End-of-Treatment FDG PET-CT (EOT-PET) in Patients with Post-Chemotherapy Masses for Seminoma: Can We Avoid Further Intervention?

Anjana JoelContext Patients with seminoma present with advanced disease. End-of-treatment (EOT) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is done to assess response and direct management of post-chemotherapy residual masses. Purpose This article assesses the utility of EOT PET-CT in the management of post-chemotherapy residual lymph nodal masses seminoma. Materials and Methods We analyzed all patients with seminoma who underwent an EOT PET-CT from January 2015 to January 2020 at our center and calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of EOT PET-CT in the entire cohort of patients and among subgroups. Results A total of 34 male patients underwent EOT PET-CT. Fourteen (41.2%) were stratified as good risk and 20 (58.8%) as intermediate risk. The median follow-up was 23 months (interquartile range: 9.75-53 months). In 23 patients there were residual masses of size more than 3 cm at the EOT PET scan. EOT PET was positive as per the SEMPET criteria in 18 (78%) out of 23 patients. None underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. All four who underwent image-guided biopsy, showed only necrosis on pathology. One patient with positive mediastinal node (standardized uptake value 13.6) had granulomatous inflammation. There was no relapse or progression during this period of follow-up. The NPV for EOT PET-CT for the entire cohort, > 3 cm, and > 6 weeks cutoff were 100%, respectively. The PPV for EOT PET-CT for the entire cohort, > 3 cm residual mass, and > 6 weeks cutoff were 8.7, 11.11, and 6.67%, respectively. Conclusion EOT PET-CT has a low PPV and high NPV in predicting viable tumor in post-chemotherapy residual masses among patients with seminomatous germ cell tumors. If required, EOT PET positivity can be confirmed by a biopsy or reassessed with a repeat PET-CT imaging to document persistent disease prior to further intervention.

The Impact of Narrow Band Imaging in the Detection and Resection of Bladder Tumor in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder: A Prospective, Blinded, Sequential Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) in detection and resection of tumors during transurethral resection of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single center randomized prospective interventional study with a sequential intervention design. Patients with bladder tumors were randomized into 2 arms where they were resected under white light (WL) first followed by NBI in arm A, or NBI followed by WL in arm B. The number of patients in whom additional lesions were detected by the second light source, in both arms, was analyzed. The feasibility of initial resection of tumor under NBI was also studied. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients were randomized. Of 54 patients in arm A (WL first) additional lesions were identified at the second look in 20 patients (37%). In contrast, of 56 patients in arm B (NBI first), additional lesions were identified in 5(9%) patients. This difference of 28% was statistically significant (P value <.001). In arm B (NBI first), there were 7 breaches in protocol, and all these patients had high risk (more than or equal to 3 in number or 3 cm in size) tumors (P value <.002). CONCLUSION: Narrowband imaging is superior to WL in the detection of tumors, thus allowing a more complete resection. However, initial resection under NBI is difficult due to poor visibility, especially for high-risk tumors.

Urethral duplication with unusual cause of bladder outlet obstruction.

A 12-year-old boy presented with poor flow and recurrent urinary tract infections following hypospadias repair at the age of 3 years. The evaluation revealed urethral duplication with a hypoplastic dorsal urethra and patent ventral urethra. He also had duplication of the bladder neck, and on voiding cystourethrogram the ventral bladder neck appeared hypoplastic and compressed by the dorsal bladder neck during voiding. The possibility of functional obstruction of the ventral urethra by the occluded dorsal urethra was suspected, and he underwent a successful urethro-urethrostomy.

Hidden penile fracture: An unusual presentation and review of literature.

Penile fractures, a not so uncommon urological emergency, mostly present with a characteristic history and physical examination. Here, we present an atypical case where even in the absence of physical findings, a characteristic history led us to penile exploration and timely repair, highlighting the importance of careful history-taking in these cases.