Real world outcomes of biopsy-proven oncocytic neoplasm of the kidney managed by surveillance.

Objectives: To evaluate outcomes of patients diagnosed with oncocytic renal neoplasms on routine renal mass biopsy and to describe the natural history of these tumours when managed with surveillance as opposed to immediate intervention. To report disease-specific survival. Patients and methods: Patients were identified from a retrospective review of pathology databases from three tertiary referral centres that utilise renal mass biopsy in routine clinical practice. All patients with biopsy-proven oncocytic tumours were included and a retrospective review of online patient records was undertaken. Results: There were 184 biopsy-proven oncocytic renal neoplasms identified in 172 patients. There were two biopsy complications (both pneumothorax, Clavien-Dindo Grade I). Of these lesions, 135 were reported as oncocytomas or oncocytic renal neoplasms that were not further classified and 37 were reported as chromophobe carcinoma (ChRCC). The median age at diagnosis was 70 (33-88). The average tumour diameter at diagnosis was 33 mm. One hundred seven tumours were initially managed with surveillance (including 13 ChRCC) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months and a median of 39 months (6-144) whereas 49 patients underwent immediate treatment. The mean growth rate across all oncocytic renal neoplasms managed by surveillance was 3 mm/year. There was no statistically significant difference in growth rates between oncocytic renal neoplasms and ChRCC. Thirteen patients with oncocytic renal neoplasms initially managed by surveillance moved on to an active management strategy during follow-up. The clinical indication given for a change from surveillance was tumour growth in 12 cases and patient choice in 1 case. Where definitive pathology was available, there was 85% concordance with the biopsy. There were no cases of development of metastatic disease or disease-related morbidity or mortality during the study. Conclusions: This multicentre retrospective cohort study supports the hypothesis that selected biopsy-proven oncocytic renal neoplasms can be safely managed with surveillance in the medium term. Routine renal mass biopsy may reduce surgery for benign or indolent renal tumours and the potential associated morbidity for these patients.

Orchidopexy for Testicular Torsion: A Systematic Review of Surgical Technique.

CONTEXT: Acute testicular torsion is a common urological emergency. Accepted practice is surgical exploration, detorsion, and orchidopexy for a salvageable testis. OBJECTIVE: To critically evaluate the methods of orchidopexy and their outcomes with a view to determining the optimal surgical technique. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This review protocol was published via PROSPERO [CRD42016043165] and conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL databases were searched using the following terms: "orchidopexy", "fixation", "exploration", "torsion", "scrotum", and variants. Article screening was performed by two reviewers independently. The primary outcome was retorsion rate of the ipsilateral testis following orchidopexy. Secondary outcomes included testicular atrophy and fertility. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review on this topic. The search yielded 2257 abstracts. Five studies (n = 138 patients) were included. All five techniques differed in incision and/or type of suture and/or point(s) of fixation. Postoperative complications were reported in one study, and included scrotal abscess in 9.1% and stitch abscess in 4.5%. The contralateral testis was fixed in 57.6% of cases. Three studies reported follow-up duration (range 6-31 wk). No study reported any episodes of ipsilateral retorsion. In the studies reporting ipsilateral atrophy rate, this ranged from 9.1% to 47.5%. Fertility outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures were not reported in any studies. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence in favour of any one surgical technique for acute testicular torsion. During the consent process for scrotal exploration, uncertainties in long-term harms should be discussed. This review highlights the need for an interim consensus on surgical approach until robust studies examining the effects of an operative approach on clinical and fertility outcomes are available. PATIENT SUMMARY: Twisting of blood supply to the testis, termed testicular torsion, is a urological emergency. Testicular torsion is treated using an operation to untwist the cord that contains the blood vessels. If the testis is still salvageable, surgery can be performed to prevent further torsion. The method that is used to prevent further torsion varies. We reviewed the literature to assess the outcomes of using various surgical techniques to fix the twisting of the testis. Our review shows that there is limited evidence in favour of any one technique.

Outcomes of Elective Ureteroscopy for Ureteric Stones in Patients with Prior Urosepsis and Emergency Drainage: Prospective Study over 5 yr from a Tertiary Endourology Centre.

