Intratumoral Heterogeneity, Chemoresistance and Lymph Node Landing Zone Prognosis in Testicular Tumors Based on Histopathological Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Existing data on the histopathological correlation of testicular tumors with lymph node prognosis have been poorly explored. We aimed to investigate the relationship of the histopathological properties of testicular tumors with lymph nodes and their involvement with chemoresistance and heterogeneity of testicular tumors. METHODS: Patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) were selected for histopathological correlation of testicular tumor with lymph nodes and its relationship with chemoresistance and heterogeneity. Histopathological and radiological parameters associated with the risk of chemoresistance and tumor progression were measured pre- and post-chemotherapy. Binomial logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were implemented to determine the predictors of progression and adverse overall patient survival. All categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test, while Pearson's R coefficient determined the correlation. RESULTS: Male patients who were diagnosed with NSGCT from March 2017 to December 2018 at Guwahati Medical College, Guwahati, India, were included in this study. Lymph node groups were predominantly incriminated with the EYST or EYS groups and minimally linked with the pure E and YCS groups. Furthermore, the highest number of lymph node stations was associated with pre-chemotherapy. In salvage chemotherapy in the form of VIP, we found exciting outcomes, as approximately 41% of cases responded positively, especially in the EYS group. CONCLUSION: Our study classifies NSGCT according to the most favorable histopathological grouping and explores the tumoral response in different intrinsic and extrinsic variables. Our analysis can serve as a triumphant histopathological nomogram for a sublime management protocol to deal with the onerous histological pairing in NSGCT.

Preoperative Super-Selective Embolization versus "On-Clamp" Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for T1 Renal Tumors- A Prospective Randomized Study.

To analyze and compare the intraoperative and post-operative outcomes of "on-clamp" laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) with "preoperative super-selective angioembolization" before LPN. This randomized clinical study was conducted at Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati, India, between November 2021 and November 2023. Adult patients of either gender diagnosed with T1 renal tumors were included in the study. All patients underwent diethylenetriamine pentaacetate scan preoperatively and at 1-month follow-up. The patients were randomized using a parallel group design with an allocation ratio of 1:1 to receive either preoperative angioembolization followed by LPN or conventional "on-clamp" LPN. Demographic and baseline parameters were recorded along with pre- and post-operative data. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (P = 0.11), gender distribution (P = 0.32), body mass index (P = 0.43), preoperative hemoglobin (P = 0.34), and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; P = 0.64). One patient in the embolization group required radical nephrectomy because of accidental backflow of glue into the renal artery during embolization whereas four patients required clamping due to inadequate embolization. Preoperative super-selective embolization yielded significantly less blood loss, compared to "on-clamp" LPN (145 [50.76 mL] vs. 261 [66.12 mL], P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between post-operative eGFR (at 1 month) between the two groups (P = 0.71). Preoperative embolization offers improved outcomes in the dissection plane, total operative time, and blood loss, compared to conventional "on-clamp" LPN but has no significant effect on change in eGFR.

Skeletal-Related Events in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Prediction With Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive Protein (CRP), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) (A.C.H.E.) Score for Risk Stratification.

Introduction  Skeletal metastasis is catastrophic in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), leading to skeletal-related events (SRE) such as nerve entrapment, hypercalcemia and even pathological fractures, which may require surgical intervention. The nature of the bone metastasis in advanced RCC is large, destructive, hyper-vascular and mostly lytic. The present retrospective analysis aims to identify potential risk factors for predicting SREs in advanced RCC with bone metastasis. Methods The clinical data of 42 patients with RCC and bone metastasis and at least one episode of SRE were reviewed, and the correlations between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive protein (CRP), haemoglobin (Hb), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and bone metastases were analysed. Risk factors were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Bone metastasis was diagnosed on a bone scan. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve calculated the cut-off value of the independent correlation factors. Results The areas under the ROC curve for ALP, Hb, CRP, and ESR were 0.84, 0.76, 0.86 and 0.88, respectively, suggesting excellent discriminatory capability of ALP, CRP, ESR and sufficient discriminative ability of Hb in predicting bone metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed ALP, CRP, Hb and ESR associated with SRE and skeletal metastasis. Conclusion We propose that an A.C.H.E. score encompassing ALP, CRP, Hb, and ESR are potential risk factors for developing SRE and concomitant bone metastasis in advanced RCC patients. For new RCC patients, if values of ALP >128 U/L, CRP ≥74 mg/L, Hb <11.5 g/L, and ESR ≥55 mm/hr are detected, intensive monitoring and bone scanning are warranted as these cases are at a higher risk of skeletal events.

