The challenging management of malignant ureteral obstruction: Analysis of a series of 188 cases.

Background: Malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is a common condition that complicates the course of advanced malignancies. The aims of this study are to analyze the causes, management, and survival of patients with obstructive nephropathy due to malignant ureteric obstruction and to determine prognostic factors. Furthermore, we studied the complications and outcomes in patients who underwent urinary diversion. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with computed tomography-confirmed MUO between January 2016 and November 2020. Demographic, clinical, radiological, laboratory, and management data were collected. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the association between parameters and survival. Results: A total of 188 patients were included. The mean age was 69.01 years (SD, 14.95 years), and the majority (54.8%) were male. The most common mechanism leading to MUO was compression by a pelvic mass (36.9%), and the 3 most frequent tumors causing MUO were prostate (17.6%), bladder (16.5%), and rectal cancer (11.7%).Forty-seven patients (25%) underwent urinary diversion: 23 (48.9%) underwent double-J stenting and 21 (44.7%) underwent percutaneous nephrostomy. The most common reason for urinary diversion was acute kidney injury (53.3%). Recovery of renal function was observed in 55.8% of the patients after urinary diversion. The most frequently identified complications after urinary diversion were urinary tract infection (24.4%), hematuria (17.0%), and urinary sepsis (14.9%). The median survival after hydronephrosis diagnosis was 6.43 months (interquartile range, 1.91-14.81 months). In patients who underwent urinary decompression, the median survival after urinary diversion was 8.67 months (interquartile range, 2.99-17.28 months). In the multivariate analysis, a lower grade of hydronephrosis and cancer cachexia negatively impacted survival. Conclusions: Cancer patients with MUO have a poor prognosis; therefore, the risk-benefit ratio of urinary diversion should be carefully considered. Cachexia and hydronephrosis grade can be useful in selecting suitable candidates for urinary diversion.

Primary testicular lymphoma: Clinical characteristics and oncological outcomes.

Background: Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare testicular malignancy, despite being considered the most common testicular tumor in patients older than 60 years. Primary testicular lymphoma represents only 1%-9% of testicular neoplasms. Few studies have been published regarding its clinical features and management. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PTL. Materials and methods: Orchiectomy specimens of 15 patients with PTL diagnosed during 2000-2020 at our institution were retrospectively studied. We collected information on demographic data, clinical features, management aspects, and outcomes of PTL treatment. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses were used to study survival. Results: The median patient age was 69 years (interquartile range, 61-72 years). The most prevalent clinical presentation was testicular swelling (80%), and only 13.33% of the patients presented with systemic symptoms. Central nervous system involvement was detected in 6 patients (40%). Of the 15 patients, 5 (33.33%) had stage IE and 10 (66.67%) had stage IVE lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common histological subtype. Twelve patients (80%) received chemotherapy. During follow-up, 4 patients (26.67%) relapsed. The recurrence rate in the contralateral testicle was 13.33%. The median cancer-specific survival was 21.58 months (95% confidence interval, 0-43.95 months). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that central nervous system involvement and International Prognostic Index score were significantly associated with shorter cancer-specific survival. Conclusions: Primary testicular lymphoma has a high relapse rate and poor prognosis. Management strategies typically include radical orchiectomy and systemic chemotherapy. Central nervous system involvement and International Prognostic Index scores were associated with lymphoma-specific survival.

Prospective long-term experience in the treatment of renal tumors with cryotherapy: follow-up with computed tomography scan and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Introduction: The aim of this article was to evaluate the oncological results and safety of cryotherapy for the treatment of renal tumors. Material and methods: This study was a prospective review and follow-up of patients who underwent cryotherapy from January 2008 to May 2021. Cryotherapy was offered to patients with bilateral tumors, tumors in solitary kidneys, or comorbid patients. Follow-up consisted of a computed tomography (CT) scan and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), with analysis of concordance (kappa index). Overall survival and kidney survival were analyzed (Kaplan-Meier). Results: Cryotherapy was performed 71 times in 67 patients. A total of 74.6% of patients were men. The mean age of patients was 69.7 years (standard deviation (SD) 11.3]. Mean follow-up was 52.7 months (SD 36.2). Mean tumor size was 26.2 mm (SD 7.6). 90% were cT1a, 10% cT1b stage. Type of access was open in 1 patient, laparoscopic in 8, percutaneous US-guided in 8 and percutaneous CT-guided in 54 patients. Biopsy was taken in 60 patients (84.5%) and consisted of renal cell carcinoma (22), oncocytoma (9), papillary carcinoma (4), angiomyolipoma (1), sarcoma (1), and non-conclusive (23).There were 22 complications such as pain in 2 patients, hematoma in 8 and 2 cases of bleeding, all resolved conservatively except for one case of bleeding which required embolization.Recurrences occurred in 16 cases (22.5%). Management was cryotherapy in 25%, radical nephrectomy in 31.3% and surveillance in 43.8%. Concordance between contrast-enhanced ultrasound and CT was 0.8 (excellent).Mean glomerular filtration did not change. One patient developed metastasis.No cancer-specific mortality was found. Overall survival at 12, 24 and 48 months was 98.5%, 96.8% and 76.9% respectively. Kidney survival at 12, 24 and 48 months was 97%, 93.5% and 93.5% respectively. Conclusions: Cryotherapy for renal tumors is a safe treatment for comorbid or solitary kidney patients, with rare major complications and good oncological outcome.

