Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the urinary bladder: A systematic review of the literature and report of a case.

Introduction: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are intermediate-grade lesions that frequently recur and rarely metastasize. There are currently no guidelines on the management of bladder IMTs. This systematic review aims to describe the clinical presentation and compare the management options for bladder IMTs. Methods: A PubMed/Medline search was conducted, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, using the following Mesh terms: ("inflammatory myofibroblastic") AND ("tumor") OR ("tumor") AND ("bladder") AND ("case report"). A total of 75 case reports were included in the analysis. Results: The mean age of the patients was 36 years. 65% of the cases initially presented with hematuria. 68% of the tumors stained positive for anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and 20% invaded the muscularis. Patients underwent either transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) only (34%), TURBT followed by complementary partial cystectomy (16%), or TURBT followed by radical cystectomy (4%). 36% and 9% of the cases underwent partial and radical cystectomy after the initial diagnosis, respectively. Cystectomies were performed using an open (74%), laparoscopic (14%), robotic-assisted (10%), or unknown (2%) approach. At a mean follow-up of 14 months, the recurrence and metastasis rates were about 9% and 4%, respectively. In addition, we present the case of a 49-year-old woman with a bladder IMT who underwent TURBT followed by laparoscopic partial cystectomy. The patient remains tumor free postoperatively (follow-up period of 12 months). Conclusion: A complete surgical excision of the bladder IMT is crucial for the optimal management of these cases. Proper differentiation of this tumor from sarcoma or leiomyosarcoma leads to the best outcomes.

Is "Kidney Stone Calculator" efficient in predicting ureteroscopic lithotripsy duration? A holmium:YAG and thulium fiber lasers comparative analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Kidney Stone Calculator (KSC), a flexible ureteroscopy surgical planning software, to predict the lithotripsy duration with both holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) and thulium fiber laser (TFL). METHODS: A multicenter prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to April 2023. Patients with kidney or ureteral stones confirmed at non-contrast computed tomography and treated by flexible ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy were enrolled. "Kidney Stone Calculator" provided stone volume and subsequent lithotripsy duration estimation using three-dimensional segmentation of the stone on computed tomography and the graphical user interface for laser settings. The primary endpoint was the quantitative and qualitative comparison between estimated and effective lithotripsy durations. Secondary endpoints included subgroup analysis (Ho:YAG-TFL) of differences between estimated and effective lithotripsy durations and intraoperative outcomes. Multivariate analysis assessed the association between pre- and intraoperative variables and these differences according to laser source. RESULTS: 89 patients were included in this study, 43 and 46 in Ho:YAG and TFL groups, respectively. No significant difference was found between estimated and effective lithotripsy durations (27.37 vs 28.36 min, p = 0.43) with a significant correlation (r = + 0.89, p < 0.001). Among groups, this difference did not differ (p = 0.68 and 0.07, respectively), with a higher correlation between estimated and effective lithotripsy durations for TFL compared to Ho:YAG (r = + 0.95, p < 0.001 vs r = + 0.81, p < 0.001, respectively). At multivariate analysis, the difference was correlated with preoperative (volume > 2000 mm3 (Ho:YAG), 500-750 mm3 SV and calyceal diverticulum (TFL)), operative (fragmentation setting (p > 0.001), and basket utilization (p = 0.05) (Ho:YAG)) variables. CONCLUSION: KSC is a reliable tool for predicting the lithotripsy duration estimation during flexible ureteroscopy for both Ho:YAG and TFL. However, some variables not including laser source may lead to underestimating this estimation.

Post-Pandemic Aftermath: A Two-Year Follow-Up of the Effect of COVID-19 on Oncological Outcomes after Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the indirect effect of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the surgical outcomes and oncological results of patients who underwent surgery during the lockdown period. METHODS: We analysed data from 423 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2016 and 2022, with a cut-off date of March 16, 2020. Patients were categorised into two groups, namely, pre-lockdown (n = 289) and during lockdown (n = 134). Perioperative variables, histopathological findings and oncological outcomes, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and biochemical recurrence (BCR), were assessed. RESULTS: The number of radical prostatectomy increased by 24.26% during lockdown. The study included patients with a mean follow-up of 21 months. A nonsignificant trend towards a higher PSA level at presentation was found (14.22 vs. 12.53 ng/dL, p = 0.216). The International Society of Urological Pathology grade was not significantly different among radical prostatectomy specimens (p = 0.669). Lymph node involvement increased during the COVID-19 period (p = 0.046). The pT classification in prostatectomy specimens increased during the pandemic, but the difference from the pre-pandemic value was not statistically significant. The BCR rates were 24.6% pre-lockdown and 29.9% during lockdown (p = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic led to poor postoperative results. Through a 2-year follow-up, this research investigated the effect of the pandemic on the oncological outcomes, particularly BCR, of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Further extended investigations and multi-institutional studies should be conducted to quantify the effect of the pandemic on various cancer outcomes and inform crisis management strategies.