BACKGROUND: Elective treatment of ureteric stones is needed after emergency drainage of urosepsis. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to look at the outcomes of elective ureteroscopic stone treatment in patients with prior sepsis and emergency drainage via retrograde ureteric stent (RUS) or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data of all patients who underwent elective ureteroscopy (URS) for stone disease over 5 yr (March 2012-December 2016) were prospectively collected. INTERVENTION: Elective URS following previous emergency RUS or PCN. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Outcomes were collated for consecutive patients who underwent emergency drainage for urosepsis secondary to stone disease, followed by elective URS. Data was collected regarding patient demographics, stone parameters, and clinical outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In total, 76 patients underwent 82 elective procedures (six underwent bilateral URS) with a male to female ratio of 1:2 and a mean age of 57 yr. Emergency decompression was achieved via RUS in 63 (83%) and PCN in 13 (17%) patients. A positive urine culture on presentation was obtained in 26 (34%) patients, and 27 (36%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The mean single and overall stone size was 8.6 (2-23) and 10.8 (2-32) mm, respectively. The mean operating time was 42 (5-129) min with stone-free rate (SFR) of 97% (n=74). There were three (4%) complications in total, of which two patients developed urinary tract infection needing intravenous antibiotics (Clavien II) and a third developed sepsis (Clavien IV) needing ICU admission. There was no difference in ureteroscopic lithotripsy outcomes (operative time, complications, or SFR) on comparing initial RUS or PCN, admission to ICU or ward, positive or negative urine culture result, presence of single or multiple stones, and between American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade of patients. The ASA grade of patients was a significant predictor of day case procedures (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elective URS achieved excellent outcomes in patients who previously presented with obstructing calculi and sepsis needing emergency decompression. Overnight inpatient admission was needed in some patients with a higher ASA grade. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we look at the outcomes of planned ureteroscopy procedures for stone disease in patients with previous urosepsis. These patients with previous emergency drainage for urosepsis had excellent outcomes from their planned ureteroscopic surgery. This information will help in preoperative patient optimisation and counselling.

Defining a national reference level for intraoperative radiation exposure in urological procedures: FLASH, a retrospective multicentre UK study.

OBJECTIVES: To define reference levels for intraoperative radiation during stent insertion, ureteroscopy (URS), and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL); to identify variation in radiation exposure between individual hospitals across the UK, between low- and high-volume PCNL centres, and between grade of lead surgeon. PATIENTS/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In all, 3651 patients were identified retrospectively across 12 UK hospitals over a 1-year period. Radiation exposure was defined in terms of total fluoroscopy time (FT) and dose area product (DAP). The 75th percentiles of median values for each hospital were used to define reference levels for each procedure. RESULTS: Reference levels: ureteric stent insertion/replacement (DAP, 2.3 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 49 s); URS (DAP, 2.8 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 57 s); PCNL (DAP, 24.1 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 431 s). Significant variations in the median DAP and FT were identified between individual centres for all procedures (P < 0.001). For PCNL, there was a statistically significant difference between DAP for low- (<50 cases/annum) and high-volume centres (>50 cases/annum), at a median DAP of 15.0 Gy/cm2 vs 4.2 Gy/cm2 (P < 0.001). For stent procedures, the median DAP and FT differed significantly between grade of lead surgeon: Consultant (DAP, 2.17 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 41 s) vs Registrar (DAP, 1.38 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 26 s; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This multicentre study is the largest of its kind. It provides the first national reference level to guide fluoroscopy use in urological procedures, thereby adding a quantitative and objective value to complement the principles of keeping radiation exposure 'as low as reasonably achievable'. This snapshot of real-time data shows significant variation around the country, as well as significant differences between low- and high-volume centres for PCNL, and grade of lead surgeon for stent procedures.

Peri-prostatic Fat Volume Measurement as a Predictive Tool for Castration Resistance in Advanced Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and aggressive prostate cancer (PC) may be linked, but how local peri-prostatic fat relates to tumour response following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To test if peri-prostatic fat volume (PPFV) predicts tumour response to ADT. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a retrospective study on consecutive patients receiving primary ADT. From staging pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scans, the PPFV was quantified with OsirixX 6.5 imaging software. Statistical (univariate and multivariate) analysis were performed using R Version 3.2.1. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of 224 consecutive patients, 61 with advanced (≥T3 or N1 or M1) disease had (3-mm high resolution axial sections) pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scan before ADT. Median age=75 yr; median PPFV=24.8cm3 (range, 7.4-139.4cm3). PPFV was significantly higher in patients who developed castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC; n=31), with a median of 37.9cm3 compared with 16.1cm3 (p <0.0001, Wilcoxon rank sum test) in patients who showed sustained response to ADT (n=30). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards models were performed controlling for known predictors of CRPC. PPFV was shown to be independent of all included factors, and the most significant predictor of time to CRPC. Using our multivariate model consisting of all known factors prior to ADT, PPFV significantly improved the area under the curve of the multivariate models receiver operating characteristic analysis. The main study limitation is a relatively small cohort to account for multiple variables, necessitating a future large-scale prospective analysis of PPFV in advanced PC. CONCLUSIONS: PPFV quantification in patients with advanced PC predicts tumour response to ADT. PATIENT SUMMARY: The amount of fat around the prostate predicts prostate cancer response to hormone treatment.

