Acute epididymo-orchitis from brucellosis melitensis in Australia.

Brucellosis epididymo-orchitis (BEO) is extremely rare in non-endemic areas such as Australia. While epididymo-orchitis is relatively common in adolescent men, when presented with a significant travel history, consideration should be given to rare causes such as this. Here, we present a case of BEO in a young 18-year-old man who recently migrated from Greece, with symptoms of acute scrotal pain, swelling and persistent fever. Brucella melitensis was isolated in the blood culture and confirmed with PCR. We suspect transmission was related to ingestion of unpasteurised goat dairy products. He made a full recovery after 7 days of intravenous gentamicin and 6 weeks of oral doxycycline. BEO should be considered in those who present with acute scrotal pain and fever after a recent history of travel to or from a brucellosis- endemic area.

Tuberculous epididymo-orchitis masquerading as acute scrotum.

An 18-year-old boy, a refugee from Afghanistan, with no significant medical history, presented after 1 day of severe left testicular pain. History, clinical examination and scrotal ultrasound suggested the diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis. He was discharged on a 2-week course of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Six weeks later, he re-presented with a testicular abscess, continuous with the epididymal head. Incision and drainage led to laboratory confirmation of tuberculous infection. He was treated with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and vitamin B6 for 9 months, with good response. Despite meeting high-risk criteria for tuberculosis, our patient had a delayed diagnosis. We present the case and discuss the lessons learned.

Decreased prostate cancer-specific survival of men with BRCA2 mutations from multiple breast cancer families.

The role of a germ-line BRCA2 mutation in the development of prostate cancer is established, but the clinical presentation linked to outcome for this group of men has not been well described. A total of 148 men from 1,423 families were ascertained from the kConFab consortium. Each participant met the following criteria: (i) a verified case of prostate cancer; (ii) confirmed as either a carrier or noncarrier of a family-specific BRCA pathogenic mutation; (iii) comprehensive clinical and treatment data were available. Clinical data were linked to treatment received and overall survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier. Prostate cancer in men from breast cancer-prone families has a high risk of disease progression, irrespective of mutation status. BRCA2 mutation carriers have an increased risk of death and prostate cancer-related death [HR (95% CI) 4.5 (2.12-9.52), P = 8.9 × 10(-5)] by comparison with noncarriers. Serum PSA readings taken prior to diagnosis in 90% of all men, age adjusted, were above clinical significance. Following D'Amico risk stratification, 77.5% of BRCA2 mutation carriers and 58.7% of noncarriers had high-risk disease. BRCA2 mutation status was also an independent prognostic indicator of overall survival. Furthermore, there was a poor overall survival outcome for both the BRCA2 mutation carriers and noncarriers given curative-intent treatment. All men in breast cancer-prone families are at risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. This information is significant and should be included in discussions with genetic counselors and medical professionals when discussing prostate cancer treatment options for men in these families, irrespective of mutation status.

Stabilization of renal deterioration caused by bladder volume dependent obstruction.

PURPOSE: Previously published data from our unit show the detrimental effect of excessive bladder filling at normal pressure on renal function in chronically dilated renal units. Synchronous cystometry and dynamic renography identified a critical volume of filling that prevents upper tract drainage. In this followup study we determined whether maintaining bladder volume below this critical level would halt renal deterioration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Followup data were collected on 20 patients in the original study. All had progressive renal function deterioration for which no other cause was identified. Creatinine measured nearest to the time of the study renogram served as a baseline and subsequent values were used to monitor renal function. Data were analyzed by the paired Student t test. RESULTS: Complete data were obtained on 14 patients with a mean age of 34.4 years (range 22 to 70). The mean glomerular filtration rate at entry to this part of the study was 42 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) (range 18 to 69). Four patients had a neuropathic bladder, 4 had posterior urethral valves, 4 had bladder exstrophy, 1 had radiation cystitis, 1 had a solitary pelvic kidney and detrusor failure, 5 had a native bladder and 9 underwent cystoplasty. Drainage was via the native urethra and a Mitrofanoff channel in 7 cases each. Mean followup was 27 months (range 3 to 39). There was no significant difference in mean +/- SD creatinine at baseline vs latest followup (168 +/- 72 vs 185 +/- 90 micromol/l, p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with bladder volume dependent renal obstruction function can be stabilized by consistently maintaining bladder volume below the critical level.