Impact of bladder cancer family history on the prognosis of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG).

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of having first-degree relatives (FDR) with bladder cancer (BC) among non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with Bacillus Calmette - Guérin (BCG) on their oncological outcomes. METHODS: The National Phase II BCG/Interferon (IFN) trial database from 125 sites in the U.S.A. (1999-2001) and multi-institutional databases from France (FR) and Lebanon (LB) (2000-2021) were queried for NMIBC patients treated with BCG. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the effect of BC family history on tumor recurrence and progression in their relatives. RESULTS: There were 867 patients in the U.S.A. cohort and 1232 patients in the FR/LB cohort. Almost 8% of patients in both cohorts had FDR with BC. Patients in the FR/LB cohort were more likely to have carcinoma in situ tumors (CIS) (41% vs. 24%, p < 0.01). Having FDR with BC was not significantly associated with tumor recurrence or progression in the U.S.A. cohort. Conversely, on multivariable analysis FDR history was significantly associated with a 2.10 times increased risk of recurrence (p < 0.01) and a 3.01 times increased risk of progression (p < 0.01) in the FR/LB cohort. CONCLUSION: A family history of BC could have an important impact on the response to BCG.

Comprehensive Analysis of Perioperative Factors Influencing the Risk of Biochemical Recurrence in Patients with Radical Prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the perioperative factors that influence the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with localized PCa undergoing radical prostatectomy Materials and Methods: A total of 457 patients, operated by 2 surgeons in our high-volume oncological center were included in the initial database. Patients who underwent RP for clinically localized PCa in our clinic from 2016 to 2021 were included in the study. Perioperative data were retrospectively reviewed for this study. Follow-up data including post-operative PSA and adjuvant treatment was prospectively gathered by contacting the patients or from the follow-up consultation. Final database was composed of 366 patients who underwent open or 3D laparoscopic RP. Statistical analysis was performed to emphasize the most powerful parameters that influence the BCR.  Results: Accounting for multivariable analysis, 4 parameters were statistically significant: initial PSA (iPSA), Gleason score, vascular involvement and positive surgical margins. For the group of patients with no positive margins, 3 parameters were statistically significant: iPSA above 10,98 ng/mL (AUC=0,71); lymph node involvement and Gleason score. Multivariable Cox regression showed that positive margins and iPSA had a significant impact on the time to BCR. Patients that received adjuvant therapy were excluded from the study. Out of the whole cohort, 27,3% of patients presented BCR. CONCLUSION: Perioperative factors need to be carefully analyzed and a detailed follow-up needs to be conducted in order to assess the risk of biochemical recurrence, resulting in the optimal time for adjuvant treatment implementation.

Combination intravesical chemotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) as first-line or rescue therapy: where do we stand now?

INTRODUCTION: The combination of intravesical gemcitabine (Gem) with docetaxel (Doce) or with mitomycin C (MMC) has been used in the primary setting as an alternative to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to treat high-risk (HR) and intermediate-risk (IR) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), as well in the rescue setting for patients in whom BCG has failed. AREA COVERED: Efficacy and safety of Gem/Doce and Gem/MMC to treat NMIBC in BCG-naive and failure settings. EXPERT OPINION: In the BCG-naive setting, Gem/Doce was the primary alternative combination therapy reported, with a weighted mean of 12- and 24-month recurrence-free survival (RFS) of 79% and 77% for HR disease and 84% and 76% for IR disease, respectively. In the HR BCG-failure setting, the weighted mean of 12- and 24-month RFS was 60% and 42% for Gem/Doce and 63% and 40% for Gem/MMC. While patients without BCG exposure and papillary disease only benefit the most from Gem/Doce, there is also reasonable efficacy in BCG refractory disease and CIS. Combination therapy is well tolerated, with grade III toxicity reported in less than 1% of patients. Unlike single-agent chemotherapy, intravesical Gem/Doce is considered effective and safe regardless of risk-stratification.

