[An Adult Case of Transperineal Repair of Congenital Rectourethral Fistula Using Gracilis Muscle Flap Interposition].

A man in his 50s was referred to our hospital after recurrent severe urinary tract infection. He had undergone anoplasty for anorectal malformation during early infancy. He noticed urinary leakage from the anus for a long time. Under diagnosis of congenital rectourethral fistula, we performed fistula closure. The fistula was transsected via transperineal incision and each stump was closed. A gracilis muscle flap approximately 30 cm long was harvested from the left thigh, brought into the deepest part between the separated rectum and urethra through a subcutaneous tunnel and fixed there. The urinary leakage from the anus disappeared, and the infection resolved. Application of gracilis muscle flap for congenital diseases is rare, but was useful in the present case.

[The safety and efficacy of sunitinib using a modified regimen (2 weeks on/1 week off) for treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma].

We prospectively investigated the safety and efficacy of sunitinib using a modified regimen (2 weeks on/1 week off) in 24 patients (22 males, 2 females ; age range 39-86 years, median 64 years) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). During the observation period (3-62 weeks, median 21 weeks), thrombocytopenia was seen in 13 (54.2%), leukopenia in 11 (45.8%), hand-foot syndrome in 5 (20.8%), hypertension in 4 (16.7%), and hypothyroidism in 3 (12.5%) patients, while grade 3 or higher adverse events were found in 4 (16.7%), 1 (4.2%), 1 (4.2%), 2 (8.3%), and 0 patients, respectively. Of the 21 patients evaluable for response, 5 (23. 8%) showed partial response, 8 (38.1%) stable disease, and 8 (38.1%) progressive disease. This new modified regimen may lead to a reduction in adverse events for treatment of patients with metastatic RCC as a substitute for the standard dosing regimen of sunitinib.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: a case report and review].

A 37-year-old woman with an incidentally found abdominal mass was referred to our hospital. A fixed, non-tender mass was palpated in the right upper quadrum of her abdomen. There was no elevation of tumor markers. Computed tomography revealed a mass extending from the hepatic vein level to renal hilar level. The tumor completely obstructed the inferior vena cava (IVC). T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the mass was isointense with muscles. T2-weighted MRI image with contrast medium demonstrated collateral circulation. Upon diagnosis of the IVC tumor, we removed the right kidney and the tumor en bloc without reconstructing IVC. The tumor diameter was 11.6 × 5.5 × 4.7 cm. Pathological examination established a diagnosis of IVC leiomyosarcoma. She is alive without sign of recurrence after operation for seven months. There were 143 reports of IVC leiomyosarcoma in Japan. In 31% of them, IVC was not reconstructed.

[Impacted ureteral stents with cystine encrustation in cystinuric patients : report of two cases].

A 23-year-old man and a 62-year-old man suffering from cystinuria underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for right renal stone and left ureteral stone, respectively. They had double-J stents placed before ESWL, but since attempts to retrieve the stents were unsuccessful due to encrustation, they were referred to our clinic. Multimodal endourologic and open approaches including ESWL, transurethral ureterolithotripsy, and pyelolithotomy were required to render them stent- and stone-free. The guidelines do not recommend routine stenting before ESWL ; therefore, the indication and duration of indwelling stents should be minimized. Multimodal options including not only ESWL and endoscopic surgery but also open surgery, should be attempted for the management of encrusted stents. Close monitoring and follow up are important to the prevent complications of ureteral stents.

[Unclassified renal cell carcinoma accompanying pyonephrosis: a case report].

A 73-year-old male, admitted to a local hospital because of fever and consciousness disturbance, was referred to our institute. He had a history of long-term steroid administration and diabetes mellitus. Under diagnosis of severe right pyonephrosis associated with severe inflammatory response syndrome as well as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, he was transferred to our hospital. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass 5 cm in diameter at the right ureteropelvic junction and lymph node swelling at the renal hilum, suggesting obstructive pyonephrosis by a malignant tumor such as renal pelvic cancer. Since the patient failed to respond to conservative medical treatment including polymyxin B hemoperfusion, hemodialysis, and antimicrobials, we performed right nephrectomy. Histopathological examination demonstrated that the tumor obstructing the pelvis arose from the parenchyme under the muscle layer, and was diagnosed as unclassified renal cell carcinoma while the renal pelvic epithelium was normal. Although his general condition and laboratory data transiently improved after nephrectomy, he died of carcinomatous peritonitis 30 days postoperatively. We advocate that, in the case of pyonephrosis with a lesion highly suspected to be an infiltrating neoplasm, nephrectomy is justified as first choice to control the septic condition.