MR imaging of prostate after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of the prostate and to correlate them with clinical and histologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Local ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. Fifteen consecutive men aged 46-70 years with organ-confined prostate cancer underwent ultrasonographically guided ablation of the whole prostate. Postoperative MR images were obtained within 1 month (12 patients), at 1-3 months (five patients), and in all patients at 6 months. Prostate volume was measured on T2-weighted images, and enhancing tissue was measured on dynamic images after intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was measured at regular intervals, and transrectal biopsy was performed in each patient at 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Initial post-HIFU images showed a central nonenhancing area, surrounded by an enhancing rim. At 6 months, the prostate was small (median volume reduction, 61%) and was of predominantly low signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The volume of prostate enhancing on the initial posttreatment image correlated well with serum PSA level nadir (Spearman r = 0.90, P < .001) and with volume at 6 months (Pearson r = 0.80, P = .001). The three patients with the highest volume of enhancing prostate at the initial posttreatment acquisition had persistent cancer at 6-month biopsy. CONCLUSION: MR imaging results of the prostate show a consistent sequence of changes after treatment with HIFU and can provide information to the operator about completeness of treatment.

Effect of the abnormal bladder when full on upper tract drainage using a combined cystometrogram-(99m)Tc-mercapto-acetyltriglycine renogram: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relevance of bladder volume in patients with chronic hydronephrosis and abnormal bladder function who lose renal function even though the bladder or reservoir pressure is normal (<40 cmH(2)0). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 20 patients (16 male; age range 17-67 years) were studied prospectively; 12 had a reconstructed bladder. All had progressive loss of renal function with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of >15 mL/min. The study was in three parts: a baseline (99m)Tc-mercapto-acetyltriglycine (MAG3) scan was performed with an empty bladder, then a combined full bladder cystometrogram (CMG) with (99m)Tc-MAG3 study was done supine, and finally repeated in the sitting position. The pressure and volume changes together with the (99m)Tc-MAG3 scintigraphic variables with and without a full bladder were compared. RESULTS: Of the 17 patients with normotensive bladders, 13 (77%) had functional obstruction of the kidneys with a full bladder. In seven this was threshold dependent and occurred at a total mean (range) bladder volume of 348 (135-720) mL for both positions. In the other six patients there was minimal drainage of isotope from the kidneys even with the bladder empty. When the sitting position was compared with supine, gravity was more important for upper tract drainage in the reconstructed bladders. In five patients the detrusor pressure at which drainage began was close to zero. CONCLUSIONS: In 13 of 17 patients (77%) the kidneys failed to drain with a full bladder despite 'normal' detrusor pressures. It remains to be seen whether bladder emptying designed to keep the urine volume below the obstructing threshold volume will prevent further loss of renal function.

The management of aspirin in transurethral prostatectomy: current practice in the UK.

INTRODUCTION: Stopping aspirin prior to transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) may minimise peri-operative blood loss, but it may also increase the risk of a significant cardiovascular event. There are no guidelines on the management of aspirin in TURP. This study sought to determine the variation in the peri-operative management of transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) patients that are taking aspirin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 444 consultant urologists in the UK from a list obtained from the British Association of Urologists. This resulted in 290 anonymous replies (65%), of which 287 were suitable for analysis. RESULTS: Of these 287 urologists, 178 (62%) ask patients to stop aspirin prior to TURP. Aspirin is stopped 9.8 days (median, 10 days; range, 2-30 days) prior to surgery, and recommenced 8.8 days (median, 7 days; range, 1-42 days) after surgery. In those that stop aspirin, 62% will stop aspirin in all patients, regardless of the indication, and 40% will cancel a TURP if aspirin use has inadvertently continued. Of the 287 urologists, 109 (38%) do not stop aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in the management of aspirin in TURP patients in the UK. Aspirin is being stopped in patients at high risk of serious cardiovascular disease, often for longer than necessary. There is a need for multidisciplinary guidelines to reduce variation in practice.

The total percentage of biopsy cores with cancer improves the prediction of pathological stage after radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the simple variable 'percentage of cancer-positive biopsy cores' is a significant predictor of true pathological stage after radical prostatectomy and can be used to improve pathological stage prediction by simple means. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 375 patients had a radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer in two UK centres; 260 had complete preoperative staging information. Logistic regression was used and predicted probability graphs constructed to assess predictors of pathological stage. RESULTS: In this study, only PSA (P = 0.004) and percentage cancer-positive biopsy cores (P < 0.001) were significant predictors of pathological stage. The final model was an acceptable classifier for pathological stage (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.76, specificity 85%, sensitivity 47%). A patient with a PSA of 10 ng/mL and one of six cores positive for cancer would have a predicted probability of extraprostatic disease of 20%, whereas the same patient with all six biopsy cores positive would have a predicted probability of extraprostatic disease of 80%. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of cancer-positive biopsy cores significantly predicts the disease stage after radical prostatectomy. This variable is easy to obtain by the clinician and avoids the need to estimate the percentage of biopsy tissue infiltrated by cancer. This readily available information can easily be computed and may help to counsel patients about realistic expectations of organ-confined disease in relation to surgery as a treatment option.