Optimal Approach to Small Unilateral Testicular Nodules-Can We Reliably Predict Tumor Histology Based on Size?

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated primary testicular tumor characteristics associated with nongerm cell tumor histology and potential appropriateness for testis sparing surgery in selected patients from our institution. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients undergoing surgery for testicular masses between 2003 and 2015. We included patients with unilateral testicular tumors, normal preoperative serum tumor markers and no preoperative evidence of metastatic spread. Demographic and clinical information were extracted. The primary outcome studied was tumor pathology, germ cell tumor histology vs nongerm cell histology. We compared patients in these cohorts based on the testicular tumor size. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients met study criteria, 18 (37.5%) of whom had a final pathology consistent with nongerm cell histology. In general, the median tumor size was less in the nongerm cell group (11 mm vs 27 mm, p=0.001). Tumor size less than 2 cm was associated with increased likelihood of nongerm cell histology (p=0.003) with 61.9% of those with tumors less than 2 cm harboring nongerm cell tumors and therefore likely appropriate for organ-sparing surgery. A receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated a maximum sensitivity and specificity for selecting masses with normal tumor markers as having nongerm cell histology at a size cutoff of 18 mm. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that a majority of patients with localized small testicular masses and nonelevated tumor markers will have nongerm cell histology, which makes them potentially eligible for testicular sparing surgery at centers with expertise in intraoperative frozen section analysis.

A decision tree to guide long term venous access placement in children and adolescents undergoing surgery for renal tumors.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: While many children with renal tumors require long term venous access (VA) for adjuvant chemotherapy, certainly not all do. This study develops and tests a VA decision tree (DT) to direct the placement of VA in patients with renal tumors. METHODS: Utilizing data readily available at surgery a VADT was developed. The VADT was tested retrospectively by 2 independent reviewers on a historic cohort. The ability of the VADT to appropriately select which patients would benefit from VA placement was tested. RESULTS: 160 patients underwent renal tumor surgery between 2005 and 2018. 70 (43.8%) patients met study criteria with median age of 45.1 months (range 1.1-224); 73% required VA. Using the VADT, VA placement was "needed" in 67.1% of patients and "deferred" in 32.9%. Interrater reliability was very high (kappa = 0.97, 95% CI 0.91-1, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the VADT to correctly decide on VA placement were 0.92 (0.8-0.98) and 1 (0.79-1). Using the VADT, no patient would have undergone unnecessary VA placement. In reality, 4.3% of patients had an unnecessary VA placed which required a subsequent removal. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data support the continued study of this VADT to guide intraoperative decisions regarding VA placement in patients with renal tumors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III - Study of diagnostic test.

Reliability of intraoperative frozen section for the diagnosis of renal tumors suspicious for malignancy in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The ability of intraoperative frozen section (IFS) to reliably diagnose renal tumors in children and adolescents is largely unknown. The objective of our study is to evaluate the ability of IFS to establish a histologic diagnosis for renal tumors in this population. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with patients who underwent IFS at the time of surgery for a renal tumor suspicious for malignancy from 2005 to 2015. The IFS was compared to the final pathology (FP). Data on concordance and reliability were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred thirty patients underwent surgical interventions for a renal tumor suspicious for malignancy, and 32 (25%) patients underwent IFS. Median turnaround time for IFS was 20 min (range 13-44). The histologic IFS diagnosis correlated with FP in 26 (81.2%) cases was discrepant in three (9.4%) cases, and IFS was deferred to FP in three (9.4%) cases (kappa 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52-0.899, P < 0.001). The IFS correctly distinguished between Wilms tumor and non-Wilms tumor in 30 (94%) cases (kappa 0.874, 95% CI: 0.705-1, P < 0.001). A total of 17 of 19 (89.5%) Wilms tumors were correctly diagnosed by IFS, yielding a sensitivity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.67-0.99) and a specificity of 1 (95% CI: 0.75-1). CONCLUSION: IFS is a reliable tool to establish a histologic diagnosis and to differentiate between Wilms and non-Wilms tumors in children and adolescents with renal tumors. The use of IFS should be encouraged in cases in which obtaining a diagnosis will provide guidance for important "real-time" medical decision making, specifically additional adjunctive surgical procedures.

Large Cystic Metanephric Adenoma in a 15-Year-Old Girl.

Metanephric adenoma is a rare pediatric renal tumor, generally considered to be benign. It can be difficult to distinguish from Wilms tumor and renal cell carcinoma based on imaging alone, and even may be difficult on histopathologic analysis. We present a case of a large cystic metanephric adenoma managed with surgical resection. This case highlights the difficulty in managing cystic renal lesions in children and adolescents as there is a paucity of data on the radiologic and pathologic correlation in such patients.

Long-term urological outcomes in cloacal anomalies.

Cloacal anomalies are the most complex and severe form of congenital anorectal malformations (ARM) and urogenital malformations, and it has been well documented that increased severity of ARM leads to worse outcomes. While short-term data on persistent cloaca are available, a paucity of data on long-term outcomes exists, largely because of a lack of uniform terminology, inclusion with other ARM and evolution of the operative technique. On comprehensive review of the published literature on long-term urological outcomes in patients with cloacal anomalies, we found a significant risk of chronic kidney disease and incontinence, however, with improvements in surgical technique, outcomes have improved. Continence often requires intermittent catheterization and in some cases, bladder augmentation. The complexity of cloacal malformations and associated anomalies make long-term multidisciplinary follow-up imperative.

Do Referral Patterns in Adolescents and Young Adults with Testicular Cancer Impact Oncologic Outcomes?

PURPOSE: Oncologic outcomes in advanced testicular cancer (TC) depend on appropriate and timely care. Often this care is referred to tertiary academic medical centers (AMCs). The aim of this study was to compare oncologic outcomes of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with TC treated from the outset at an AMC to those whose care was initiated elsewhere with subsequent referral. METHODS: An institutional TC database was reviewed, and those AYA patients initiating TC care either inside or outside an AMC were compared. Patients were classified as initiating care outside if they had any non-orchiectomy surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy for TC outside an AMC. RESULTS: A total of 183 patients were reviewed, of whom 59 initiated TC care outside and 124 were managed initially at an AMC. Patients initiating care outside were more likely to have non-seminoma histology and more often presented with metastatic disease (Stage II [30.5%] or III [35.6%] vs. Stage II [19.4%] or III [19.4%]; p = 0.007). Lower 3-year event-free survival (EFS) was observed in those initiating treatment outside an AMC (60.6% vs. 78.7%; p = 0.027). However, on multivariate analysis adjusting for stage and histology, the location of initiating TC care was no longer significant (hazard ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval 0.8-2.9). CONCLUSION: AYA patients initially treated for TC in the community and subsequently referred to an AMC were initially observed to experience worse EFS than those who were managed at an AMC from the outset. However, on multivariate analysis, these findings were largely explained by referral bias, where AYA patients with advanced disease were more likely to be referred to AMCs.

Current urologic care for testicular germ cell tumors in pediatric and adolescent patients.

Testicular germ cell tumors make up 0.5% of pediatric malignancies, and 14% of adolescent malignancies. Young boys have primarily pure teratoma and pure yolk sac histologies; however, adolescent histology is mostly mixed nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. Surgical excision of the primary tumor is the crux of treatment. Chemotherapy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, and targeted treatment of distant metastases make even widely disseminated disease treatable. Since the discovery of platinum-based chemotherapy, testicular germ cell tumors are a highly curable disease. However, adolescents remain the group with the highest mortality. Focus has expanded beyond survival to emphasize quality of life issues when optimizing treatment algorithms.