Risk factors for the long-term persistent genitourinary toxicity after stereotactic body radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer: A single-center, retrospective study of 306 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for the long-term persistent genitourinary toxicity (GUT) after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for localized prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: A total of 306 patients who underwent SBRT at our institution between March 2017 and April 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. SBRT was performed at 35 Gy in five fractions over 5 or 10 days. Factors related to the long-term persistence of acute GUT after SBRT were analyzed. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 39.1 months, 203 (66%) patients experienced any grade of acute GUT, which remained in 78 (26%) patients 6 months after SBRT. Multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥75 years was consistently a significant independent risk factor for any grade of acute GUT 6, 12, and 24 months after SBRT (hazard ratio [HR] 2.31, p = 0.010; HR 2.84, p = 0001; and HR 3.05, p = 0.009, respectively). Older age was not a significant risk factor for the development of grade ≥2 acute GUT. The duration of acute GUT was significantly longer in the older group than in the nonolder group (median duration = 234 vs. 61 days, p < 0.001), and the incidence of persistent GUT was significantly more frequent in the older group beyond 6 months after SBRT. CONCLUSIONS: Older age is a significant independent risk factor for the long-term persistent GUT after SBRT for localized PCa.

Erratum: Carcinoma-like nonfunctional pheochromocytoma in the right adrenal gland: A case report.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.4776.].

Carcinoma-like nonfunctional pheochromocytoma in the right adrenal gland: A case report.

Evaluation of the malignant potential of a pheochromocytoma (PCC) remains controversial. PCC is regarded as a neuroendocrine tumor (NET), and the classification of NETs has gradually been defined over the last decade, particularly for gastroenteropancreatic NET. The present study describes a case of locally advanced, carcinoma-like, nonfunctional PCC, which may be regarded as neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) rather than a malignant PCC. A 72-year-old man was referred to Saitama Red Cross Hospital (Saitama, Japan), presenting with a 2-month history of right flank pain. Computed tomography revealed a right adrenal gland tumor, which measured 6.0 cm in diameter, invading the hilum of the right kidney, liver and inferior vena cava (IVC). Radical surgery was performed with en bloc resection of the right kidney, and adjacent parts of the liver and IVC. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated that all of the resected tissues were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, cluster of differentiation 56 and Ki-67, and the specimen had a Ki-67 index of 80%. A diagnosis of carcinoma-like PCC or NEC of the adrenal gland was confirmed. Reports of NEC of the adrenal gland are extremely rare in the literature, and classification of PCC as a NET has not yet been fully discussed. The present case may therefore contribute to the classification of NETs in the adrenal gland.

Randomized Crossover Comparison of the Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Single Half-Dose Silodosin and Tamsulosin Hydrochoride in Men With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of single half-dose silodosin and single full-dose tamsulosin in Japanese men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). METHODS: Japanese men aged ≥50 years with LUTS/BPH and an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of ≥8 were enrolled in the randomized crossover study and divided into silodosin-preceding (S-T) and tamsulosin-preceding (T-S) groups. The S-T group received 4 mg silodosin once daily for 4 weeks followed by 0.2 mg tamsulosin once daily for 4 weeks. The T-S group received the reverse treatment sequence. A washout period prior to drug crossover was not included. Subjective and objective efficacy parameters including IPSS, quality of life (QOL) index, uroflowmetry, and safety were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty of 34 men (S-T group n = 16; T-S group n = 14) completed the study. Both drugs significantly improved all IPSS items and QOL index in the first treatment period. Subjective improvement in nocturia by silodosin was observed in both the first and crossover treatment periods. Objective improvement in maximum flow rate by silodosin was only observed in the first treatment period. Adverse events occurred more frequently with silodosin than with tamsulosin; however, none of the adverse events required treatment discontinuation. Ejaculation disorders occurred in three participants (10%) and were associated with silodosin use. CONCLUSION: Single half-dose silodosin has a similar efficacy to full-dose tamsulosin in Japanese men with LUTS/BPH and thus, may represent an effective, safe, and affordable treatment option.

