Significance of PSA Screening in Niigata, Japan: Survey of Actual Status of New Cases of Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the utility of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening by conducting an all-case survey of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients at Niigata Prefecture, Japan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Depending on whether patients were subjected to screening, information was prospectively collected on all prostate cancer patients newly diagnosed between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2020, at all institutions in Niigata Prefecture where urologists performing prostate biopsy routinely work and differences in clinical parameters were investigated. RESULTS: PSA was measured in 478 out of 1332 patients (35.8%) as part of a community health screening. The rate of metastatic carcinoma (M1) in all patients was 14.9%. When patients were divided into three categories of population-based screening (community health screening and workplace health screening), opportunistic screening (PSA measurements at complete medical check-ups or on patient request), and testing triggered by clinical symptoms or findings, the proportion of metastatic cancer was 4.5%, 3.7%, and 30.6%, respectively, demonstrating that the number of distant metastases was significantly lesser in all patients who underwent screening. CONCLUSION: The one-year all-case survey of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients demonstrated that PSA screening significantly contributed to the early diagnosis of current prostate cancer in Japan.

A case of normotensive incidentally discovered adrenal pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumors that arise from the adrenal medulla. The clinical presentation includes headache, palpitation, and hypertension, but pheochromocytomas are sometimes clinically silent. The present case highlights the importance of biochemical testing for pheochromocytoma in patients with adrenal incidentaloma, even if they are completely normotensive and asymptomatic.

Lung adenocarcinoma and adrenocortical carcinoma in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by heterozygous germline mutations in the tumor suppressor gene MEN1, which encodes a nuclear protein, menin. MEN1 is characterized by the combined occurrence of tumors involving the pituitary gland, pancreatic islets, and parathyroid glands. Additionally, patients with MEN1 often exhibit adrenal tumors. Although most MEN1-associated tumors are benign, malignant lesions arising in these endocrine organs have been reported. Additionally, malignant diseases of non-endocrine organs concomitant with MEN1 have also been reported. Here, we report a rare case of a MEN1 patient who exhibited adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LAC). A 53-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with genetically proven MEN1 that initially manifested as parathyroid, pancreatic, and adrenal tumors. During the course of the disease, she developed LAC harboring the epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations and cortisol-secreting ACC. Both tumors were surgically resected. The tumor cells were immunohistochemically negative for menin. Studies have suggested a causative link between MEN1 gene mutations and ACC, and menin expression may decrease in MEN1-related ACCs. In contrast, there are few reports suggesting a specific role of MEN1 gene mutations in LAC. Menin is often inactivated in the LACs of patients without MEN1. Thus, our patient's ACC probably occurred as part of MEN1, whereas the latter had no evident etiological association with her LAC. This case demonstrates the need for physicians to consider the potential development of malignant diseases originating from both endocrine and non-endocrine organs in MEN1 patients.

Histopathological analysis of spontaneous large necrosis of adrenal pheochromocytoma manifested as acute attacks of alternating hypertension and hypotension: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumors. Hypertension secondary to pheochromocytoma is often paroxysmal, and patients occasionally present with sudden attacks of alternating hypertension and hypotension. Spontaneous, extensive necrosis within the tumor that is associated with catecholamine crisis is an infrequent complication of adrenal pheochromocytoma, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old Japanese man developed acute-onset episodic headaches, palpitations, and chest pains. During the episodes, both marked fluctuations in blood pressure (ranging from 40/25 to 300/160 mmHg) and high plasma levels of catecholamines were found simultaneously. Radiological findings indicated a 4-cm left adrenal pheochromocytoma. These episodic symptoms disappeared within 2 weeks with normalization of plasma catecholamine levels. Two months later, the patient underwent adrenalectomy. Microscopic examinations revealed pheocromocytoma with a large central area of coagulative necrosis. The necrotic material was immunohistochemically positive for chromogranin A. Granulation tissue was adjacent to the necrotic area, accompanied by numerous hemosiderin-laden macrophages and histiocytes with vascular proliferation. Viable tumor cells, detected along the periphery of the tumor, demonstrated pyknosis, and the Ki-67 labeling index was 2 % in the hot spot. No embolus or thrombus formation was found in the resected specimen harboring the whole tumor. The Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal gland Scaled Score was 2 out of 20. The patient's postoperative course was unremarkable for > 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: Presumed causal factors for the extensive necrosis of adrenal pheochromocytoma in previously reported cases include hemorrhage into the tumor, hypotension induced by a phentolamine administration, embolic infarction, high intracapsular pressure due to malignant growth of the tumor, and catecholamine-induced vasoconstriction. In the present case, histopathological and clinical findings suggest that under conditions of chronic ischemia due to catecholamine-induced vasoconstriction, an acute infarction occurred after sudden attacks of alternating hypertension and hypotension. Over the subsequent 2 weeks, repetitive massive release of catecholamines from the infarcts into circulation likely accelerated infarction progression by causing repeated attacks of alternating hypertension and hypotension and resulted in the large necrosis. This case highlights the need for physicians to consider acute spontaneous tumor infarction accompanying episodic catecholamine crisis as a rare but severe complication of pheochromocytoma.

Primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the retroperitoneum.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most frequent non-epithelial neoplasm in the gastrointestinal tract. GIST has received much attention both for its clinical significance and biological nature, while the retroperitoneal condition identical to GIST has been rarely described. Presented herein is a case of GIST arising from the retroperitoneum in a 67-year-old man. The solid tumor measuring 4 cm was uncovered in the retroperitoneum, between the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava, on computed tomography. The patient underwent surgical excision of the tumor. Histological examination showed proliferating spindle cells in the clearly demarcated tumor; immunoreactivity for Kit and CD34 in tumor cells confirmed the diagnosis of GIST. The histological origin of GIST is suggested to be gastrointestinal pacemaker cells, because they share specific immunoreactivity for CD117/Kit, which is also relevant to pathogenesis of GIST. The present case was a rare primary GIST in the retroperitoneum with typical immunopathological features.

