Disease Specific to Chronic Lymphedema and Class III Obesity.

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV) is a unique, chronic condition found in patients with obesity and chronic secondary lymphedema. It develops due to chronic inflammation and recurrent infection, most commonly on gravity-dependent sites. Progressive tissue enlargement, deformity, and disability necessitate intervention. First, clinicians should explore the etiology of patients' secondary lymphedema, as this is paramount in determining treatment for ENV. The fundamental goal is alleviating lymphatic obstruction. Our literature review of available cases of ENV elucidates Class III obesity as a factor common to all available cases of ENV. As such, weight loss is a key component of treatment. Medical management and weight loss are most effective when combined with physiologic interventions such as compression garments and decongestive physiotherapy. If surgical intervention is required, one of the mainstays of patient management is a reductive approach, aimed at removing excess adipose and fibrotic tissue to improve lymphatic patency and flow. Optimal postoperative outcomes are achieved when patients also undergo physiologic procedures to bypass obstructions and connect functioning lymphatic vessels.

Urinary aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2: Can these novel markers accurately characterize small renal masses and help guide patient management?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of urine aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2 as biomarkers adjunct to renal mass biopsy in guiding the management of patients with small renal masses. METHODS: Preoperative aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2 levels in 57 patients with small renal masses undergoing partial nephrectomy were analyzed and compared with postoperative tumor histology. An algorithm was created utilizing aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2 in conjunction with renal mass biopsy. Cut-off values were implemented to maximize biomarker sensitivity and specificity. Renal mass biopsy utilization and intervention were then compared with rates in traditional renal mass biopsy algorithms. RESULTS: All clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinomas were correctly identified and assigned to the treatment path. All benign lesions were correctly sorted to a confirmatory renal mass biopsy path. Two chromophobe masses did not have elevated aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2, and would require renal mass biopsy. Compared with protocols that call for all small renal masses to be biopsied, confirmatory renal mass biopsy could have been safely avoided in 74% of patients with elevated aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2. Compared with protocols that do not utilize renal mass biopsy, surgical intervention would have been avoided in 23% of patients with benign masses. CONCLUSIONS: Aquaporin 1 and perilipin 2 possess high sensitivity and specificity for detecting clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma. Use of these markers might compliment renal mass biopsy in the characterization of small renal masses.