[A case of adrenocortical adenoma coexisting with gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

A 48-year-old man was referred to our institute for the evaluation of a concomitant gastric submucosal tumor and right adrenal tumor, incidentally found by ultrasound examination. Computed tomography showed a mass with a diameter of 6 cm adjacent to the stomach and the right adrenal tumor with a diameter of 3 cm. These tumors had similar characteristics in both plain and enhanced imagings. By magnetic resonance imaging, the intensity of the right adrenal tumor was equivalent to the liver in both T1 and T2 weighted images. On the other hand, the gastric submucosal tumor showed low intensity in T1 weighted images and high intensity in T2 weighted images. An adosterol scintigram showed slight accumulation at the region of adrenal tumor. The results of all conducted serum and urinary hormonal examinations were found to be within the normal range. Adrenalectomy and partial gastrectomy were performed laparoscopically. Pathological diagnosis of the adrenal tumor was a cortical adenoma, and that of the gastric submucosal tumor was gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The gastric tumor was immunohistochemically stained positive with the C-kit and CD34 and negative for s-100 protein and desmin. Histopathological diagnosis was coincident with gastric GIST and right adrenocortical adenoma, and the GIST was diagnosed as a high risk tumor because its diameter was over 5 cm.

[Case of local recurrence of the periurethral proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma successfully treated by repeated regional excision].

Proximal-type epithelioid sarcomas are rare soft tissue neoplasms occuring in the soma or thigh and often repeat recurrence and metastasis. We present a case of locally recurrenced proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma that could be treated by regional excision alone. A 62-year-old man visited our institute for a growing mass in the perineal region. Computed tomography (CT) showed a periurethral tumor 22 x 13 mm in diameter in the perineal region. The tumor was excised regionally, and the pathological examination with immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor was proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma. Local recurrence of the tumor occurred 2 years 7 months later without any metastatic lesion, and regional excision was performed again. Pathological diagnosis was proximal type epithelioid sarcoma and it was identical to the primary tumor. The patient is free of the disease 1 year after the second surgery of the tumor.

Primary symptomatic perivesical paraganglioma: a case report.

Paraganglioma, extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, are relatively rare in adults, with most arising from para-aortic sympathetic and visceral organs, such as the bladder. Paraganglioma localized at the extravesical retroperitoneal pelvic cavity is extremely rare. We report a case of symptomatic perivesical pheochromocytoma in a 34-year-old man treated by surgical excision. Symptoms related to cathecolamine secretion ceased after surgery, and the patient has remained disease-free for 24 months.

[8-month neoadjuvant hormonal therapy before radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinicopathological outcomes of 8 months of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) prior to radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional prospective trial was performed between July 2000 and May 2003 involving high-risk prostate cancer patients without metastasis, including 21 who received 8 months of NHT before radical prostatectomy. High-risk group was defined as clinical stage > or =T2c and/or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 ng/ml and/or Gleason score > or =8. PSA values were considered elevated (biochemical failure) if values of 0.1 ng/ml or greater were obtained. RESULTS: Median of initial PSA levels before prostate biopsy was 27.6 ng/ml (8.5-80.7 ng/ml), and median of pre-operative PSA levels after NHT was 0.28 ng/ml (0.02-4.2 ng/ml). There were 5 patients (23.8%) with lower limit of PSA detection (less than 0.02 ng/ml) in 8 months after NHT. The clinical T stage was T1c in 9 patients (42.9%), T2a-b in 8 patients (38.1%), T2c in 3 patients (14.3%), and T3a in 1 patient (4.8%). The median follow-up was 25 months (range 4 to 37). There were 2 patients (9.5%) in pT0, 5 patients (23.8%) with positive surgical margin, 5 patients (23.8%) with extracapsular extension (ECE) and 3 patients (14.3%) with seminal vesicle involvement (SVI). Biochemical failure was occurred in 9 of 21 (42.9%) including of one pT0. Range of time to postoperative biochemical failure was 2 to 25 months (median 6 months) and most of biochemical failure was found within 12 months after surgery. Biochemical failure rate was significantly higher in patient with positive SVI (p = 0.0308) and higher in patients with pre-operative PSA levels of more than 0.1 ng/ml (p = 0.0836), positive ECE (p = 0.0545) and positive surgical margin (p = 0.0545). CONCLUSION: Biochemical failure was frequent after this combined treatment, even in a pT0 case. Long-term follow-up of patients is needed to assess the impact of this therapy on mortality.

Intravesical instillation of bacille Calmette-Guérin for carcinoma in situ of the urothelium involving the upper urinary tract using vesicoureteral reflux created by a double-pigtail catheter.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the urothelium involving the upper urinary tract when the vaccine was administered by way of the bladder using vesicoureteral reflux created by a double-pigtail (DP) catheter. METHODS: Thirteen upper urinary tracts of 9 patients with cytologically diagnosed CIS, with concomitant bladder CIS in 4, were treated by intravesical BCG instillation. A DP catheter was placed retrogradely, and the appearance of vesicoureteral reflux was confirmed by cystography. BCG (1 to 2 mg/mL) in a volume sufficient to fill the renal caliceal system was administered into the bladder weekly for 6 weeks. The mean follow-up was 36 months (range 8 to 97). RESULTS: The voided urine cytology turned negative in all 9 patients at a mean of 86 days after the first administration of BCG. The voided urine cytology returned positive afterward in 3 patients, and positive cytology in the upper urinary tract was confirmed in 1 of 13 treated urinary tracts, which were successfully treated by another course of BCG therapy with the DP catheter. Minor adverse effects related to BCG and the DP catheter were seen in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: BCG therapy for the CIS involving the upper urinary tract using a DP catheter might have the potential to be an effective procedure preserving renal units and could be adopted not only as an imperative, but also as an elective, treatment option.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction: outcome of initial 12 procedures.

BACKGROUND: Open pyeloplasty has been the gold standard for surgical treatment of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, enjoying a long-term success rate exceeding 90%. Unfortunately, this procedure requires a muscle incision that entails some degree of morbidity. We have, therefore, investigated the feasibility of laparoscopic pyeloplasty for UPJ obstruction and report here the outcomes of our early cases. The median follow up is 25 months (range, 12-42 months). METHODS: Between March 1999 and September 2001 we performed laparoscopic pyeloplasty on 12 ureters in 11 patients presenting with symptomatic hydronephrosis, secondary to a short stenosis of the UPJ or to ventrally crossing vessels; bilateral pyeloplasty was performed as a single procedure in one patient. We performed dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, Fenger plasty and Y-V plasty in eight, two and two ureters, respectively. All procedures were carried out transperitoneally. RESULTS: The procedure was completed successfully in all cases. Crossing vessels were noted in six of 12 ureters (50.0%). Mean operative time and blood loss in 11 patients (including one bilateral case) were 272.8 min (range, 175-480 min) and 96.4 mL (range, 20-340 mL), respectively. Postoperative complications were noted in two patients (18.2%): one instance of prolonged urine leakage and one anastomotic re-stricture. Eleven of 12 ureters (91.6%) demonstrated a patent UPJ on excretory urography and/or improvement of renal function on diuretic renography at a minimum follow up of 12 months. CONCLUSION: Although the procedure requires advanced laparoscopic skills, it can be safely and successfully completed as frequently as the conventional open procedure. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty seems to be a valuable alternative to open pyeloplasty for UPJ obstruction.