective was to define the trends of PN use over time at six tertiary care European centers. METHODS: Data were retrieved from institutional databases for patients treated with either PN or radical nephrectomy (RN) for stages T(1-2)N(0)M(0) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between 1987 and 2007. For purpose of temporal trend analyses patients were divided into five equally sized groups according to the date of surgery. Categorical and multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed predictors of PN use. RESULTS: Overall 597 (31.7%) patients were treated with PN. Overall, a 4.5-fold increase of PN was recorded. The absolute increases were 41.7-86.3%, 14.9-69.3% and 8.1-35.3% for lesions < or = 2 cm, 2.1-4 cm and 4.1-7 cm (chi-square trend test p<0.001), respectively. In multivariable logistic regression models, decreasing tumor size, younger age, more contemporary date of surgery, male gender and institutional PN rate represented independent predictors of the individual probability of treatment with PN. Lack of data from community hospitals limits the generalizability of our findings. CONCLUSION: Based on data from six tertiary care centers, the contemporary rate of PN ranges from 86 to 35% for renal masses < or = 2 cm to 4.1-7 cm and is indicative of excellent quality of care.

[Does tumour diameter still limit the indications for partial nephrectomy in 2008?]. / La taille tumorale limite-t-elle encore les indications de la néphrectomie partielle en 2008 ?

The indications for partial or radical nephrectomy of a kidney tumour are based on tumour diameter with a cut-off of 4cm. Tumour diameter has been demonstrated to be a continuous prognostic parameter which, ideally, should be integrated into multivariate prognostic models. The 4cm cut-off is reasonable, but was established pragmatically on the basis of series comprising selection biases. At least six series now question the validity of this cut-off, and some of them have demonstrated that partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy are equivalent in terms of cancer control for pT1b tumours. Furthermore, the excess mortality induced by broader indications for partial nephrectomy appears to be acceptable. These data appear to suggest that the feasibility of partial nephrectomy should be considered regardless of tumour diameter before proposing the indication for radical nephrectomy.

[What is the clinical practice of partial nephrectomy in France?]. / Quelle pratique de la néphrectomie partielle en France ?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the practice of partial nephrectomy (PN) in France and assess its results in terms of morbidity and cancer control. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Seven French University Hospitals in which nephron sparing surgery represents at least 30% of the total number of nephrectomies for renal tumour, participated in this study. All centres included, as exhaustively as possible, all their PN cases. For each patient, 70 variables were harvested in order to characterize the patient population, the indications, the operative technique, the per- and postoperative course and complications, the tumor specificities, the carcinologic control and renal function follow-up. RESULTS: Seven hundred and forty-one PN, of which 579 for malignant tumours were analysed. The mean tumour size was 3.4+/-2.1 cm (0.1-18) and 20.8% of the tumours were larger than 4 cm. In 30.1% of cases, the indication was imperative. Among the PN, 12.2% were performed laparoscopically. The mean operating time was 151+/-54.2 min (55-420). The medical and surgical complications rates were respectively 15.2 and 14.7%. At a mean 38 months follow-up, the local recurrence rate was 3.5% and the specific death rate was 4.5%. CONCLUSION: PN is nowadays getting a more and more widely used technique in France. This expansion is completely justified by its results and urologists must consider nephron sparing surgery as the gold standard treatment for renal tumours measuring less than 4 cm.

[Do broader indications for partial nephrectomy result in excess morbidity?]. / Elargir les indications de la néphrectomie partielle induit-il un surcroît de morbidité? Une étude multicentrique française.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morbidity of partial nephrectomy (PN) according to tumour size and the type of indication based on a multicentre retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven French teaching hospitals participated in this study. Data concerning tumour size, indication for PN (elective or necessity), age, gender, TNM stage, histological type, Fuhrman grade, ASA score and performance status (ECOG) were analysed. Medical and surgical complications, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion rate and length of hospital stay were also studied. Statistical analysis of qualitative and quantitative variables was performed with Chi-square test (Fisher's test) and Student t-test. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety one patients were included. The median tumour diameter was 3cm (0.4-18). Tumours measuring less or equal to 4cm and incidental tumours represented 77.7 and 80.7% of cases, respectively. Clear cell carcinomas represented 75.1% of malignant tumours. Some 89.1% of tumours were T1, 1.6% were N+ and 2.3% were M+. In the 486 elective indications: the operating time (p = 0.03), mean blood loss (p = 0.04), and urinary fistula rate (p = 0.01) were significantly higher in tumours greater than 4cm. These differences were not associated with an increase in the medical (p = 0.7) or surgical complication rate (p = 0.2), or the length of hospital stay (p = 0.4). CONCLUSION: Broader indications for elective PN is associated with an increased morbidity but which remains acceptable. This is an important point for patient information and to guide the choice of surgical strategy, particularly in elderly, frail patients or patients with major comorbidities.