Primary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the penis: a case report and literature review.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumour with an intermediate behaviour between benign hemangioma and malignant angiosarcoma. There is scarce data on the penile EHE's management and its natural history, as our knowledge is based on few reported cases with a short follow-up period. We present a case report and conducted a literature review, including 17 cases. The relevance of this case report derives from the need for better clinical characterization of patients with penile EHE and the importance of defining the outcomes. We report the case of a 53-year-old male with a 1-year history of sleep-related painful erections. Imaging techniques showed a well-defined hypoechoic and hypervascular solid nodule on the dorsal aspect of the penis. It was surgically removed, and the histopathological study revealed a low-risk EHE of the penis. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography did not demonstrate local recurrence nor metastases. According to the literature review, most of the patients were in their fifth and sixth decades of life at the time of diagnosis and lesions were usually located in the glans. The most common clinical presentation was as a painful mass. Follow-up period ranged from 2 months to 5 years. Three patients showed systemic metastases, two of which died due to cancer. The conclusions from the literature review are limited by the reduced number of cases and the short follow-up. This case report highlights the importance of understanding the diagnosis and treatment of this type of rare non-squamous malignant tumours of the penis. Penile EHE is a malignant vascular tumour that is very rare in this location. The best treatment is local excision, with re-excision or intraoperative margins assessment. Occasionally, systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be useful. There is consensus on the importance of very strict follow-up of these patients.

Spontaneous urinoma debuting as retroperitoneal abscess: report of 2 cases and literature review.

Spontaneous urinoma is a urological entity that can be complicated by a retroperitoneal abscess. Urinoma can be iatrogenic, traumatic, or can be caused by obstructive uropathy. We report two cases of spontaneous urinomas, describing a not previously published cause of urinoma: pyeloureteritis. (I) A 55-year-old Caucasian female started with intense left-sided flank pain for 3 days. CT scan revealed a voluminous retroperitoneal abscess, which extended through the posterior pararenal space and the left lumbar paravertebral musculature. (II) A 48-year-old Caucasian male presented with constitutional symptoms over the previous 2 months and investigations showed a voluminous urinoma and marked pyeloureteritis findings on CT scan. Both patients were managed by endoscopic placement of a double-J stent and drainage of the collection (open and percutaneous approach, respectively). Urinoma was confirmed by fluid biochemical analysis, which demonstrated that fluid creatinine was markedly raised as compared to the serum creatinine. Urinoma in the absence of obstruction or trauma is rare. These two case reports highlight one of the conditions leading to urinoma and the management of retroperitoneal abscess. Pyeloureteritis is a cause of spontaneous urinoma and it should be considered in the lack of another obstructive cause.

What Should Be Known by a Urologist About the Medical Management of COVID-19's Patients?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The alarming number of confirmed COVID-19 cases put a strain on the healthcare systems, which had to reallocate human and technical resources to respond to the emergency. Many urologists became integrated into multidisciplinary teams, dealing with this respiratory illness and its unknown management. It aims to summarize the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostical, and therapeutical characteristics of COVID-19, from a practical perspective, to ease COVID-19 management to non-physician staff. RECENT FINDINGS: We performed a narrative review of the literature regarding COVID-19, updated to May 8th, 2020, at PubMed and COVID resource platforms of the main scientific editorials. COVID-19, characterized by fever, myalgias, dyspnea, and dry cough, varies widely from asymptomatic infection to death. Arrhythmias and thrombotic events are prevalent. Lymphopenia and inflammatory reactant elevation on laboratory, as well as bilateral and peripheral ground-glass opacities or consolidations on X-Ray, are usually found in its assessment. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 immunology. To date, no therapy has demonstrated efficacy in COVID-19. Of-level or compassionate-use therapies are prescribed in the context of clinical trials. We should become familiar with specific adverse events and pharmacological interactions. The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the urological activity, and its long-term consequences are unpredictable. Despite not being used to deal with respiratory diseases, the urologists become easily qualified to manage COVID-19 by following protocols and being integrated into multidisciplinary teams, helping to overcome the pandemic.