Predictors of Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival in Metastatic Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Due to the infrequency of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), there is currently a paucity of high-quality literature to help guide the effective treatment of these tumors. Recently, biomarkers such as platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune inflammation (SII) index and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) have been demonstrated to be closely related to poor prognosis of patients with RCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate these biomarkers for determining the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic non-clear cell cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 31 cases diagnosed with metastatic non-clear cell RCC from January 2012 to December 2017. We assessed the prognostic value (OS and PFS) of pretreatment PLR, LMR, SII index and CAR based on multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve. RESULTS: Median time of OS and PFS were 15.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.7 - 15.2) and 10.9 months (95% CI: 8.9 - 12.8), respectively. The median PFS (0.001) and OS (P = 0.01) was shorter in patients with PLR > 171, LMR < 2.61. Moreover, median PFS but not OS was significantly lower in SII index > 883 (P = 0.064) and CAR > 0.11 (P = 0.229). Scan to surgery time (3.91 weeks, P = 0.001) was also significantly related to progression. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated pretreatment inflammatory biomarkers such as PLR, LMR, SII index and CAR are significant determinants of shorter PFS and OS (PLR and LMR only) in patients with metastatic non-clear cell RCC treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy.

Role of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DWMRI) in Assessment of Primary Penile Tumor Characteristics and Its Correlations With Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Penile cancer is a rare malignancy. The extent of lymph node (LN) metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in penile cancer. However, preoperative prediction of LN involvement in clinically non-palpable LN is still a challenge. In absence of a reliable biomarker, attempts are being made to validate imaging characteristics as a predictive tool. The aim of the present study is to assess the primary penile tumor characteristics with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) and its correlations with inguinal LN status and tumor positivity in LN dissection specimen within normal sized LNs. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with carcinoma penis underwent DWMRI of penis and pelvis. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of primary tumor were compared with histological characteristics. Inclusion criteria encompassed all cases of clinically non-palpable inguinal LN and normal sized LN on imaging. All palpable inguinal nodes with pelvic lymphadenopathies were excluded from this study. RESULTS: The primary tumor ADC ranged from 0.65 × 10-3 - 1.2 × 10-3 mm2/s (mean: 0.87 × 10-3 ± 0.11 × 10-3 mm2/s). In pT1 and pT3 tumors, mean ADC values were 0.86 × 10-3 ± 0.10 × 10-3 and 0.81 × 103 ± 0.09 × 103 mm2/s, respectively. The mean ADC values for grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 were 0.89 × 10-3, 0.82 × 10-3 and 0.80 × 10-3 mm2/s, respectively. The ADC value of < 0.95 × 10-3 mm2/s was positively correlated with pathological LN presence within normal sized LN. With mean ADC value of 0.87 × 10-3 ± 0.11 × 10-3 mm2/s, sensitivity and positive predictive values for primary penile cancer were 100% and 84.61%, respectively. The mean ADC value for higher-grade and -stage tumor was low. The sensitivity and specificity of predicting LN metastasis by DWMRI were 87.22% and 80.90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ADC value of primary tumor can help in prediction of LN metastasis in carcinoma penis with clinically and radiologically normal groin.

Emphysematous infections of the urinary tract - an audit of 20 patients with review of literature.

Emphysematous infection of the urinary tract is a rapidly progressive, necrotizing infection which results into collection of gas and subsequent destruction of the tissues. Although very rare among general population, such necrotizing infection is common, particularly among those with compromised immune status. With the rising trend of people afflicted with diabetes mellitus globally, this fulminating infection may pose a serious threat to the medical fraternity. A high index of suspicion and abdominal CT scan usually helps to establish the diagnosis at an early stage and thereby facilitating aggressive antimicrobial therapy and percutaneous drainage where indicated. Although, extirpation of infected renal unit was the treatment of choice earlier, with the advent of modern imaging, endourological procedures and broad spectrum antibiotics, majority of such patients can be treated with minimal morbidity and mortality even with salvaging of the renal units. We present here the outcome of management of 20 cases with varied spectrum of emphysematous infection.

Giant adrenal tumor presenting as Cushing's syndrome and pheochromocytoma: A case report.

We report a case of a 35-year-old lady who presented with Cushingoid features and associated raised urinary metanephrine. The patient underwent open adrenelectomy. Histopathological examination revealed adreno-cortical carcinoma with microscopic lymphovascular invasion. Postoperative period was uneventful and is on follow-up for the last one year and is doing well.