Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of bladder and upper tract urothelial carcinoma: the largest single-institution experience to date.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the UroVysion (Abbott Molecular, IL, USA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay for the diagnosis of urothelial cancer in patients diagnosed with or suspected to have bladder, upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), and combined upper and lower tract urothelial carcinoma (BC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single institution retrospective analysis comparing sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values for FISH and urinary cytology. FISH within 6 months of endoscopic evaluation were obtained from outpatient voided urine samples. Our institutional pathology department confirmed pathologic disease from specimens obtained during endoscopic evaluations for lower tract disease. For upper tract disease, disease was confirmed by retrograde ureteroscopy, biopsies of visual lesions, and site-specific upper tract cytology. RESULTS: A total of 415 patients submitted FISH specimens. Overall, FISH was more sensitive than cytology 54.9% in comparison with cytology 42.2% (p = 0.01), specificity favored cytology 92.9% compared to 73.5% with FISH (p < 0.01). For BC only patients, the same significant finding of increased sensitivity and decreased specificity was identified, but for UTUC alone and combined UTUC and BC, there was no significant difference. Cytology had improved positive predictive value (PPV) over FISH, 76.9% in comparison to 64.6% (p = 0.02). Negative predictive value (NPV) also favored cytology 74.2% versus 64.9% (p = 0.02). When analyzing individual cohorts, cytology had improved PPV for BC alone patients. UTUC showed no difference for PPV and NPV. For both UTUC and BC, NPV was slightly favored for FISH over cytology 93.2% versus 91.2% (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Voided urine FISH testing does offer a higher detection of urothelial carcinoma for BC compared to voided cytology; however, specificity was worse. FISH does not appear to improve detection of urothelial carcinoma in patients with either UTUC only or both BC and UTUC.

Ureteral Avulsion Associated with Ureteroscopy: Insights from the MAUDE Database.

BACKGROUND: Flexible and semirigid ureteroscopy (URS) are widely performed for the treatment of upper tract calculi and tumors. Ureteral avulsion is a rare, but devastating complication of endoscopic stone removal having multiple possible etiologies. Awareness and avoidance of this rare complication depend on identifying responsible mechanisms. This study examines the situations in which ureteral avulsion occurs as described anonymously in the Manufacturer and User facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MAUDE database was systematically reviewed to account for all reported complications of flexible and semirigid URS. Keywords "ureteroscopy, injury, death, malfunction and other" were entered in the database and medical device reports were reviewed to capture any cases resulting in ureteral avulsion. Attention was paid to the type of ureteroscope involved and the mechanism for avulsion. RESULTS: A total of 104 entries were found detailing the reported complications of flexible and semirigid URS. Ureteral avulsion was clearly noted in six reports with flexible (2) and semirigid ureteroscopes (4). Potential mechanisms included locked deflection of a flexible ureteroscope (1), bunching of the distal bending rubber in a flexible ureteroscope (1), scabbard avulsion (3), and stone basketing (1). CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of ureteral avulsion cannot truly be determined from this study, some potentially novel mechanisms for this rare complication are observed. This may target future educational efforts to maximize awareness and avoidance of this complication.

Hand problems among endourologists.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endourology has evolved rapidly for the management of both benign and malignant disease of the upper urinary tract. Limited data exist, however, on the occupational hazards posed by complex endourologic procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and possible causes of hand problems among endourologists who routinely perform flexible ureteroscopy compared with controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online computer survey targeted members of the Endourological Society and psychiatrists in academic and community settings. A total of 600 endourologists and 578 psychiatrists were contacted by e-mail. Invited physicians were queried regarding their practice settings and symptoms of hand pain, neuropathy, and/or discomfort. RESULTS: Survey responses were obtained from 122 (20.3%) endourologists and 74 (12.8%) psychiatrists. Of endourologists, 61% were in an academic setting and 70% devoted their practice to endourology. Endourologists were in practice for a mean 13 years, performing 4.5 ureteroscopic cases per week with a mean operative time of 50 minutes. Hand/wrist problems were reported by 39 (32%) endourologists compared with 14 (19%) psychiatrists (P=0.0486, relative risk [RR]=1.69). Surgeons who preferred counterintuitive ureteroscope deflection were significantly more likely to have problems (56%) compared with intuitive users (27%) (RR 2.07, P=0.0139) or those with no preference (26%) (RR 2.15, P=0.0451). Overall, most respondents (85%) with hand/wrist problems needed either medical or surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Hand and wrist problems are very common among endourologists. Future studies are needed to develop more ergonomic platforms and thereby reduce the endourologist's exposure to these occupational hazards.