Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on timing and outcomes of treatment for acute testicular torsion in adults: a single institution experience.

INTRODUCTION: The worldwide spread of SARS-COV2 had led to a delay in treatment of numerous urological pathologies, even in emergency conditions. We therefore sought to determine whether the timing of diagnosis and treatment and the postoperative outcome of patients with testicular torsion had been changed during the COVID pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We considered all patients evaluated in the emergency department (ED) for testicular torsion from February 2018 to August 2019 (pre-COVID period) and from February 2020 to August 2021 (during COVID pandemic). All patients underwent clinical and ultrasound evaluation and subsequently scrotal exploration. Primary outcomes were the time differences from pain onset to ED presentation and from ED presentation to surgical treatment. We also investigated whether the number or orchiectomies required changed during the pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were divided in two groups: 40 patients in pre-COVID-19 group and 14 in the COVID-19 cohort. Mean time from symptoms onset to ED access was longer during the pandemic (4.2 ± 5.7 versus 39.6 ± 37.3 hours, p = 0.009). Mean time from ED access to surgery was similar (2.9 ± 1.1 versus 4.2 ± 2.3, p = 0.355). In addition, the number of orchiectomies was higher in COVID-19 group (2.5% versus 28.6%, p < 0.01), compared to a lower number of detorsions (97.5% versus 71.4%, p < 0.01). Elapsed time from pain onset to surgery was directly correlated with the increased white blood cell (WBC) count after surgery (r = 0.399, p = 0.002). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The current study identifies a significant delay in presentation of testicular torsion which resulted in a significant increase in orchiectomies with the expected decreased in detorsion/orchiopexy. In addition, there was an increase in the WBC at presentation associated with delayed presentation.

Comparison of Four Validated Nomograms (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Briganti 2012, 2017, and 2019) Predicting Lymph Node Invasion in Patients with High-Risk Prostate Cancer Candidates for Radical Prostatectomy and Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: Clinical Experience and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: The indication for extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP) is based on nomograms predicting the risk of lymph node invasion (LNI). However, limited data are available on the comparison of these predictive models in high-risk prostate cancer (PC) patients. Therefore, we compared the accuracy of the most used nomograms (MSKCC, Briganti 2012, 2017, and 2019) in the setting of high-risk PC patients submitted to ePLND. METHODS: 150 patients with high-risk PC disease treated from 2019 to 2022 were included. Before RP + ePLND, we assessed the MSKCC, Briganti 2012, 2017, and 2019 nomograms for each patient, and we compared the prediction of LNI with the final histopathological analysis of the ePLND using pathologic results as a reference. RESULTS: LNI was found in 39 patients (26%), and 71.3% were cT2. The percentage of patients with estimated LNI risk above the cut-off was significantly higher in pN+ cases than in pN0 for all Briganti nomograms. The percentage of patients at risk of LNI, according to Briganti Nomogram (2012, 2017, and 2019), was significantly higher in pN+ cases than in pN0 (p < 0.04), while MSKCC prediction didn't vary significantly between pN0 and pN+ groups (p = 0.2). All nomograms showed high sensitivity (Se > 0.90), low specificity (Sp < 0.20), and similar AUC (range: 0.526-0.573) in predicting pN+. Particularly, 74% of cases patients with MSKCC estimated risk > 7% showed pN0 compared to 71% with Briganti 2012 > 5%, 69% with Briganti 2017 > 7%, and 70% with Briganti 2019 > 7%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high-risk disease, in our patients treated with ePLND emerges a still high number of pN0 cases and a similar low specificity of nomograms in predicting LNI.

Influence of operative time and blood loss on surgical margins and functional outcomes for laparoscopic versus robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: a prospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article was to analyze whether operative time and blood loss during radical prostatectomy (RP) can significantly influence surgical margins (SM) status and post-operative functional outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively analyzed prostate cancer (PC) patients undergoing RP, using robot-assisted (RARP) or laparoscopic (LRP) procedures. Blood loss was defined using the variation in hemoglobin (Hb, g/dl) values from the day before surgery and no later than 4 hours after surgery. RESULTS: From a whole population of 413 cases considered for RP, 67% underwent LRP and 33.0% RARP. Positive SM (SM+) were found in 33.9% of cases. Mean surgical operative time was 172.3 ±76 min (range 49-485), whereas blood loss was 2.3 ±1.2 g/dl (range 0.3-7.6). Operative time and blood loss at RP were not significantly correlated (r = -0.028275; p = 0.684). SM+ rates significantly (p = 0.002) varied by operative time; a higher SM+ rate was found in cases with an operative time <120 min (41.2%) and >240 min (53.4%). The risk of SM+ significantly increased 1.70 and 1.94 times in cases with an operative time <120 min and >240 min, respectively, independently to the surgical approach. The rate of erectile disfunction (ED) varied from 22.4% to 60.3% between <120 min and >240 min procedures (p = 0.001). According to blood loss, SM+ rates slightly but significantly (p = 0.032) varied; a higher rate of SM+ was found in cases with a Hb variation between 2-4 g/dl (35.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Independently to the surgical approach, operative time, more than blood loss at RP, represents a significant variable able to influence SM status and post-operative ED.

