Metastatic small cell bladder cancer treated with sequential systemic therapy including pembrolizumab and amrubicin: A case report.

Introduction: Small cell bladder cancer is a relatively rare tumor, representing <1% of all bladder tumors. Amrubicin monotherapy is used as second-line treatment for small cell lung cancer in Japan. Case presentation: A 79-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria and was diagnosed with small cell bladder cancer (T2 or higher). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin resulted in a partial response. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy was performed, and radical resection was achieved. As we identified metastasis in the pleura 1 year later, we administered carboplatin and etoposide, which resulted in a partial response. Although pembrolizumab was initiated as maintenance therapy, it was not effective. Amrubicin was given as third-line therapy, and stable disease was achieved without serious adverse effect for 6 months. Conclusion: Although there is no established treatment for metastatic small cell bladder cancer, the current case report suggests the effectiveness of amrubicin in this setting.

The efficacy of STRATAFIX® spiral PDS for vesicourethral anastomosis during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a single-center retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of continuous suturing using barbed suture for vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively divided based on the suture type used for VUA: group A, 3-0 poliglecaprone-25 RB-1 needle (Monocryl®), n = 46; group B, 3-0 spiral polydioxanone (PDS) barbed suture with RB-1 needle (STRATAFIX®), n = 27. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in patient background characteristics between groups, including age, body mass index, and clinical stage. However, group B had a significantly shorter operative time, console time, hospital stay, and duration of urethral catheterization. The VUA time was significantly shorter in group B than in group A (17.9 min vs. 10.6 min; p < 0.001). Only 1 case of minor leakage was observed during the intraoperative leak test (1 patient in group A). There was no significant difference in the number of pads used at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. There were no urethral strictures, and there was no significant difference in pathologic results or postoperative prostate-specific antigen progression between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the use of barbed suture during VUA for RARP is associated with reduced VUA time.

Bladder stone formation around polyethylene glycol after use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel.

Introduction: Radiation therapy is used as primary, adjuvant, and salvage therapy for prostate cancer. When using radiation therapy, the SpaceOAR® system is considered easy to use and useful for reducing the irradiated dose and toxicity to the rectum. Although SpaceOAR® system have been reported some adverse event including death. Case presentation: A 74-year-old male was diagnosed with prostate cancer of clinical stage cT2aN0M0 and intermediate risk by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. We inserted the SpaceOAR® Hydrogel before performing intensity-modulated radiation therapy, as the patient had ulcerative colitis. We did not recognize any complications during or after the procedure, although magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrogel in the bladder retrospectively. Fourteen months after the procedure, the patient was presented with macrohematuria and we found a bladder stone including hydrogel. Conclusion: We report the first case of a bladder stone after use of SpaceOAR® Hydrogel. We must be careful of taking place it.

Cut-to-the-light technique is useful for complete obstruction of a Wallace ureteroileal anastomosis.

Introduction: Obstruction of a ureteroileal anastomosis after urinary diversion is an unpleasant situation for patients and clinicians alike. Case presentation: A 48-year-old man who underwent a radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and urinary diversion using the Wallace technique complained of right back pain. Computed tomography showed right hydronephrosis. Cystoscopy via the ileal conduit revealed complete obstruction of the ureteroileal anastomosis. We performed a bilateral approach (antegrade and retrograde) to use the cut-to-the-light technique. A guidewire and 7Fr single J catheter could be inserted. Conclusion: The cut-to-the-light technique was useful for complete obstruction of the ureteroileal anastomosis, the length of which was <1 cm. Herein, we report on the cut-to-the-light technique with a literature review.

Isolated rupture of the corpus spongiosum with urethral injury diagnosed by pre-surgical MRI.

