Impact of body mass index on the oncological outcomes of patients treated with radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Body mass index (BMI) has been associated with worse outcomes in several solid malignancies. We aimed to evaluate the association between BMI and oncological outcomes in patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 701 consecutive patients treated with RC and pelvic lymphadenectomy for UCB at our institution between 1995 and 2011. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models investigated the association of BMI with disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality. BMI was analyzed as both continuous and categorical variable (<25 vs. 25-29 vs. ≥30 kg/m2). RESULTS: From the 701 patients, 275 (39.2 %) had a BMI < 25 kg/m2, 280 (39.9 %) had a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2, and 146 (20.9 %) had a BMI â©¾ 30 kg/m2. Within a median follow-up of 45 months (IQR 23-75), 163 patients (23.3 %) experienced a disease recurrence and 127 (18.1 %) died from the disease. In univariable analyses, BMI â©¾ 30 kg/m2 was associated with a higher risk of disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality (both p values <0.01). In multivariable analyses that adjusted for the effects of standard clinicopathological features, BMI â©¾ 30 kg/m2 was associated with both higher risks of disease recurrence (HR 1.58; 95 % CI 1.06-2.34, p = 0.02) and cancer-specific mortality (HR 1.58; 95 % CI 1.01-2.48; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was independently associated with higher risks of disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in patients treated with RC for muscle-invasive UCB. BMI is a modifiable feature that may have significant individual and public health implications in patients with muscle-invasive UCB.

Prospective comparison of scar-related satisfaction and quality of life after laparoscopic versus open radical prostatectomy: no differences from patients' point of view.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare scar-related satisfaction in patients treated with open (ORP) versus laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). PATIENTS AND METHOD: We prospectively included all patients treated with ORP and LRP in our department between March and June 2010. Scar-related outcomes were collected at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Three months after surgery, all patients filled up a questionnaire concerning their scar-related symptoms, scar self-consciousness and satisfaction. These variables were statistically compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were included for analysis. Of them, 48, 49 and 4 were treated with LRP, ORP and LRP converted to ORP, respectively. Age distribution was not statistically different between groups. Postoperatively, 5 patients experienced skin infection on their scar site, 2 in the ORP and 3 in the LRP group. The most frequently reported symptom was scar itching, that was more frequent after LRP, although difference was not significant (33 vs. 19%, p = 0.2). According to patient scar-related consciousness, satisfaction and impact on quality of life, no differences were reported between groups. Impact on quality of life was insignificant in 27 (55%) versus 21 (44%) patients after ORP and LRP, respectively (p = 0.3). CONCLUSION: With an overall low impact on satisfaction and quality of life, scars gendered by LRP and ORP were not different from patients' point of view. In patients undergoing radical prostatectomy, the cosmetic aspect of scars does not seem to be a concern.

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.

[Advances in diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma]. / Avancées diagnostiques et thérapeutiques dans le cancer du rein.

Over the last two decades, several improvements have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of renal carcinoma. In the past, renal cancer was usually discovered after hematuria, pain, or palpation of a lumbar mass, and required total nephrectomy. Today, about 40% of renal tumors are discovered incidentally by ultrasonography or computed tomography. Therefore, the majority of renal carcinomas are discovered at an early stage. Partial nephrectomy has been developed for polar and small tumors. This surgery can now be performed using a laparoscopic approach, thereby decreasing morbidity and shortening the hospital stay.

[Embolization of an intraparenchymal aneurysm of the left kidney responsible for recurrent haematuria]. / Embolisation d'un anévrisme intra-parenchymateux du rein gauche responsable d'une hématurie a répétition.

The authors report the case of a patient hospitalised for an episode of massive haematuria with clots requiring drainage by urethral stent. After an initial work-up comprising CT urography, considered to be normal, and a non-contributive ureteroscopy, renal CT angiography was performed, revealing an intraparenchymal aneurysm of the right kidney, about 15 mm in diameter. Two embolizations of this vascular malformation avoided the need for haemostasis surgery.

[Pre-pubic abscess of unknown cause]. / Un abcès pré-pubien de cause indéterminée.

The authors report a case of prepubic abscess in a young man presenting with pain. Surgical exploration revealed a group A Streptococcus abscess. The cause of this abscess was not determined.

[Study of intermittent endocrine therapy in patients presenting with biologic recurrence after radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy]. / Etude de l'hormonothérapie intermittente chez les patients présentant une récidive biologique après prostatectomie radicale ou radiothérapie.

