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.

Is there a volume-outcome relationship for partial nephrectomy?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of hospital volume on partial nephrectomy indications and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the National Observational Registry on the Practice and Hemostasis in Partial Nephrectomy registry. Four groups were created according to the number of partial nephrectomy (PN) performed: very high (VH, ≥ 19 PN), high (H, 10-18 PN), moderate (M, 4-9 PN) and low (L, <4 PN) PN activity. Indications and surgical outcomes were compared among all groups. The effect of hospital volume on postoperative complications and positive margin rate was examined by a multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-three centers included a total of 570 PN. There were 9 VH, 13 H, 12 M and 19 L volume centers which performed 270 (47.4 %), 179 (31.4 %), 74 (13 %) and 47 (8.2 %) PN, respectively. Patients in higher volume centers were significantly younger (p = 0.008), had a lower BMI (p = 0.002) and decreased ASA score (p < 0.001). PN was more frequently performed in higher volume centers (p = 0.006) particularly in case of renal masses <4 cm (p = 0.005). Open surgery was the most common approach in all groups, but laparoscopic PN was more frequent in M volume hospitals (p < 0.001). Positive margin (p = 0.06) and complications (p = 0.022) rates were higher in M group. In multivariable analysis, renal chronic disease was an independent predictor of positive margin rate (p < 0.001, OR 3.91). CONCLUSIONS: PN is more frequently performed in high volume institutions particularly for small renal masses. We observed increase positive margin and complication rates in moderate volume centers that might be explained by an increased use of laparoscopy.

[Stress urinary incontinence in women. Physiopathology and surgical treatment using Burch's technique and TVT]. / Incontinence urinaire d'effort chez la femme. Physiopathologie et traitement chirurgical par les techniques de Burch et TVT.

FROM PHYSIOPATHOLOGY TO TREATMENT: Urinary incontinence on effort in women is due to a default in sub-urethral anatomical structure, which leads to incontinence on effort (coughing, laughing, carrying heavy weights, physical activity). When re-education fails, surgical treatment using Burch's technique or the placing of sub-urethral TVT (Tension free Vaginal Tape) is generally proposed. BURCH'S TECHNIQUE: Burch's technique consists in an upper tract colposuspension via coelioscopy or laparotomy, under rachis or general anaesthesia. In the literature, the following rates of complete cure have been presented: 64 to 87%, 75 to 95% and 63 to 89% respectively in the short, median and long term together with the cure of certain complications (vesicular instability, dysuria, secondary prolapse, infections). THE TVT TECHNIQUE: Developed in the early nineties, the placing of TVT is a mini-invasive technique requiring the use of polypropylene tape inserted vaginally under the urethra under rachis or local anaesthesia. It is associated with over 80% median term clinical efficacy and rare complications (vesicular perforation, arterial wounds, perineal haematoma, dysuria, infections).

[Subcapsular renal hematoma after extra corporeal lithotripsy: a case report]. / Hématome sous-capsulaire du rein après lithotritie extra-corporelle: à propos d'un cas.

A 61-year old man presented with a subcapsular renal hematoma following Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for a renal stone. The authors discuss presenting conditions, risk factors, preventive measures, therapeutic implications and sequellae of such a complication.

[The scintigraphic effect of extracorporeal lithotripsy: prospective series of 25 cases]. / Le retentissement scintigraphique de la lithotritie extra-corporelle: série prospective de 25 cas.

25 patients with non complicated renal stones were treated by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) using Sonolith 3000 an electrohydraulic generator type. They were evaluated before, 15 days and 3 months after ESWL by renal scintigraphy, using for 15 of them technetium -99m dimer captosuccinic acid and technetium -99m-diethylene-triamine acetate for the last 10. This follow up scintigraphic study shows no reduction of glomerular filtration rate after ESWL but some focal parenchymal lesions. Very few of these lesions persist at 3 months. These parenchymal damages seem to be less frequent and less persistent than with piezo-electric lithotripter.

[Economic comparison of 2 surgical techniques fr the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women: Burch's technique versus the TVT technique]. / Comparaison économique de deux techniques chirurgicales de traitement de l'incontinence urinaire d'effort chez la femme: technique de Burch contre technique TVT.

The TVT device (Tension-free Vaginal Tape) is used in our Hospital to treat stress urinary incontinence, resulting in an excess cost for the Pharmacy. The Burch technique, used previously, does not require any specific medical device, but is invasive and requires a longer hospital stay. The objective of this study was to compare the financial impact of these two techniques, by defining the discriminant costs. Seventeen isolated Burch procedures and twenty one TVT procedures were included. The costs analysed concerned medical devices, medicinal products, laboratory procedures, operating time, hospital stay and duration of postoperative follow-up. The Burch procedure cost FFR 26,322 and the TVT procedure cost FFR 10,958. The TVT technique reduces the cost of hospitalisation and represents an economy of operative equipment and nursing workload (reduction of operating time and postoperative stay).

[Endovascular treatment of hemorrhagic renal angiomyolipoma with platinum microcoils]. / Traitement endovasculaire d'un angiomyolipome rénal hémorragique par microcoil de platine.

Haemorrhage is the major complication of renal angiomyolipoma and is classically treated surgically, but embolization constitutes an alternative treatment. Improvement of catheters and embolization materials now allows highly selective embolization. The authors present a case in which the use of a variable stiffness catheter and platinum microcoils allowed highly selective embolization of a haemorrhagic renal angiomyolipoma while preserving the functional renal parenchyma.

Involvement of the caval vein lumen by a metastasis of a non-seminomatous testicular tumor.

We present here a case of metastatic non-seminomatous testicular tumor invasion of the lumen of the inferior caval vein. Treatment was surgical removal with lymph-node debulking, completed by BEP chemotherapy.