Evolution of prostate cancer diagnosis: retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion guided biopsies protocol in routine practice and patients management.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is today strongly recommended in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. Therefore, MRI/ultrasound (MRI/US) fusion-guided biopsy is becoming the new standard patients management. METHODS: We report our experience during the last 4 years using this technique, with a protocol of 6 random cores (instead of the most used 12 cores protocol) associated to the target cores (2 to 3 per lesion). Our study involved 236 patients including real life routine practice: biopsy naïve patients (n=107), patients with previous negative standard prostate biopsies (n=67) and patients in PCa active surveillance (n=62). Finally, 76 patients have a robotic radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Mean age of the population was 66 years. Median PSA was 8.5 ng/mL. Overall and significant cancer detection were respectively 66.6% and 38.5%, with a large difference considering biopsy history: 63.5% in biopsy naïve patient, 53.7% in patient with previous negative biopsies and 82.3% in patients under active surveillance. Targeted biopsies missed 28 cancers among 8 were significant and standard biopsies missed 33 cancers among 14 were significant. Moreover, concordance between biopsy samples and radical prostatectomy specimens was evaluated at 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing to literature data, similar results were observed in our retrospective study, even with reduced random cores, suggesting a real change in patients management in particular in active surveillance group with a reclassification rate of 56.4% using the Epstein criteria.

Evaluating prognostic utility of preoperative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and hsa-let-7g/c up-regulation in patients with urinary bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Stratification and risk-evaluation of bladder cancer (BCa) patients are far-reached issues, especially for those with non muscle invasive disease. Thus, setting-up biomarkers, especially after resection of the primary tumor, is crucial. Specifically, Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio NLR and let-7 deregulation which have been preliminarily but not consistently described to be associated to unfavorable prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of pre-treatment Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), let-7c and let-7g's deregulation. METHODS: Data were extracted from ninety BCa samples. Pre-treatment NLR was estimated as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count. Expression patterns of let-7c and let-7g were assessed by qRT-PCR. Correlation with clinical characteristics was performed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Both let-7 miRs were upregulated. Interestingly, let-7g was associated to pathological stage (p= 0.001) and tumor multiplicity (p= 0.003). NLR was associated to histological grade (p= 0.005) and clinical stage (p= 0.006). They were both associated to more aggressive phenotype and their worth as potential stratification biomarkers was confirmed by ROC curve. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated the potential clinical value of all markers, especially pretreatment NLR and let-7g. Further studies are recommended to confirm their utility in improving the clinical decision-making regarding treatment and follow-up scheduling.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the kidney: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is rare, representing 2% of all soft tissue tumors and is usually described in the thoracic cavity. Only 105 cases of renal SFT have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old men with lower urinary tract symptoms, had a routine renal ultrasound which showed a cortical mass of the left kidney measuring 36 × 23 × 39 mm, with peripheral enhancement, and a central fluid collection on CT. On MRI, it was iso-intense to the kidney in T1 and hyper-intense with restricted diffusion in T2 images. The diagnosis of renal cell cancer was likely and an open partial nephrectomy was performed. Microscopic examination showed a mesenchymal neoplasm with long spindle cell and Immunohistochemical staining positive for CD34 and Bcl-2 confirming the diagnosis of SFT. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis nine months after discharge. DISCUSSION: Up to now, only 105 cases of occurring renal SFT have been reported. SFTs are usually asymptomatic when they have a small size, that's why the diagnosis is often delayed. Blood tests do not have any diagnostic value. Imaging features are not specific for the diagnosis of SFT which are diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma and treated as such. Typical immunohistochemical characteristic is a high positivity for CD34. As SFT has a malignant potential, careful follow-up is mandatory,searching for local recurrence or metastasis which was reported in few cases. CONLUSION: SFTs are indolent tumors and are usually diagnosed as renal cell carcinomas preoperatively and the final diagnosis is always based on immunohistochemical study.

Inguinal Solitary Fibrous Tumor: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that may occur in a wide range of sites, more commonly in the pleura. We report a well-documented case of an SFT with malignant histology arising in the inguinal region. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old man, with an unremarkable medical history, presented with a slow-growing painless mass in the left side of the inguinal region, which he had ignored for 3 years. On clinical examination, there was an indurated, irreducible, mobile, and painless mass in the left side of the inguinal area. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography results revealed a 15-cm mass made up of soft tissue and with nonspecific radiologic aspect. The tumor was totally excised, and the results of the pathologic examination concluded it was an SFT. DISCUSSION: The aim of our case report is to present a rare extrapleural localization of an SFT. Although its radiologic features are not specific, SFT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inguinal masses.

The clinical and prognostic value of miR-9 gene expression in Tunisian patients with bladder cancer.

There is a major need for the identification of biomarkers, which are able to guide personalized therapy for bladder cancer, in particular after resection of the primary tumor. Specifically, miR-9 upregulation has been preliminarily associated with a more aggressive phenotype of bladder cancer, namely muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) or high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HG NMIBC). In order to explore the potential utility of miR-9 as a biomarker in bladder cancer, we have investigated its expression pattern in a sample of Tunisian patients who have undergone primary resection. This is a retrospective study performed on BCa samples from 90 patients (44 specimens of HG NMIBC, 23 specimens of LG NMIBC, and 23 specimens of MIBC). Ten samples from the non-tumoral zone of cystectomy specimens were used as controls. For each specimen, we measured miR-9 expression and correlated it with the clinical characteristics of the patients. Overall, miR-9 was overexpressed in MIBC compared to NMIBC specimens (median fold change [FC]: - 8.89 vs 1.41, p = 0.001). Similarly, miR-9 expression was significantly different in LG NMIBC, HG NMIBC and MIBC subgroups (median FC: 0.68, 2.14 and 8.89, respectively; p = 0.001). ROC analysis showed that miR-9 expression pattern could be used as potential biomarker for distinguishing NMIBC subgroups: indeed miR-9 expression is relatively low in LG NMIBC and high in HG NMIBC. The thresholds are estimated at 0.063 and 21.597, respectively. Moreover, miR-9 was associated with a higher risk of progression. This study suggests the clinical value of miR-9 as a prognostic factor in bladder cancer after tumor resection. Should the prognostic ability of miR-9 be confirmed in larger studies, also on different ethnic groups, it would be useful to investigate whether urine sampling-which is easier to perform, less invasive and less costly-can provide the same results as analysis on surgical specimens.

Masson's tumor of the kidney: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (known also as Masson's tumor) is a benign vascular lesion that commonly occurs in the skin and is rarely found in solid organs, especially in the kidney. In what follows, we will look into the first case of an unexpectedly diagnosed Masson's tumor of the kidney presenting as a suspicious renal cyst. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old Arab man presented with a left renal cyst, incidentally revealed by ultrasonography. The laboratory values were unremarkable. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a 38 mm left renal midportion Bosniak IV cyst. Our patient underwent a radical nephrectomy. Histopathology revealed the diagnosis of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia. There was no recurrence detected after 9 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Renal intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia is a rare benign tumor which can mimic a suspicious renal mass on radiological findings. Thus, this entity should be considered more often in the thick of the diagnostic possibilities in order to avoid unnecessary nephrectomies.

A Case Report of Scrotal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Secondary to Chronic Urinary Irritation.

Most scrotum cancers are associated with occupational exposure. We report a case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum in a patient with a proximal meatus, secondary to mistreated urethral stricture. Based on our observations in this case, we think that chronic urinary inflammation of the scrotal skin may also be considered as a risk factor of scrotal cancer.