Infected kidney stone progressing to perinephric abscess and thoracic empyema.

A case is presented that demonstrates unusual long-term evolution of an infected calculi, culminating in the formation of a retroperitoneal abscess that fistulised to the pleural space, leading to a right pleural empyema.

Round table: arguments in supporting abbreviated or biparametric MRI of the prostate protocol.

Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2.1 update, in the attempt to improve clinical guidelines for multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate, has clear limitations. The role of dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences is not defined, precise guidance on the clinical management (biopsy or clinical surveillance) for score 3 lesions [equivocal for clinical significant prostate cancer (sPCa)] is not offered and criteria for lesions interpretation remain difficult and subjective. We report criteria and arguments in supporting the use of abbreviated or biparametric prostate MRI protocol in clinical practice for detection and management of PCa.

Third-generation tension-free tape for female stress urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience with the TVT-Secur tension-free tape for stress urinary incontinence in females. We evaluated operative time, complications, the continence rate and patient satisfaction at followup. Ethics committee approval was not required. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 hammock-shaped tape interventions were performed between November 2006 and April 2008 at our hospital. All patients had stress urinary incontinence, which was pure in 20 and associated with prolapse of other pelvic organs in 12. Each patient underwent urogynecological assessment with urodynamic evaluation and performed a quality of life questionnaire. We excluded from analysis all patients with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency. Patients were followed for continence and satisfaction. Therapeutic failure was defined as persistent urinary stress incontinence affecting quality of life, as reported by patients and on clinical examination. RESULTS: None of the 32 women had any surgical complication, postoperative pain or blood loss greater than 100 cc. Some minor complications were recorded and the sling eroded in 1 case. Urinary continence was achieved in all patients after surgery and at assessments 12 to 18 months later. All patients confirmed immediate satisfaction with continence and pain on the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: TVT-Secur is a minimally invasive, safe and easy surgical technique for stress urinary incontinence in females. To compare this procedure to other tension-free techniques longer and more detailed followup is necessary in more patients. However, this tape may be associated with fewer complications.

Prostate MRI and transperineal TRUS/MRI fusion biopsy for prostate cancer detection: clinical practice updates.

This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge about multiparametric and biparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate. This is provided from both a radiological and a urological point of view analyzing the technical aspects of fusion-targeted biopsy using the transperineal approach. We report practical considerations concerning pure cognitive and software-assisted settings, discuss the principal transperineal fusion software now available, and debate the pros and cons of choosing one approach over the other.

Conservative Therapy in Two Cases of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma of the Penis: Case Reports With Review of the Literature.

The malignant lymphomas rarely occur in the genito-urinary tract and particularly penis lymphomas are extremely uncommon. Frequently they do not have any specific symptoms and the diagnosis is delayed even in presence of a penis node. In our hospital we observed two patients affected by Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), one of them with a primitive disease. Both cases were sexually active men who did not accept a radical surgery. A conservative polichemotherapy treatment by ciclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone has been proposed and performed for both cases and a complete resolution of disease was demonstrated. At the same time we assessed the erectile function by the IIEF score, before and after treatments.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder.

BACKGROUND: Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder is a rare primary urologic disease, poorly responsive to radiation or chemotherapy as first-line treatment. CASE REPORT: After trans-urethral resection of the bladder, a 62-year-old woman was diagnosed with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder. An upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy and a colonoscopy excluded any primary site of origin from those gastro-intestinal tracts. After whole-body CT staging scans, an anterior pelvectomy was performed, confirming a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the bladder, with no extra-vesical spreading. Some onco markers were sampled before surgery, and Ca 19-9 showed very high values, with a decreasing trend after pelvectomy. Six month after surgery, bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection was performed because of bilateral palpable masses - histologic examination showed a single metastatic node. The patient also received external radiotherapy of the inguinal area. Twenty-eight months after pelvectomy, the patient appears healthy. CONCLUSIONS: Early radical surgery with or without adjuvant radio-chemo-therapy appears to be the best option for mucinous adenocarcinoma of the bladder, and a good outcome is likely to be related with a confined disease and small tumor size. In addition, Ca 19-9 sampling proves to be useful in tumors that produce markers.