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.

Intraoperative transesophageal sonographic monitoring of tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava during radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy for renal cell carcinoma.

We report the case of a 58-year-old woman with renal cell carcinoma in whom real-time transesophageal sonographic monitoring of the tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava provided dynamic information, allowing us to determine the appropriate operative procedure to use. Observation of the thrombus throughout the operation showed that mobilization of the liver resulted in compression of the inferior vena cava against the spine, increasing the risk of migration of the tumor thrombus and reinforcing the need to maintain adequate positioning of the liver to prevent such compression. The surgery was completed successfully, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful. We recommend the use of real-time transesophageal sonographic monitoring of the tumor thrombus during such surgical procedures.

[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.