Cut-off time for surgery and prediction of orchiectomy in spermatic cord torsion: a retrospective multicentric study over 15 years.

PURPOSE: Cut-off time to avoid orchiectomy relies on small series of patients. The objective was to determine the cut-off time to avoid orchiectomy in torsion of the spermatic cord in a large cohort. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter study (TORSAFUF cohort) of patients with suspected spermatic cord torsion between 2005 and 2019. All patients aged > 12 years who were suspected of having a torsion of the spermatic cord in 14 University Hospitals in France were included (n = 2986). Patients for whom data on pain duration were not available (n = 923) or for whom the final diagnosis was not torsion of the spermatic cord (n = 807) were excluded. The primary outcome was orchiectomy. The secondary outcomes were testicular survival time and the prediction of orchiectomy with the duration of pain. RESULTS: 1266 patients were included with an orchiectomy rate of 12% (150 patients). The mean age was 21.5 years old in the salvage group and 23.7 years old in the orchiectomy group (p = 0.01), respectively. The median time from the onset of pain to surgery was 5.5 (IQR = 5) hours in the salvage group and 51.1 (IQR = 70) hours in the orchiectomy group (p < 0.0001). The risk of orchiectomy increased after a time cut-off of 6 h 30. A delay of 15 h 30 in pain duration was found to predict orchiectomy (sensitivity: 0.81; specificity: 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Pain duration can predict the probability of salvaging the testicles and performing orchiectomy. Rapid intervention should be recommended, regardless of the time elapsed from the onset of pain.

Liquid biopsies for detection, surveillance, and prognosis of urothelial cancer: a future standard?

INTRODUCTION: Liquid biopsies are used for the detection of tumor-specific elements in body fluid. Their application in prognosis and diagnosis of muscle/non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC/NMIBC) or upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) remains poorly known and rarely mentioned in clinical guidelines. AREAS COVERED: Herein, we provide an overview of current data regarding the use of liquid biopsies in urothelial tumors. EXPERT OPINION: Studies that were included analyzed liquid biopsies using the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), exosomes, or metabolomics. The sensitivity of blood CTC detection in patients with localized cancer was 35% and raised to 50% in patients with metastatic cancer. In NMIBC patients, blood CTC was associated with poor prognosis, whereas discrepancies were seen in MIBC patients. Circulating plasma DNA presented a superior sensitivity to urine and was a good indicator for diagnosis, follow-up, and oncological outcome. In urine, specific bladder cancer (BC) microRNA had an overall sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 86% in the diagnosis of urothelial cancer. These results are in favor of the use of liquid biopsies as biomarkers for in urothelial cancer management.

Intraoperative complication of radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: does the surgical approach matter? A retrospective multicenter study using the EAUiaiC classification.

PURPOSE: Despite surgical and anesthetic progress, radical cystectomy for bladder cancer remains one of the most morbid surgeries in urology. The objective of our study was to describe intraoperative complications and to assess the impact of surgical approach on morbidity. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients treated by radical cystectomy for localized muscle invasive bladder cancer between 2015 and 2020, following the Martin et al. criteria for complications reports. All intraoperative adverse events were graded according to the EAUiaiC scores. Multivariate regression models were used to determine predicting factors of complications. RESULTS: A total of 318 patients were included for analysis. Among them, 17 patients (5.4%) presented an intraoperative complication. No preoperative oncological or clinical factor was associated with the occurrence of an intraoperative complication. Surgical approach had no impact on morbidity. Both overall survival (HR 2.02; CI95% 0.87-4.68; p = 0.101) and recurrence-free survival (HR 1.856; CI95% 0.804-4.284; p = 0.147) were not associated with intraoperative complication. CONCLUSION: Radical cystectomy remains a highly morbid surgery and surgical approach did not improve the complication rate. Perioperative morbidity has a significant impact on patient survival. The association between intraoperative and postoperative complications illustrates the cumulative effect of perioperative events that are associated with survival.