Ureteral Involvement Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients Treated by Nephroureterectomy: A Multicenter Database Study.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of tumor location for patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) has been disputed. Several papers have reported that ureteral cancer is associated with worse prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic significance of the presence of ureteral tumors in UUT-UC patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this multicenter retrospective study, 1068 eligible patients (median follow-up: 40 mo [interquartile range: 17-77 mo]) were divided into three groups based on tumor location: renal pelvic, ureteral, and both-regional (having both renal pelvic and ureteral tumors). The ureteral and both-regional groups were subsequently integrated into the ureteral involvement group to evaluate its prognostic impact. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent RNU. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The prognostic impact of tumor location on survival was analyzed. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The renal pelvic, ureteral, and both-regional groups consisted of 507 (47.5%), 430 (40.3%), and 131 (12.3%) patients, respectively. The ureteral and both-regional groups had a higher rate of lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis compared with the renal pelvic group. The renal pelvic and both-regional tumors presented more frequently with locally advanced stages (pT3/T4) compared with the ureteral tumors. The 5-yr cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of patients in the ureteral (70.5% and 66.7%, respectively) and both-regional groups (64.8% and 57.8%, respectively) were significantly worse than those in the renal pelvic group (81.9% and 78.1%, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, the presence of ureteral involvement was a significant prognostic factor for CSS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.50; p=0.006) and PFS (HR: 1.35; p=0.023). This study is inherently limited by the biases associated with its retrospective and multicenter design. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ureteral involvement had a significant impact on the survival of surgically treated UUT-UC patients associated with a poor prognosis. PATIENT SUMMARY: We demonstrated that the ureteral involvement was associated with poor survival compared with patients with renal pelvic tumor only in upper urinary tract urothelial patients treated by nephroureterectomy.

Recovery of renal function after radical nephrectomy and risk factors for postoperative severe renal impairment: A Japanese multicenter longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate longitudinal changes in renal function after radical nephrectomy, and to explore risk factors of postoperative severe renal impairment in a Japanese multicenter cohort. METHODS: The present retrospective study included 701 patients who had no metastasis, end-stage kidney disease or bilateral kidney cancer, who underwent radical nephrectomy and who were followed up for at least 1 year. The longitudinal change in postoperative renal function during a 10-year follow-up period was evaluated according to the presence or absence of potential risk factors including greater age, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. A slope of annual change in estimated glomerular filtration rate was analyzed using a linear mixed model. Associations between the potential risk factors and a >50% estimated glomerular filtration rate decrease were evaluated using a multivariate Cox regression model. RESULTS: Overall, the postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate recovered over time with a significant positive slope of 0.34 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/year. Renal function did not tend to recover in patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease. The multivariate analysis showed that greater age and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for severe renal impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients who had deteriorated renal function immediately after radical nephrectomy recovered over time. However, patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease did not tend to recover renal function postoperatively. Greater age and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for a >50% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Risk stratification for bladder recurrence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors and develop a model for predicting recurrence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in the bladder in patients without a history of bladder cancer after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 754 patients with UTUC without prior or concurrent bladder cancer or distant metastasis at 13 institutions in Japan. Univariate and multivariate Fine and Gray competing risks proportional hazards models were used to examine the cumulative incidence of bladder recurrence of UTUC. A risk stratification model and a nomogram were constructed. Two prediction models were compared using the concordance index (c-index) focusing on predictive accuracy and decision-curve analysis, which indicate whether a model is appropriate for decision-making and determining subsequent patient prognosis. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rates of bladder UTUC recurrence at 1 and 5 years were 15 and 29%, respectively; the median time to bladder UTUC recurrence was 10 months. Multivariate analysis showed that papillary tumour architecture, absence of lymphovascular invasion and higher pathological T stage were both predictive factors for bladder cancer recurrence. The predictive accuracy of the risk stratification model and the nomogram for bladder cancer recurrence were not different (c-index: 0.60 and 0.62). According to the decision-curve analysis, the risk stratification was an acceptable model because the net benefit of the risk stratification was equivalent to that of the nomogram. The overall cumulative incidence rates of bladder cancer 5 years after RNU were 10, 26 and 44% in the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We identified risk factors and developed a risk stratification model for UTUC recurrence in the bladder after RNU. This model could be used to provide both an individualised strategy to prevent recurrence and a risk-stratified surveillance protocol.