A case of preclinical Cushing's syndrome associated with diurnal rhythms of ACTH and cortisol in blood: correlation with histological findings.

We describe a case of adrenocortical adenoma with preclinical Cushing's syndrome demonstrating diurnal rhythms of ACTH and cortisol in blood. A 50-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for the evaluation of incidental right adrenal mass with hyperglycemia and hypertension. On admission, there were no signs of clinical manifestation of hypercortisolism. The basal levels of cortisol (9.3 microg/dl) and ACTH (9.4 pg/ml) at 0800 h were not elevated and these diurnal rhythms were maintained. One or 8 mg of dexamethasone given orally overnight suppressed the plasma ACTH but not serum cortisol. Ultrasonogram, CT and scintiscan of (131)I adosterol all demonstrated an enlarged adrenal mass in the right adrenal gland. The right adrenal gland was subsequently resected by laparoscopic surgery. Histopathological findings of resected adrenal tumor were consistent with adrenocortical adenoma. Adjacent non-neoplastic adrenal tissue demonstrated adrenocortical atrophy but DHEA-sulfotransferase immunoreactivity in the zona reticularis was detected.

[The consequence after introduction of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to spina bifida--the comparison of patients with and without upper urinary tract dilation at the time CIC was introduced].

PURPOSE: The aim of current study was to review the consequence after introduction of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to spina bifida. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 34 children (19 girls and 15 boys) presenting our clinic in a 18-year period. The patients were divided concentrating on the radiological upper urinary tract findings when CIC was introduced. 18 children had dilated upper urinary tract. In these patients, 10 children already had dilated upper urinary tract at first visiting to our clinic(group A). In remaining 8 patients, dilatation of upper urinary tract was found out in the course of followup (group B). 16 children had normal upper urinary tract when CIC was introduced. In 7 patients, CIC was applied for post-void residual and urinary tract infection (group C). In remaining 9 patients, CIC was introduced for urodynamically low compliance bladder (group D). RESULTS: In group A, 5 patients underwent enterocystoplasty and 3 patients underwent anti-reflux surgery consequently. Two patients, including 1 patient who underwent enterocystoplasty, have chronic renal dysfunction. In group B, 3 patients underwent enterocystoplasty and 2 patients underwent anti-reflux surgery. In group C, all patients have normal upper urinary tract. In group D, 8 patients have normal upper urinary tract. However, 1 patients underwent enterocystoplasty for low compliance bladder with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). CONCLUSION: Some patients show the improvement of dilated upper urinary tract or VUR after introduction of CIC. However, enterocystoplasty or anti-reflux surgery was needed for many patients to prevent upper urinary tract deterioration. The patients whom CIC was introduced for postvoid residual and urinary tract infection have not shown any deterioration of upper urinary tract. The efficacy of CIC for incontinence was poor because many patients have urethral sphincter incompetence.

[A case of gas gangrene caused by colon diverticulitis with perforation into the retroperitoneal space].

We report a case of retroperitoneal gas gangrene, which was caused by cecal diverticulitis with perforation. A-57-year-old male was admitted to the Sado General Hospital with the chief complaint of right lateral abdominal pain. Roentogenogram and Computelized Tomography (CT) showed gas accumulation in the retroperitoneal space behind the ascending colon. Based on the clinical, labolatory, and instrumental examination findings gas gangrene was diagnosed. Since urolithiasis or urinary tract infection was suspected to be the cause of the lesion at that time, the patient was transferred to our department immediately. CT scan done on day 3 at our inpatient department provided data suspicious for the cecal perforation into retroperitoneal space due to appendicitis or diverticulitis. We performed an acute drainage of the abscess and intensive care including continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF), oxygen under high pressure (OHP), and chemotherapy with antibiotics was carried out. However, in spite of the above mentioned measures, the patient's condition deteriorated and he died due to progression of gangrene and multiple organ failure in 23 days. The autopsy revealed that the cause of perforation was cecal diverticulitis. Retroperitoneal gas gangrene is an uncommon entity and has been rarely reported. It is supposed that laparotomy with diagnostic and therapeutic purpose should have been performed in this case.

[Gasless laparoscopy-assisted live donor nephrectomy].

PURPOSE: We evaluated both efficacy and feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted live donor nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since September 2000, 11 living kidney donors (2 males and 9 females) underwent laparoscopy-assisted live donor nephrectomy. All of sides were left. Gasless surgery was performed with a 7 cm pararectal upper abdominal incision and three trocars via a retroperitoneal approach. After creating the working space using balloon dissection technique, the abdominal wall was lifted using a metal retractor attached to the margin of the abdominal incision. Additionally, a metal plate, which was attached to the abdominal wall inside, was raised. The surgeon dissected left kidney from the skin incision under both direct vision and magnificated view on the monitor. RESULTS: The operating time, estimated blood loss and warm ischemic time were a mean of 209 minutes, 219 g, and 4.2 minutes, respectively. The mean times for the return to a normal diet and unassisted ambulation were 1.3 and 1.8 days, respectively. One case required blood transfusion due to subcutaneous hematoma at trocar entry site on the second day after surgery, in the remaining 10 cases there were no complications. All of donated kidneys achieved immediate function after engraftment. CONCLUSIONS: Gasless laparoscopy-assisted donor nephrectomy is recommended and advantageous for healthy kidney donors as a minimally invasive method.