Comparison of oncological, surgical, and functional outcomes between radical retropubic and radical perineal prostatectomy: A multi-institutional study.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the safety, oncologic, surgical, and functional outcomes of RPP and RRP for localized prostate cancer (Pca), especially focusing on RPP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2005 to January 2021, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 685 patients undergoing RPP (n = 320) or RRP (n = 365) for localized Pca. Surgical and functional outcomes, and complications were compared. Oncological outcomes were also compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: A higher biochemical recurrence rate were noted in RRP than in RPP group (28.8% vs 21.6%, respectively; p = 0.03). A local recurrence was detected in a few numbers of patients (4.4%) with no statistically significant differences by surgical groups (p = 0.71). No significant differences were observed in the cancer-specific survival and the overall survival according to the surgical approach. Positive surgical margins were similar in the two techniques.In comparison to RRP, patients undergoing RPP have less postoperative pain, decreased transfusion rate, and less catheterization time. Complete continence was achieved in 96.9% of the RPP group at 18 and 24 months versus 91.8% and 92.3% in the RRP group at 18 and 24 months, respectively (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01, respectively). At 18 months of follow-up, the nerve-sparing technique was performed equally between the two groups, the mean of erectile function domain improved more in RPP than RRP (12.71 vs 10.42 respectively, p < 0.001). Medical and surgical complication rates were higher for RRP than RPP. CONCLUSIONS: RPP showed acceptable oncologic outcomes and excellent functional outcomes when compared to RRP.

Oncological Outcomes of Distal Ureterectomy for High-Risk Urothelial Carcinoma: A Multicenter Study by The French Bladder Cancer Committee.

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is an uncommon disease and its gold-standard treatment is radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Distal ureterectomy (DU) might be an alternative for tumors of the distal ureter but its indications remain unclear. Here, we aimed to evaluate the oncological outcomes of DU for UTUC of the pelvic ureter. We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with UTUC who underwent DU. The primary endpoint was 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS), followed by overall survival (OS), intravesical recurrence-free (IVR) and homolateral urinary tract recurrence-free (HUR) survivals as secondary endpoints. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were performed to assess factors associated with outcomes. 155 patients were included, 91% of which were high-risk. 5-year CSS was 84.4%, OS was 71.9%, IVR-free survival was 43.6% and HUR-free survival was 74.4%. Multifocality, high grade and tumor size were the most significant predictors of survival endpoints. Of note, neither hydronephrosis nor pre-operative diagnostic ureteroscopy/JJ stent were associated with any of the endpoints. Perioperative morbidity was minimal. In conclusion, DU stands as a possible alternative to RNU for UTUC of the pelvic ureter. Close monitoring is mandatory due to the high risk of recurrence in the remaining urinary tract.

Scrotal calcinosis in a patient treated with isotretinoin: a rare entity.

Scrotal calcinosis is a rare disorder characterized by multiple papules or nodules of calcification in the scrotal skin. The pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood. The condition presents as several brown to yellowish asymptomatic nodules on the scrotum. Excision followed by scrotal reconstruction is the treatment of choice. It leaves a good cosmetic result with low chances of recurrence. Newer treatments, such as ablative lasers, have been proposed with very good results. We describe the case of a 28-year-old patient with a history of severe acne treated with oral isotretinoin that presented for scrotal nodules. On laboratory examination, hypercalcemia was found with normal phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D hormone levels. Hypercalcemia was linked to his isotretinoin therapy. Serum calcium concentrations normalized after cessation of isotretinoin and hydration. Because the patient refused surgery, a biopsy of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of scrotal calcinosis. Then the patient was referred to a cosmetic laser center to treat his condition.

The prognostic role of pre-cystectomy thrombocytosis in invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate the impact of preoperative thrombocytosis on oncological outcomes in patients with bladder cancer (BC) who undergo radical cystectomy (RC). METHODS: Retrospective data collection of 1092 patients managed by RC for BC from 2 tertiary-care centers was performed. Elevated platelet count (PLT) was defined as > 450 × 109/L. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the impact of thrombocytosis on oncological outcomes. These outcomes were also compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 50 months (32-64 months). Thrombocytosis was detected in 18.6% of the patients. The 3-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with normal PLT count was 92% which was higher than those with elevated PLT count (55%, P < 0.001). Similar results were found for the 6-year CSS with 82% for the no thrombocytosis group and 27% for the thrombocytosis group. Thrombocytosis was still significantly associated with poor prognosis for overall survival and recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, CSS was significantly lower in patients with thrombocytosis (HR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.22-2.39, P = 0.002). Patients with elevated PLT counts were also significantly more likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy, to have a T stage > pT2b (P = 0.024), to have a positive lymph node, to have variant histology and positive resection margins, and to have concomitant carcinoma in situ (CIS) on final pathology (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative thrombocytosis was valuable for predicting the oncological outcomes of patients undergoing RC for BC.