Heminephrectomy in Adults: A Systematic Review with Cumulative Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Duplex collecting system of the kidney is a relatively common abnormality, with the majority of symptomatic cases discovered in childhood. Treatment is commonly a heminephrectomy of the affected moiety. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of the literature to provide the best available evidence for heminephrectomy for duplex kidneys in the adult population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in September 2017 with no limitations being placed on language, region, date or publication type. Data were represented numerically and analysed cumulatively. RESULTS: Seven retrospective studies with 66 patients were included. Of which, 56/66 operations were performed laparoscopically, 5/66 were robot-assisted and 5/66 were open procedures. Complete resolution of symptoms was reported in 53/55 (96.4%) of patients in five studies providing outcome data. Of the 6 studies reporting complications, there were a total of 9 complications (9/62, 14.5%), however 5 of these were found to be in one study alone. CONCLUSIONS: This review emphasises the scarcity of evidence for heminephrectomy in adults. Nonetheless, it has been shown that this operation may be effective in alleviating patients' symptoms in addition to being safe in experienced hands.

Cytological accuracy and radiological staging in patients with thyroid cancer in Glasgow.

To assess the accuracy of initial combined cytological accuracy and radiological staging of patients suspected of having thyroid malignancy with their final histopathology. Retrospective case series in a tertiary referral centre for head and neck malignancy. All patients with malignant thyroid cytology and cytology suspicious for malignancy, between the dates of June 2010 and July 2014, were included. The pre-operative staging was compared against the final histological staging. Demographics and outcomes for each patient were recorded. Sixty-five patients were recorded in this group. 20 (30.7 %) were male. The mean age at presentation was 51 years (SD 16.8 years). 39 (60 %) patients were aged over 45 years. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in all patients and was Thy 4 in 40 (62 %) and Thy 5 in 25 (38 %). Following surgery or subsequent biopsy, FNAC was found to be accurate in 38/40 (Thy 4) and 25/25 (Thy 5) cases in diagnosing malignancy, with Thy 4 yielding 95 % malignancy and Thy 5 % 100 %. Fifty-eight patients underwent a surgical procedure for thyroid cancer. Two further patients had a diagnostic hemi-thyroidectomy for later proven benign disease. Five patients due to medical co morbidities, inoperable disease or refusal of surgery were managed non-surgically. In the surgical group 16 patients underwent a diagnostic hemi-thyroidectomy and 11 of these required a completion thyroidectomy. Forty-six patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Forty-six patients underwent a neck dissection: 27 prophylactic central compartment neck dissections and 19 planned therapeutic neck dissections were performed. Radiological staging correctly predicted final pathological TNM staging in 25 (43 %) patients. 27 (47 %) patients had radiological staging which under staged their final histological staging and 6 (10 %) patients had scans that over staged their cancer. Of those that were under staged, 15 (56 %) had their nodal disease under staged (following prophylactic central neck dissection). Radiological staging comprised ultrasound (n = 58) and CT scanning (n = 45/58 pre-operatively). Pre-operative staging in thyroid cancer should include cytology, ultrasound and CT scanning. Unless low-risk papillary thyroid cancer is suspected pre-operatively, patients with Thy 4 cytology can be given the offer of a total thyroidectomy as surgical management.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for malignant phenotype Leydig cell tumours of the testis: a 10-year experience.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is a prognostic, palliative, and potentially therapeutic procedure for patients with malignant phenotype Leydig cell tumours of the testis. We reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with malignant phenotype Leydig cell tumours of the testis treated by RPLND. Modified template dissection was performed in all cases with extra-template excision of tumour mass in Stage II disease. Routine clinico-radiological follow-up was performed. Six open RPLNDs (1 re-do procedure) were performed on 5 patients diagnosed with Stage I (n = 3) and Stage II (n = 2) malignant phenotype Leydig cell tumour of the testis. Median age = 63 years (range = 55-72). Median peri-operative blood loss = 1500 ml (range = 500-1500 ml). Median operating time = 6 h (range = 4.5-6.5). Two patients with Stage II disease developed post-operative complications of acute kidney injury (n = 1) and pneumonia (n = 1). Median length of stay was 8 days (range = 6-11). RPLND specimens from patients with Stage I were tumour-free, whilst patients with Stage II disease had evidence of metastatic tumour. At latest follow-up (median = 13 months, range = 7-22), no patient with Stage I disease had radiological evidence of recurrence, however the two patients with Stage II disease had died due to tumour recurrence at 13 months and 36 months. RPLND for malignant phenotype Leydig cell testicular tumours appears to be well tolerated. Despite surgery, overall outcomes for Stage II appear to be poor due to the disease phenotype. Larger prospective multi-centre studies are required to determine the definitive criteria for surgery in Stage I disease.