Bimodal pattern of the impact of body mass index on cancer-specific survival of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients.

AIM: To clarify how body mass index (BMI) affects the risk of death from upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUTUC) we investigated the impact of BMI on UUTUC using a Japanese multicenter database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 2010, 1,329 patients with upper urinary tract tumors were treated in 13 institutions in Japan. From this group, a cohort of 1,014 patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy was retrospectively reviewed. BMI was categorized into the following three groups: BMI <22.5, BMI 22.5 to <25 and BMI ≥ 25. The association between each group and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: The median BMI was 22.4 kg/m(2) (interquartile range, 20.5-24.8). Out of all patients, 213 (21%) died of UUTUC. Hazard ratios of the BMI ≥ 25 and the BMI <22.5 group were 1.76 and 1.66, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both higher and lower BMI affect the prognosis of UUTUC treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

Equivalent survival and improved preservation of renal function after distal ureterectomy compared with nephroureterectomy in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter: a propensity score-matched multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the oncological and functional outcome of distal ureterectomy compared with nephroureterectomy in the management of distal ureteral urothelial carcinoma. METHODS: Using a database including upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients (n = 1329), 282 patients were identified with urothelial carcinoma localized in the distal ureter on clinical evaluation. To adjust for potential baseline differences between groups, 43 patients undergoing distal ureterectomy were matched with 86 patients undergoing nephroureterectomy using propensity scoring. Cox regression models tested the effect of surgery type on recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was measured before and after surgery. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 50 months. There were no significant differences in 5-year recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival rates between the distal ureterectomy and nephroureterectomy groups (P = 0.22 and P = 0.70, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that surgery type was not associated with recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival (P = 0.90 and P = 0.28, respectively). In the subanalysis, recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival in the distal ureterectomy group were equivalent to those of the nephroureterectomy group in both pTa-1 and pT2-4 patients. Renal function was better preserved in the distal ureterectomy group than in the nephroureterectomy group (rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate 2% vs -20%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The oncological outcome of distal ureterectomy is comparable with that of nephroureterectomy in distal ureteral urothelial carcinoma patients, and distal ureterectomy provides better preservation of renal function. Distal ureterectomy would be feasible for carefully selected patients with distal ureteral urothelial carcinoma.

Simultaneous bilateral testicular metastases from renal clear cell carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the testis is rare. This case report presented an extremely rare case of simultaneous bilateral testicular metastases from RCC in a 65-year-old man who had experienced indolent scrotal enlargement over a period of several months. Scrotal ultrasonography showed 4.0- and 2.0-cm-sized masses in the left and right testes, respectively. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography identified multiple tumors in the kidneys, the pancreas and the left adrenal gland. Left orchiectomy and pathological examination were performed and indicated testicular metastasis from clear cell RCC. The patient underwent complete surgical resection of all residual lesions. Postoperative follow-up examination without adjuvant therapy identified no recurrence over 11 months. This study also reviewed existing literature and determined that retrograde venous spread from the primary kidney tumor to the testis may be an important pathway for testicular metastasis from RCC. In conclusion, RCC can result in testicular metastases not only unilaterally, but also bilaterally, as was observed in the present case.

External validation of TNM-C score in three community hospital cohorts for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

AIM: To assess the general applicability of TNM-C scoring, which consists of TNM classification and preoperative C-reactive protein concentration, the predictive ability of the TNM-C score was externally validated for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) at three community hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven hundred patients underwent radical or partial nephrectomy after being diagnosed with RCC. Out of the 700 patients, 518 with clear cell carcinoma served as the current study cohort. The predictive ability of the TMN-C score for cancer-specific survival (CSS) was estimated using Harrell's concordance index (c-index). RESULTS: The c-index of the TNM-C score was 0.85 in the entire data set. CSS rates were clearly stratified according to the scoring model (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Since TNM-C score alone (without pathological details) has a high predictive ability for the prognosis of ccRCC patients, it is generally applicable for use in community hospitals.

IgG4-Related Prostatitis Impairs Objective Urinary Function as with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Case Report Successfully Treated with Transurethral Resection.