Intravesical MgSO4 for the treatment of BCG refractory T1 G3 bladder cancer: Preliminary results on efficacy and safety.

An urgent need of therapy exists for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) for whom Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) refractory treatment has failed. We investigated the role of intravesical magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) therapy in the management of BCG refractory T1 high grade (G3) NMIBC. Between January 2018 and July 2021, we performed a prospective trial enrolling participants with T1 G3 NMIBC refractory in BCG therapy. All patients included were considered ineligible for or have refused to undergo radical cystectomy. Subjects are enrolled into a single treatment group of a fixed dose of intravesical MgSO4. The intravesical solution was given for 3 h bi-weekly × 6 then once per week for 12 months. Cystoscopic surveillance was performed every 3 months. Endoscopic resection was performed if suspicious findings were identified on surveillance cystoscopy to establish pathologic diagnosis. Oncological outcomes and any side effects were reported during follow-up. A total of 8 patients who received intravesical MgSO4 for refractory TG3 tumors were included in our study. The median follow-up time was 29 months (range from 23 to 36). 62.5% of the patients (5/8) achieved a complete response to intravesical MgSO4, while 25% of the patients (2/8) had a partial response and 12.5% (1/8) had persistent disease. None of the patients had disease progression. None of the patients experienced hypermagnesemia. In patients with pTG3 tumors who were refractory to BCG therapy, intravesical MgSO4 was a well-tolerated and potentially effective regimen.

A Challenging Case of Ureteroiliac Artery Fistula Managed With an Endovascular Approach.

Ureteroarterial fistula (UAF) is a rare but life-threatening condition because of massive hemorrhage. Risk factors include degenerative vascular diseases, previous vascular surgery, pelvic radiation, chemotherapy, pelvic surgery, and prolonged ureteral stenting. The most common presentation of UAF is massive hematuria with hemorrhagic shock. The diagnosis is always difficult even with angiography. Endovascular repair with stenting and/or coiling is effective and safe. The surgical treatment should be used in recurrent UAF cases. We reported a rare case describing rapid management of a UAF in a patient who presented with hematuria even when we had no diagnosis on the initial CT scan. The patient was in shock. Deployment of a stent graft within the common iliac artery bypassing the UAF was performed. The patient improved rapidly.

Perspectives on the urological care in Parkinson's disease patients.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is recognized as the most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Lower urinary tract symptoms are common in patients with PD, either storage symptoms (overactive bladder symptoms or OAB) or voiding symptoms. The most important diagnostic clues for urinary disturbances are provided by the patient's medical history. Urodynamic evaluation allows the determination of the underlying bladder disorder and may help in the treatment selection. Pharmacologic interventions especially anticholinergic medications are the first-line option for treating OAB in patients with PD. However, it is important to balance the therapeutic benefits of these drugs with their potential adverse effects. Intra-detrusor Botulinum toxin injections, electrical stimulation were also used to treat OAB in those patients with variable efficacy. Mirabegron is a ß3-agonist that can also be used for OAB with superior tolerability to anticholinergics. Desmopressin is effective for the management of nocturnal polyuria which has been reported to be common in PD. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is effective in improving urinary functions in PD patients. Sexual dysfunction is also common in PD. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are first-line therapies for PD-associated erectile dysfunction (ED). Treatment with apomorphine sublingually is another therapeutic option for PD patients with ED. Pathologic hypersexuality has occasionally been reported in patients with PD, linked to dopaminergic agonists. The first step of treatment of hypersexuality consists of reducing the dose of dopaminergic medication. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, genetic, clinical manifestations, diagnostic test, and management of PD. Lastly, the urologic outcomes and therapies are reviewed.

Torsion of the spermatic cord in adults: a multicenter experience in adults with surgical exploration for acute scrotal pain with suspected testicular torsion.