Botulinum toxin A for children with salivary control problems.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the response of children who have received botulinum toxin A (BtA) injections for saliva control in our institution. METHODS: Retrospective case series of children attending a saliva control clinic in a paediatric tertiary referral hospital. Children were identified from the saliva control database, which has been in place since its creation in 2006. Prior to receiving BtA all the children in the study had previously undertaken a 3-month trial of pharmacological therapy, with no effect. All BtA injections were performed freehand to the parotid and submandibular glands. The background diagnosis, comorbidities for the child, age at presentation, dose of BtA, the response, and any complications were recorded. RESULTS: 97 children were identified and 175 BtA doses were given (median per child: 1, mean: 1.9). 59 (61%) were male. The age range was between 2 months and 18 years (mean 8.6 years, median 8.8 years). The dose injected varied between 0.52 units/kg and 21.28 unit/kg (mean 5 units/kg, median 4.2 units/kg). These were performed using local anaesthetic on 131 (75%) occasions. The remainder were performed under general anaesthetic. Responses to BtA were classed as effective 109 (62%), partially effective 14 (8%) or not effective 50 (29%). The response duration was between 0.25 and 18 months (mean 4 months). Complications were seen following 22 injections (10.9%). Data modelled using binary logistic regression found that male gender and children with cerebral palsy are statistically predicted to have a better response to BtA. CONCLUSION: Botulinum A injected under local anaesthetic is a safe, effective treatment for children with sialorrhoea. Ultrasound guidance is not necessary as long as anatomical landmarks are used for placement. The main adverse effect that can result is dysphagia, which is of concern in children that can swallow independently prior to injection. Male sex and cerebral palsy are statistically independent positive predictive factors for successful outcome of BtA injections for sialorrhoea, however this does not preclude other children from receiving or benefitting from it. Children that respond well to BtA initially, are likely to respond well in the future.

Autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty or TruFit plugs for cartilage repair.

PURPOSE: Autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty and TruFit Bone graft substitute plugs are methods used to repair symptomatic articular cartilage defects in the adult knee. There have been no comparative studies of the two techniques. METHODS: This retrospective study assessed functional outcome of patients using the EQ-5D, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Modified Cincinnati scores at follow-up of 1-5 years. RESULTS: There were 66 patients in the study (35 TruFit and 31 Mosaicplasty): 44 males and 22 females with a mean age of 37.3 years (SD 12.6). The mean BMI was 26.8. Thirty-six articular cartilage lesions were due to trauma, twenty-six due to osteochondritis dissecans and three due to non-specific degenerative change or unknown. There was no difference between the two groups age (n.s.), sex (n.s.), BMI (n.s.), defect location (n.s.) or aetiology (n.s.). The median follow-up was 22 months for the TruFit cohort and 30 months for the mosaicplasty group. There was no significant difference in the requirement for re-operation (n.s). Patients undergoing autologous mosaicplasty had a higher rate of returning to sport (p = 0.006), lower EQ-5D pain scores (p = 0.048) and higher KOOS activities of daily living (p = 0.029) scores. Sub-group analysis showed no difference related to the number of cases the surgeon performed. Patients requiring re-operation had lower outcome scores regardless of their initial procedure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated significantly better outcomes using two validated outcome scores (KOOS, EQ-5D), and an ability to return to sport in those undergoing autologous mosaicplasty compared to those receiving TruFit plugs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.