Retrograde pyelography before radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma is associated with intravesical tumor recurrence

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the association between preoperative retrograde pyelography (RGP), conducted to evaluate upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), and intravesical recurrence (IVR) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Materials and Methods: Of 114 patients that underwent RNU, 72 patients without preoperative ureteroscopy and a history of bladder tumor were selectively enrolled. Variables associated with IVR were identified. Results: RGP was performed at a mean duration of 24.9 days prior to RNU in 41 (56.1%) of study subjects. During the mean follow-up period of 64.5 months, IVRs were identified in 32 (44.4%) patients at 22.3±18.8 (mean±SD) months after RNU. Despite similar tumor characteristics in the RGP and non-RGP groups, the incidence of IVR was considerably higher in the RGP group (63.4%) than in the non-RGP group (19.4%, p <0.001). The following variables differed significantly between the IVR and non-IVR groups: age (64.6±8.51 vs. 59.6±9.65 years), tumor location (lower or upper; 53.1% vs. 20%), tumor invasiveness (> pT2; 53.1% vs. 17.5%), preoperative hemoglobin (12.8±1.36 vs. 13.9±1.65), preoperative creatinine (1.29±0.32 vs. 1.11±0.22), and preoperative RGP (81.3% vs. 37.5%), respectively. Multivariate Cox regression model showed that tumor location (p=0.020, HR=2.742), preoperative creatinine level (p=0.004, HR=6.351), and preoperative RGP (p=0.045, HR=3.134) independently predicted IVR. Conclusion: Given the limitations of retrospective single-center series, performance of RGP before RNU was shown to have a negative effect on IVR after surgery.

Synchronous presentation of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of bladder and peritoneal malign mesothelioma

ABSTRACT Introduction Cancer is one of the most important leading cause of death in man and woman in the world. The occurrence of new cancer has become more frequent in recent years due to strict screening protocols and occupational and environmental exposure to carcinogens. The incidence of secondary malignancies has also increased due to close medical follow-up and advanced age. Herein, we report a case and its management diagnosed as synchronous peritoneal malignant mesothelioma and muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Case Description A 71-year-old male presented with macroscopic hematuria and abdominal distension increasing gradually. A contrast enhanced computerized tomography demonstrated bladder mass and diffuse ascites with nodular peritoneal thickening and umbilical mass. He was treated with the multidisciplinary team working including urologist, medical oncologist and general surgeon. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case of peritoneal malign mesothelioma with synchronous muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Because of the rarity of this condition, there is still no consensus on the definitive treatment protocols, yet. Individualized treatment with multidisciplinary close follow-up might improve the survival outcomes.

Impact of diagnostic ureteroscopy and biopsy on radical nephroureterectomy of upper tract urothelial carcinoma / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the impact of preoperative diagnostic ureteroscopy and biopsy (UB) on radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and the prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of UTUC patients receiving RNU between Jan. 2007 and Dec. 2016 were retrospectively collected. The median follow up time was 40 months. The operation time and blood loss of RNU were compared between UB group and non-UB group. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the time interval between UB and RNU, and surgery methods of lower ureter. The linear regression model was used to adjust for other common factors that impacted operation time.@*RESULTS@#A total of 163 UTUC patients were included in the final analysis. For the lower ureter, open ureterectomies were performed in 91 patients (55.9%), while retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterectomies were performed in 72 patients (44.1%). A total of 110 (67.5%) patients received preoperative UB. Compared with non-UB group, the average operation time of UB group was significantly longer [(252.5±79.8) min vs. (221.3±79.8) min, P=0.019], but no difference of blood loss was found (median, 50 mL vs. 50 mL, P=0.143). In subgroup analysis, the average operation time of RNU was significantly prolonged when RNU was performed after 1 week of UB (P=0.023). Meanwhile, the median blood loss of RNU increased significantly when it was done after 2 weeks of UB compared with non-UB group (100 mL vs. 50 mL, P=0.012). UB was also significantly prolonged the operation time of RNU in retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterectomy group (P=0.012). In multivariable analysis, UB (P=0.049), ≥pT3 (P=0.039), pN+ (P=0.018) and ureterectomy method (P=0.005) were independent risk factors of prolonged operation time. The 3-year cancer specific survival (CSS) rate was 87.2% in our cohort. UB had no significant impact on cancer specific survival (P=0.435).@*CONCLUSION@#UB was an independent risk factor of prolonged RNU time, but did not significantly influence cancer specific survival of upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients.

Is [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose FDG-PET/CT better than ct alone for the preoperative lymph node staging of muscle invasive bladder cancer?

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate whether the use of [F-18]-FDG-PET/CT can accurately predict pelvic lymph node metastasis in patients with muscle invasive TCC of the bladder undergoing radical cystectomy. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer had undergone FDG-PET/CT scan from the skull base to the mid-thighs after IV injection of 6.5MBq (Mega-Becquerel)/Kg of FDG. After intravenous hydration IV furosemide was given to overcome the difficulties posed by urinary excretion of 18F-FDG. PET/CT data were analyzed as PET and CT images studied separately as well as fused PET/CT images. The imaging findings were correlated with the histopathology of the nodes (gold standard). Results: CT and FDG-PET had demonstrated positive lymph nodes in 9 & 8 patients respectively. Among the 15 patients 3 had documented metastasis on histopathology. Both CT and PET could detect the nodes in all these 3 patients (100% sensitivity). Nodes were histologically negative amongst 6&5 patients who had node involvement by CT and PET respectively. Therefore, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) & negative predictive value (NPV) for CT and PET/CT were 50%, 33.3%, 100% and 58.3%, 37.5%, 100% respectively. Conclusion: The theoretical advantage of this cutting edge technology for whole body imaging has not been translated into clinical practice as we found minimal advantage of combined FDG-PET/CT over CT alone for nodal staging of muscle invasive bladder cancer. This may be due to substantial overlap between standardized uptake values (SUVs) from active inflammatory processes with those of malignant lesion.