Acute scrotal pain (ASP) requiring surgical exploration is common in the pediatric population, but little has been reported on this subject with regard to the adult population. The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes of scrotal explorations performed on adult patients. Patients over 21 years of age who underwent surgical exploration for ASP with suspected testicular torsion (TT) at 14 French hospitals between January 2005 and December 2019 were included in this study. The main outcome measures were demographic characteristics, pathology found during scrotal exploration, and perioperative outcomes. Logistic regression was used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses to identify predictors of TT. Data for 1329 men were analyzed. The median age was 30 (interquartile range [IQR]: 25-35; range: 21-89) years. Regarding the clinical examination, 867 (65.2%) patients presented with an elevation of the testicle, 613 (46.1%) patients with scrotal edema or erythema, and 211 (15.9%) patients with nausea or vomiting. Operative findings identified TT in only 684 (51.5%) patients, epididymo-orchitis in 112 (8.4%) patients, a tumor in 16 (1.2%) patients, and no causes in 475 (35.7%) patients. Orchiectomy for nonviable testes was required in 101 (7.6%) patients. In multivariate analysis, an elevation of the testicle, erythema/swelling, and the presence of nausea/vomiting were found to be associated with the occurrence of TT. Testicular torsion is not exclusive to children and adolescents, so must be considered in males of any age with acute scrotal findings. However, one-third of scrotal explorations in adults did not lead to a diagnosis.

Mid-term functional outcomes of extraperitoneal robot-assisted simple prostatectomy: a single centre experience.

For large prostate volume, open simple prostatectomy (OSP) or holmium laser enucleation are the gold standard surgical treatment medical therapy failure. Robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) has recently been proposed as an alternative to OSP and endoscopic techniques. Our objective was to describe our extraperitoneal RASP technique for patients with benign prostate obstruction (BPO), and to report on perioperative and mid-term functional outcomes. Data were collected prospectively for all consecutive patients who underwent RASP in our high-volume tertiary hospital over a 6-year period. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and uroflow findings were compared before and after surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were also assessed. Forty-seven patients were included in the study. There was no intraoperative incident and no blood transfusion was needed after surgery. Median time to bladder catheter removal was 4 days and patients were discharged the day after. Within 90 postoperative days, 6 patients (12%) experienced at least one complication, all low-grade except one (2.1%) which was Clavien IIIa grade. By univariate analysis, the only risk factor for postoperative complications was the Charlson comorbidity index (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = [1.1-4.7], p = 0.04). At 12 months, a significant improvement IPSS and uroflow rate was observed. No patient reported stress urinary incontinence. Extraperitoneal RASP appears to be a safe and effective technique for men with LUTS related to large BPO. RASP is less invasive than OSP and wide diffusion of the robot-system could lead to the rapid implementation of RASP as a treatment for large prostate.

The Use of Doppler Ultrasound for Suspected Testicular Torsion: Lessons Learned from a 15-Year Multicentre Retrospective Study of 2922 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Use of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) for patients with suspected testicular torsion (TT) is highly controversial and remains debated, as it can delay surgery and its performance may vary. OBJECTIVE: To assess the role, impact, safety, and performance of DUS in the management of patients with suspected TT before scrotal exploration. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The TORSAFUF cohort retrospectively included patients older than 12 yr who underwent surgery for suspected TT in 14 academic hospitals between 2005 and 2019. Perioperative data and surgical and DUS reports were collected. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Clinical factors influencing DUS utilisation were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. The orchidectomy rate and delay to surgery were compared by group with and without DUS receipt using one-to-one propensity score (PS) matching to assess imaging safety. For the group with preoperative imaging, DUS performance was evaluated using a contingency table. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall, 2922 patients were included, of whom 956 (32.7%) underwent DUS before surgery. DUS was more likely to be performed in older patients (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.2), those who experienced progressive onset of pain (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2), and patients who presented at the emergency department more than 6 h after their first scrotal symptoms (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.9-2.8). After PS matching, DUS receipt was not significantly associated with orchidectomy but the delay to surgery was 1 h longer. DUS demonstrated strong sensitivity of 85.2% (95% CI 82.1-88.3%) and specificity of 52.7% (95% CI 48.8-56.6%). The performance was better for younger patients and for those with time since onset of pain of >6 h. CONCLUSIONS: In this large retrospective study, DUS before surgery was safe, feasible, and useful in selected cases with suspected TT, but it should not delay or replace surgery in cases with a strong clinical suspicion. PATIENT SUMMARY: We analysed the performance and safety of an ultrasound scan of the scrotum before surgery for patients with a suspected twisted testicle (TT). This scan before surgery was not associated with a higher risk of negative outcomes but was only moderate in accurately diagnosing TT. Surgery to correct TT should not be delayed.