Isolated tuberculous epididymitis presenting as a painless scrotal tumor.

Genitourinary tuberculosis, the second most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB), is very difficult to diagnose unless one maintains a high index of suspicion. Isolated tuberculous epididymitis (ITE), defined as tuberculous epididymitis without clinical evidence of either renal or prostate involvement, is a rare entity among genitourinary tuberculosis. When diagnosed correctly, ITE can be cured with anti-TB medications. However, patients with poor response to medical treatment may require surgery. Here, we report a 20-year-old man who presented with a slow-growing painless scrotal tumor for 2 months, with the initial workup suspicious for a right paratesticular tumor. Surgical resection of the tumor was therefore scheduled. However, severe pain and redness over the patient's right hemi-scrotum were noted on the day of surgery. A repeat scrotal ultrasound was performed that revealed findings suggesting a chronic inflammatory process rather than a malignancy. Frozen section of the lesion confirmed the ultrasonographic findings, and the pathology established the diagnosis of ITE. The patient remained on anti-TB therapy postoperatively for 6 months and had an excellent outcome.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

We report a case of primary extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma of the distal ureter, with a synchronous small cell carcinoma of the ipsilateral renal pelvis. These tumors, rarely reported in the urinary tract, are locally aggressive and have a poor prognosis. A 77-year-old male bedridden patient presented with fever and chills with left side-flank pain for 3 days. Following a diagnosis of ureteral urothelial carcinoma, hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision was carried out. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given after pathologic report of primary small cell carcinoma of the distal ureter and a synchronous small cell carcinoma of the ipsilateral renal pelvis. After 3 cycles of combination chemotherapy, the patient died 4 months postoperatively due to sepsis.

Extraskeletal osteochondroma of the foot.

Extraskeletal osteochondroma, an infrequently encountered benign lesion, is described in 1 patient who presented with a slow-growing, relatively painful mass on the dorsal side of his right foot, in the 3rd toe web. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated a radio-opaque extraskeletal mass. Excision biopsy revealed a well-defined and lobulated, firm, calcified, extraskeletal mass, which was easily enucleated. Histologic examination revealed mature chondroid tissues with bland-looking chondrocytes and ossified tissues. The diagnosis of an extraskeletal osteochondroma should be considered when a discrete ossified mass is localized in the soft tissues of the distal extremities. A case of pathologically proven extraskeletal osteochondroma is presented together with clinical, radiologic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings, and a literature review.

Posterolateral fusion using laminectomy bone chips in the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.

We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of posterolateral fusion (PLF) in 136 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis (LS), who had undergone posterior decompression laminectomy with foraminotomy and PLF using laminectomy bone chips as bone graft, with reduction of the slipped vertebra with transpedicle screws, between 1993 and 2003. Diagnosis of LS was confirmed by plain lumbar radiography, with computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed to confirm an associated condition, such as ruptured disc and spinal stenosis. The outcome of spinal fusion was good with 129 (94.85%) patients attaining solid fusion, while failed fusion was noted in seven (5.15%) patients. None of our patients complained of excessive postoperative wound pain. Additionally, no complications, such as wound infection, were encountered. Proper decortication of the posterior paravertebral gutters with an osteotome and removal of all soft tissues from the laminectomy bone chips are significant factors contributing to the successful outcome of the laminectomy bone chips in PLF. The fusion rate obtained with this type of autogenous bone graft is comparable to that of the iliac bone crest autogenous graft; hence, it is a good substitute for the iliac crest bone autogenous graft in performing PLF in treating lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Percutaneous nephroscopic resection of renal pelvic fibroepithelial polyp.

Benign fibroepithelial polyps of the renal pelvis are extremely rare, and are frequently mistaken for transitional cell carcinoma. Diagnosis is usually made following nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy for an assumed malignancy of the renal pelvis. We report a 56-year-old female with a right renal pelvic fibroepithelial polyp successfully treated by percutaneous nephroscopic resection.

Treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis with broad-spectrum antibacterials and percutaneous renal drainage: an analysis of 10 patients.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study was designed to determine the efficacy of broad-spectrum antibacterials combined with percutaneous renal drainage in the treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN). METHODS: From July 1992 to September 2002, 10 patients (nine females and one male) with EPN were managed at our institution. All patients had diabetes and presented with fever and chills, flank pain or tenderness, vomiting, and altered consciousness. The diagnosis of EPN was confirmed by the presence of intraparenchymal and/or perinephric gas in imaging studies (kidney-ureter-bladder film, sonogram, and/or computed tomography scan). Broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy, combined with percutaneous renal drainage, was started in all patients. Follow-up studies consisted of computed tomography scan and technetium-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) radioisotope renography. RESULTS: The outcome was good in all patients. Three patients underwent delayed nephrectomy due to non-functioning of the involved kidney. The DTPA radioisotope renography results (glomerular filtration rate of the diseased kidney/ contralateral healthy kidney) were 0/57 mL/min, 2.7/68.1 mL/min and 3.7/63.9 mL/min. CONCLUSION: Combined broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy and percutaneous renal drainage is a safe and effective treatment for EPN, especially in high-risk patients for whom nephrectomy under general anesthesia is not feasible.

The results of posterolateral lumbar fusion with bone chips from laminectomy in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to assess the radiologic outcome of spinal fusion, with bone chips from laminectomy in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis. METHODS: From January 1993 to September 2001, 95 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis were managed and followed up well at our Orthopedic Division. All patients presented with persistent low back pain, radiculopathy and claudication. The diagnosis of lumbar spondylolisthesis was confirmed by plain radiographs of the lumbar spine, with lumbar spine computed tomography scan (CT-scan) performed to identify other associated conditions. A near total posterior decompression laminectomy with foraminotomy and posterolateral lumbar fusion using bone chips from laminectomy as bone graft and reduction of the vertebral slip using transpedicle screws with Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen spinal fixators and Trifix Reduction Fixation spinal system implants, were instituted. Additional disectomies were performed in several patients with disc rupture as confirmed by CT-scan. Fusion was then assessed by plain lumbar radiographs done at 4, 8, and 24 months after operation. RESULTS: The outcome was good, with 88 (92.6%) cases attaining solid fusion, while failed fusion was noted in 7 (7.4%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: Proper decortication of the posterolateral vertebral gutter with removal of all soft tissues attached to the bone chips prior to the placement of bone graft were noted to be the most significant factors for spinal fusion. Fusion rate with bone chips from laminectomy was shown to be comparable to that of the iliac crest bone graft.