[Actinomycosis of the kidney: a case report]. / Aktinomykose der Niere: Ein Fallbericht.

Actinomycosis is a rare infection mainly of the head and neck region (cervicofacial actinomycosis). The cause of this infection is bacterial invasion of the host's mucosal barrier with consecutive infiltration of the surrounding tissues. The treatment of choice after diagnosis is a prolonged course of high-dose antibiotics. The presence of abdominal actinomycosis is at a maximum of 25%, whereas renal involvement appears only sporadically. Aggravating causes for early diagnosis are the appearance of abscesses, fistulae and a debilitating illness resembling carcinoma and leading to surgery as the treatment of choice. Renal actinomycosis is a diagnostic challenge because it is included in the differential diagnosis of renal masses with coexisting B-symptoms. The suspicion requires surgical treatment--nephrectomy. We report on a patient who was transferred to our department for nephrectomy because of radiologically diagnosed renal and perirenal abscesses. The histological result showed renal actinomycosis.

Urine cytology of localized primary amyloidosis of the ureter: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Morphologic findings of amyloid in urine cytology material have rarely been reported because amyloidosis of the urinary tract is a relatively uncommon disorder. We present a case of primary amyloidosis of the ureter, including catheterized urine cytologicfindings. CASE: A 78-year-old man had pollakiuria and dysuria for 5 years before admission after transurethral resection of the prostate. Clinical examination revealed left hydronephrosis and stricture of the lower part of the left ureter, and a malignant ureteral tumor was suspected clinically. In catheterized urine cytology, many clusters of epithelial cells, inflammatory cells and abundant, amorphous, waxy material were observed. The amorphous material stained light green by the Papanicolaou method and positive with direct fast scarlet (DFS), showing yellow-green birefringence under polarized light. Positivity with DFS staining was not affected by treatment with potassium permanganate. Immunocytochemically the material was AL-type amyloid protein. Atypia were absent from epithelial cells. The patient had no history of diseases that could cause secondary amyloidosis. The present case was considered to be primary amyloidosis localized to the left ureter because no particular morphologic change in the epithelial cells of the urinary tract was observed. CONCLUSION: Amyloid can be present in urine and should not be overlooked or confused with tumor diathesis when a malignant tumor is suspected clinically.

[Uretero-colic fistula. Apropos of 2 cases complicating sigmoid diverticulitis after surgery]. / Fistules urétéro-coliques. A propos de 2 cas compliquant une sigmoïdite diverticulaire opérée.

The authors report on two cases of uretero-colic fistulization in the post-operative period, following surgery for infectious complications involving sigmoidal diverticulitis. In the aftermath of surgery for sigmoidal diverticula, the appearance of very liquid stools at the exact moment when the infectious and semi-occlusive picture seems to resolve, the occurrence of a uro-steraceous fistula should make one suspect a uretero-colic fistula. Air pyelography and the retrograde opacification of the ureter following a radio-opaque enema are diagnostic. The IVU does not help to establish a firm diagnosis but is useful for showing the state of the adjacent kidney and above all the state of the contralateral kidney. In regard to the sepsis which accompanies these complications (there is nearly always a pericolic abscess at the site of the utero-colic fistula) all attempts at repair are futile. Only nephrectomy may be sometimes appropriate. At the same time, nothing except treatment of the infectious focus (colic or pericolic) will safeguard the patient from the risk of further infection which might end in death. The risk of damage to the ureter which sigmoidal diverticular surgery carries, necessitates the following precautions: a pre-operative IVU, a painstaking dissecting-out and well wide of the neighbouring ureter, the systematic injections of dye to colour the urine at the time of operation in order to avoid ureteric injury and of course to ensure the repair of any injury as soon as it happens. It is only possible to save the adjacent kidney and protect the normal urinary outlet if the ureteric lesion is properly identified at operation.