Introduction: Penile fracture is typically defined as the rupture of the corpus cavernosum. Case presentation: A 61-year-old man presented with swelling, pain, and bruising of his penis, along with gross hematuria. He reported that he sustained this injury while having sex with his wife. We suspected a penile fracture and obtained magnetic resonance imaging, which showed a rupture of the ventral corpus spongiosum and clarified the appropriate approach for repair. We used a direct transverse incision to repair both the urethral injury and the corpus spongiosum. Surgery went well, without any significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. We removed the urinary catheter on postoperative day 8, and cystoscopy showed no urethral stenosis on postoperative day 17. The patient's postoperative erectile function was the same as before his injury. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging was useful for detect the site of rupture. Ventral direct transverce incision made him a good clinical course.

Syphilitic osteomyelitis in a patient with HIV and cognitive biases in clinical reasoning: A case report.

RATIONALE: Diagnosing multifactorial, multidimensional symptoms unexplained by presumptive diagnosis is often challenging for infectious disease specialists. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a rare case of a 30-year-old Japanese bisexual man with a history of virally suppressed human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis infections who developed chest pain and an erosive lesion under the lower midline jaw. DIAGNOSIS: Imaging examinations revealed erosive lesions on the sternum and left the ninth rib. Biopsy and polymerase chain reaction testing of sternal tissue specimens were noncontributory. However, due to elevated rapid plasma regain levels, a diagnosis of syphilitic osteomyelitis and gumma of the jaw was made. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with 5 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone and then with 8 weeks of oral amoxicillin. OUTCOME: After the antibiotic treatment, bone pain disappeared. We conducted a literature review on syphilitic osteomyelitis, and all of the articles included were case reports. Approximately half of the 46 patients with syphilitic osteomyelitis had HIV coinfection, and 10 (22%) patients lacked signs of early syphilis. Given its rarity, clinical data to establish appropriate guidelines for diagnosing and treating syphilitic osteomyelitis are still lacking. Cognitive biases, such as anchoring, cognitive overload bias, and premature closure, may contribute to diagnostic delays. LESSONS: In cases of idiopathic multiple bone lesions, syphilis must always be ruled out, and clinicians should guard against cognitive pitfalls when diagnosing rare diseases.

Community-acquired Respiratory Virus Cases Mimic COVID-19 on Lung Computed Tomography.

We herein report four patients with community-acquired respiratory virus (CRV) infection. Although they had no history of contact with any individual with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), they were suspected of having COVID-19 based on findings of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) of the lungs. Among the four patients, two were infected with rhinovirus, one with metapneumovirus, and one with influenza A. Their chest CT findings were similar to those of COVID-19 patients reported in previous studies. Both CRV infection and COVID-19 can show various patterns on chest CT. CRV infection is thus indistinguishable from COVID-19 based on CT findings alone.

Open partial nephrectomy of a left-to-right crossed fused renal ectopia with clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Case report and review of the literature.

Crossed fused renal ectopia (CFRE) is a rare congenital renal abnormality. It is usually diagnosed incidentally by imaging. Herein we report a 53-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma of CFRE. He was successfully treated with an open partial nephrectomy and was discharged without any complications. Furthermore, we review similar cases of CFRE to identify the clinical features and surgical technique.

A case report of super responder of critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

This report presents a case of a 74-year-old man who showed dramatic therapeutic response to treatment of coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia. He reported four-day history of sustained fever and acute progressive dyspnea. He developed severe respiratory failure, underwent urgent endotracheal intubation and showed marked elevation of inflammatory and coagulation markers such as c-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and D-dimer. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated diffuse consolidation and ground glass opacity (GGO). We diagnosed critical COVID-19 pneumonia with detailed sick contact history and naso-pharyngeal swab of a reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay testing. He received anti-viral drug, anti-interleukin (IL-6) receptor antagonist and intravenous methylprednisolone. After commencing combined intensive therapy, he showed dramatic improvement of clinical condition, serum biomarkers and radiological findings. Early diagnosis and rapid critical care management may provide meaningful clinical benefit even if severe case. J. Med. Invest. 68 : 192-195, February, 2021.