INTRODUCTION: Study of the efficacy of intermittent endocrine therapy after failure of local treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 74 patients were treated for biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (n = 30), radiotherapy (n = 28) or radical prostatectomy followed by radiotherapy (n = 16). Treatment (63 patients were treated by antiandrogens alone, 8 by LHRH analogue and 3 by complete androgen suppression) was continued for 6 months after obtaining undetectable PSA levels for patients after radical prostatectomy (and restarted when PSA > 4 ng/ml) or a PSA nadir < 4 ng/ml for the other patients (and restarted for PSA > 10 ng/ml). RESULTS: The duration of periods without treatment represented 50% of the total treatment cycle. With a mean follow-up of 43.8 months, the overall 5-year biochemical progression-free survival rate was 54.6%. On multivariate analysis, factors predictive of biochemical progression were age less than 70 years (p = 0.05), Gleason score greater than or equal to 8 (p = 0.038) and the presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intermittent endocrine therapy is a treatment option for patients with recurrence after local treatment. Candidates for intermittent endocrine therapy must be over the age of 70, with localized adenocarcinoma and a Gleason score less than or equal to 7.

The value of a second transurethral resection in evaluating patients with bladder tumours.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of a second transurethral resection for superficial and muscle-invasive bladder tumours. METHODS: A review of the literature relevant to repeat resection for bladder tumours was conducted using Medline Services. RESULTS: Transurethral resection of the bladder has two shortcomings: underestimating clinical stage, and overlooking other lesions. A second transurethral resection, when performed 2-6 weeks after the initial resection, corrects clinical staging errors in 9-49% of cases and detects residual tumour in 26-83% of cases. A second resection is particularly warranted for T1 tumours since 2-28% of them prove to be muscle-invasive, thus requiring a change in management. For muscle-invasive tumours, a second resection may be performed only if bladder sparing is being considered, as it helps to exclude the presence of tumour sites contra-indicating conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A second transurethral bladder resection may be warranted for T1 tumours, and for invasive tumours when a bladder preservation is planned.

Stripping technique for endoscopic management of distal ureter during nephroureterectomy: experience of 32 procedures.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the results of the stripping technique for endoscopic management of the distal ureter during nephroureterectomy. METHODS: Since 1995, 32 patients have undergone open nephroureterectomy involving stripping of the distal ureter for upper urinary tract carcinoma. After endoscopic placement of a Chevassu ureteral catheter, nephrectomy was performed using a lumbotomy approach. The catheter tip was tied to the top of the ureteral extremity. At the end of the intervention, the catheter was pulled out transurethrally to intussuscept the distal ureter. Endoscopic resection through the bladder muscular wall was performed around the everted ureteral orifice, then the distal ureter was stripped and removed with a bladder cuff. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 180 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 220 mL. The stripping failed in 6 patients (18.7%), requiring an iliac incision. The reasons for failure were a retained ureter in 5 cases and ureteral breakage in 1 case. The mean duration of urethral catheterization was 5 days, and the mean hospital stay was 8 days. The complication rate was 3.1%. At a median follow-up of 35.2 months, 9 patients (28.1%) had experienced recurrence: 6 with superficial bladder tumors, 2 with renal fossa recurrence, and 1 with asynchronous liver metastases. The disease-specific mortality rate was 9.4%. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that the stripping technique for endoscopic management of the distal ureter during open nephroureterectomy is a simple and safe procedure.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for stage T1 grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: recurrence, progression and survival in a study of 57 patients.

PURPOSE: Stage T1 grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is associated with a high risk of tumor recurrence and progression. We report our experience with stage T1 grade 3 bladder tumors treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy in the last 10 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the outcome in 57 consecutive patients treated with intravesical BCG for stage T1 grade 3 bladder cancer between 1991 and 2001. After initial transurethral resection all patients received a 6-week course of BCG therapy consisting of 1 instillation weekly. All patients underwent systematic biopsies at the end of the first BCG course. Patients with negative biopsies received maintenance BCG therapy, consisting of intravesical instillations each week for 3 weeks given 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months after the first course. Patients with residual tumor received a second course of 6 weekly instillations. Time to tumor recurrence and progression, and the rate of patient survival were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Median followup was 53 months (range 9 to 110). Minimum followup was 2 years in 36 cases (63.2%) and 5 years in 28 (49.1%). After the first BCG course 50 patients (87.7%) had no residual disease, while 7 (12.3%) had residual tumor. The recurrence and progression rates were 42.1% and 22.8%, respectively. The rate of delayed cystectomy was 14%. The rate of disease specific survival was 87.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that BCG therapy is effective conservative treatment for patients with stage T1 grade 3 bladder tumors.