CASE: We report a case of IgG4-related prostatitis successfully treated with transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P). A 47-year-old man with a history of autoimmune pancreatitis and sclerosing cholangitis presented with lower urinary tract symptoms. Because ultrasonography revealed a mildly enlarged prostate and uroflowmetry showed a severely diminished flow curve, benign prostatic hyperplasia was diagnosed. Despite the administration of α1-blockers, the patient's condition did not improve, and TUR-P was performed in accordance with his wish. OUTCOME: Pathological examination showed dense lymphoplasmacytic inflammation with no evidence of synchronous malignancy. On immunohistochemical staining, a large number (>40/high-power field) of IgG4-positive cells were observed in the lesions showing the inflammation, confirming the diagnosis of IgG4-related prostatitis. The patient's urinary function dramatically improved postoperatively, and good urinary function has been maintained for 3 years without additional treatment. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the impact of IgG4-related prostatitis on objective urinary function will help in appropriately treating patients with this condition.

A simple technique for evacuating air bubbles with scum from the bladder dome during transurethral resection of bladder tumor.

Air bubbles floating in the bladder dome during transurethral resection of a bladder tumor can interfere with the resection, causing intravesical explosion and increasing the potential risk of tumor cell reimplantation. We describe a simple and effective technique for evacuating air bubbles from the bladder dome using routine resectoscopes. First, the beak of the resectoscope is positioned near the air bubble in the bladder dome. Second, the drainage channel of the resectoscope is closed. Third, the irrigation tube is detached from the irrigation channel, and then the channel is opened. Subsequently, the air bubble with entangled scum will be retrogradely aspirated from the beak of the resectoscope to the irrigation channel. Reversing the direction of the water stream enables evacuation of the air bubble with the scum under direct vision. This simple and effective technique may assist surgeons and ensure the safety of patients during a transurethral procedure.

Impact of renal function on cardiovascular events in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for renal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the actual impact of renal dysfunction on cardiovascular events in Japanese patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for renal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study included 178 Japanese patients who underwent radical nephrectomy between 1980 and 2010. Kaplan-Meier survival curves with a log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to investigate the impact of the estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 month after the radical nephrectomy on cardiovascular-event-free, cancer-specific and overall survivals. RESULTS: During a median follow up of 68 months, 23 patients experienced cardiovascular events and 32 died. Postoperative renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate <45 mL/min/1.73 m(2) 1 month after radical nephrectomy) was a significant risk factor for postoperative cardiovascular events in addition to age and history of cardiovascular disease. After adjustment for preoperative characteristics, postoperative renal dysfunction increased the risk of cardiovascular events by 3.48-fold (95% confidence interval 1.28-8.66). For overall and cancer-specific survivals, postoperative renal dysfunction did not represent an independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: Renal dysfunction has a significant impact on cardiovascular events in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for renal cancer.

Disseminated kidney tuberculosis complicating autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a case report.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is rare, and its diagnosis and treatment are difficult because numerous cysts are exposed to infection and antibiotics do not easily penetrate infected cysts. Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old Japanese man with disseminated urogenital tuberculosis (TB) and ADPKD without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Delayed diagnosis and ineffective anti-TB chemotherapy worsened his condition. Finally, he underwent bilateral nephrectomy but experienced postoperative complications. In conclusion, kidney TB should be recognized as a cause of renal infection in ADPKD, and surgical treatment should be instituted without delay. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment cannot be overemphasized to prevent kidney TB deterioration.

[Two cases of intrascrotal tumors complicated acute scrotum].

We report 2 rare cases of intrascrotal tumors complicated acute scrotum. Case 1: A 15-year-old adolescent presented to our emergency room with acute right scrotal pain. Testicular torsion was suspected, and surgical exploration was performed. A spermatocele with 180 degrees torsion on its pedicle was observed. The patient was diagnosed with torsion of a spermatocele, and it was excised. Case 2: A 25-year-old man presented with acute left scrotal pain. Testicular torsion was suspected, and manual detorsion relieved the pain effectively. However, scrotal swelling did not subside after detorsion, and surgical exploration was performed. The left testis was stony hard on palpation, and intraoperative ultrasound revealed a mosaic echo pattern. A testicular tumor was highly suspected and left high orchiectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed seminoma pT1. Torsion of a testicular tumor was diagnosed. Although these 2 cases are extremely rare, they should be considered for the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum.