[Treatment mapping of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia-an analysis of the Governing Body of German Prostate Centers]. / Versorgungsabbild des benignen Prostatasyndroms ­ eine Analyse des Dachverbandes der Prostatazentren Deutschlands (DVPZ) e. V.

BACKGROUND: Due to the high incidence and demographic development, there is an urgent need for healthcare research data on lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LTUS/BPH). Since 2005 the Governing Body of German Prostate Centers (DVPZ) has been collecting data from 22 prostate centers in order to determine the quality and type of cross-sectoral care in particular for LUTS/BPH patients. OBJECTIVES: Presentation of the DVPZ database in general, as well as an investigation of treatment patterns for medical and instrumental therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis is based on UroCloud data sets from 30 November 2017. In the UroCloud data on diagnostics, therapy and course of disease are recorded in a web-based manner. RESULTS: A total of 29,555 therapies were documented for 18,299 patients (1.6/patient), divided into 48.5% instrumental, 29.2% medical treatment, and 18.0% "wait and see" (in 4.3% no assignment was possible). Patients treated with an instrumental therapy were oldest (median: 72 years, interquartile range: 66-77), had the largest prostate volumes (50 ml, 35-75 ml), and were mostly bothered by symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score = 19/4). The majority of patients under medical treatment received alphablockers (56%); phytotherapeutics were used least frequently (3%). Instrumental therapies are dominated by transurethral resection (TUR) of the prostate (60.0%), open prostatectomy (9.4%) and laser therapy (5.0%), with laser therapy having the shortest hospital stay (5 days) and the lowest transfusion and re-intervention rates (1.0% and 4.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The DVPZ certificate covers the complete spectrum of cross-sectoral care for LUTS/BPH patients and documents the use of the various therapies as well as their application and effectiveness in the daily routine setting.

Correction to: The natural course of pT2 prostate cancer with positive surgical margin: predicting biochemical recurrence.

In multivariate analysis, GS of the regular prostatectomy specimen was the only statistically significant parameter for pT2R1 prostate cancer.

[When is surgical treatment indicated in metastatic urothelial carcinoma and what is the scientific rationale?] / Wann ist die operative Versorgung von Metastasen beim Harnblasenkarzinom angezeigt und gibt es eine wissenschaftliche Grundlage hierfür?

BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma have a poor prognosis. Standard of care is a systemic chemotherapy but surgical excision of metastasis can be performed in individual approaches. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate treatment options and study results and to identify and discuss advantages and disadvantages of metastasectomy in urothelial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Database analysis and discussion of clinical trials concerning metastasectomy in urothelial carcinoma. RESULTS: In individual cases, metastasectomy can be a reasonable additional therapeutic approach to systemic chemotherapy. Especially patients suffering from symptomatic metastatic disease benefit from extended surgical effort but further effects on survival cannot be expected. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing metastasetomy should be well selected concerning general physical condition. Metastasectomy in urothelial carcinoma remains an individual therapeutic approach and should be performed in combination with systemic chemotherapy.

[Social support in gender reassignment surgery]. / Soziale Unterstützung bei genitalangleichender Operation.

BACKGROUND: Gender reassignment surgery (GRS) can lead to discrimination. This transition makes great demands on the individual and also affects the social environment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the social support of male-to-female (MtF) transgender people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group A comprised 254 consecutive MtF transsexuals, who received a penile inversion vaginoplasty between 2004 and 2010. These women were surveyed retrospectively. Group B comprised 144 consecutive MtF transsexuals who presented for preoperative counselling. These patients were asked to answer the survey in advance of the planned GRS. RESULTS: The return rate was 46.9 % (A) and 95.1 % (B). In both groups, approximately two-thirds lived with their parents or children at ease. About 13.4 % (A) and 16.9 % (B) estimated the relationship towards their parents and one- seventh (A) or one-sixth (B) woman rated their relationship towards their children as poor. The acceptance of the parents regarding GRS was 65.6 % (A) and 77.1 % (B). In total 20 % (A) and 9.2 % (B) did not, however, accept GRS in their children. The acceptance of children regarding GRS was 64.9 % (A) and 71.1 % (B) with 10.8 % (A) and 6.7 % (B) who did not approve the decision. DISCUSSION: Social support is an important resource in the context of gender reassignment surgery. Understanding can help to improve the situation for transsexuals and to reduce consecutive healthcare utilisation.

[Karyometry of BBN-induced precancerosis of the urothelium : An experimental analysis]. / Karyometrie BBN-induzierter Präkanzerosen des Urothels : Eine experimentelle Analyse.

BACKGROUND: The morphology of experimental precancerous lesions of the urinary bladder has been interpreted quite differently by various authors. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this investigation was to quantify these lesions by karyometry and, thus, to gain a more reliable understanding of the process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 Wistar rats were fed with N­butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) at a concentration of 0.05 % in their drinking water to induce preneoplastic changes of the urothelium. After the second week of BBN exposition, 6 animals were killed every 2 weeks up to week 20. Smears of the scraped off urothelium of 3 urinary bladders of each group were analyzed cytologically and karyometrically. RESULTS: BBN exposition led to statistically significant changes of the karyometric values using the χ2 test to differentiate the control animals from the ones that had ingested BBN and the 2­week groups from each other. These changes consisted mainly in significant deviations of the size of the nuclear area within the different groups. CONCLUSION: Morphological and karyometrical analysis showed that biologically relevant stages in the development of chemically induced urothelial precancerous lesions could be realized much earlier than had been assumed in recent publications. Karyometric analysis offered a valid basis to describe the early morphologic alterations of carcinogenesis.

[Organ-sparing treatment of bladder cancer]. / Organerhaltende Therapie des Harnblasenkarzinoms.

BACKGROUND: Muscle invasive bladder cancer is a frequent disease in Germany. The accepted therapy of choice is radical cystectomy. Due to comorbidities, radical removal of the bladder is often associated with increased perioperative morbidity; therefore alternatives to a radical procedure should be offered. OBJECTIVES: Overview and description of focal therapeutic concepts in muscle invasive bladder cancer to provide therapeutic alternatives for radical organ removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Database research, analysis and discussion of clinical trials presenting therapeutic concepts for focal therapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer. RESULTS: High-energy shock waves, high-intensity focused ultrasound and laser therapy are experimental concepts for muscle invasive bladder cancer. Transurethral resection and radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy, where appropriate, are available as focal therapy in bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Cystectomy is the accepted therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer. Several therapeutic procedures are available as focal therapy. In selected cases, focal therapy can offer an alternative therapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Complete transection of the urethra and corpora cavernosa: a complication after laparoscopic repair (TEP) of an inguinal hernia.

Complete transection of both corpora cavernosa and the urethra is a very rare condition in urology. We report the case of a 59-year-old man with complete transection of the corpora cavernosa and the urethra during a laparoscopic repair of a recurrent inguinal hernia.

[Narrow band imaging-assisted cystoscopy in bladder tumor follow-up: Can more tumors be identified?]. / "Narrow-band-imaging-assistierte" Zystoskopie in der Blasentumornachsorge : Sind mehr Tumoren erkennbar?

BACKGROUND: Narrow band imaging (NBI) is a new technique of urethrocystoscopy, in which only certain wavelengths [415 (blue) and 540 nm (green)] are used to detect urothelial carcinoma. The aim of the investigation was to analyze the potential benefit of NBI in the follow-up of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. METHODS: Between August 2013 and July 2014, patients with a history of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, presenting for follow-up cystoscopy, were either examined via flexible white light endoscopy (WLE) plus second look WLE (n = 251, controls) or second look NBI cystoscopy alone (n = 251) in the same session. RESULTS: Rates of recurrences were similar in the two groups [NBI 68 (27.1 %); WLE 70 (27.9 %)]. NBI after WLE identified more tumors in 13 patients (5.69 vs. 3.92). In 8 patients NBI showed no vascularization in suspicious areas. In the control arm, in 8 cases more tumors (3.75 vs. 3.13) were identified in the second WLE. CONCLUSIONS: The additional use of NBI in the follow-up cystoscopy of patients after transurethral resection of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer leads to an increased number of detected tumors; however, a part of the additionally detected tumors can be explained by the double examination. NBI appears to provide information in individual cases whether transurethral resection of bladder tumor is necessary.

[Genetic aspects of erectile dysfunction]. / Genetische Aspekte der erektilen Dysfunktion.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder in man that influences the quality of life of the patient and his partner. Known risk factors for ED comprise diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension but also lifestyle modifications such as smoking, diminished physical activity as well as obesity. In this manuscript the current scientific literature about genetics and erectile dysfunction is reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search using the databank PubMed covering the topics genetics and erectile dysfunction was performed and relevant papers selected for presentation. RESULTS: Several aspects of genetics and ED are described in the current literature. Association studies of candidate polymorphisms and ED risk in comparison to healthy controls is a major area of research. Another topic is the genome-wide search for candidate polymorphisms with erectile dysfunction. The paper closes with the presentation of the pharmacogenomic analysis of treatment response to phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. DISCUSSION: The heterogeneous results of genetic association studies are possibly due to small sample sizes of the study population and/or due to ethnic differences of the analyzed populations. This underlines the need for validation of this data in larger prospective multinational multicenter studies.

[Treatment of bladder cancer in the elderly]. / Behandlung des Harnblasenkarzinoms im Alter.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in males, while it occupies the 14th place in females. About 75% of cases occur in patients aged 65 or more years. OBJECTIVES: Elderly patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer appear to harbor a higher risk of disease recurrence and progression and should undergo the same treatment and careful surveillance as their younger counterparts. Elderly patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy are at an increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality and should be referred to experienced high-volume centers. CONCLUSION: Beside radical cystectomy as standard treatment, several bladder-sparing approaches (transurethral resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy) are available which may be treatment alternatives in carefully selected cases. Valid randomized comparisons between these approaches and radical cystectomy are, however, still lacking.

The natural course of pT2 prostate cancer with positive surgical margin: predicting biochemical recurrence.

PURPOSE: To predict biochemical recurrence respecting the natural course of pT2 prostate cancer with positive surgical margin (R1) and no adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: A multicenter data analysis of 956 patients with pT2R1N0/Nx tumors was performed. Patients underwent radical prostatectomy between 1994 and 2009. No patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. All prostate specimens were re-evaluated according to a well-defined protocol. The association of pathological and clinical features, in regard to BCR, was calculated using various statistical tests. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 48 months, BCR was found in 25.4 %. In univariate analysis, multiple parameters such as tumor volume, PSA, Gleason at positive margin were significantly associated with BCR. However, in multivariate analysis, Gleason score (GS) of the prostatectomy specimen was the only significant parameter for BCR. Median time to recurrence for GS ≤ 6 was not reached; 5-year BCR-free survival was 82 %; and they were 127 months and 72 % for GS 3+4, 56 months and 54 % for GS 4 + 3, and 27 months and 32 % for GS 8-10. The retrospective approach is a limitation of our study. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides data on the BCR in pT2R1-PCa without adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy and thus a rationale for an individual's risk stratification. The data support patients and physicians in estimating the individual risk and timing of BCR and thus serve to personalize the management in pT2R1-PCa.

[Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: safety of postoperative EMDA-assisted instillation of mitomycin]. / Nicht muskelinvasives Urothelkarzinom der Harnblase : Verträglichkeit der postoperativen EMDA-unterstützten Mitomycin-Instillationsbehandlung.

BACKGROUND: The immediate instillation of mitomycin after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is widely used and recommended in the guidelines. Recently it was shown that pre-TURBT intravesical electromotive drug administration (EMDA) of mitomycin reduces the recurrence rate of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Our aim was to describe the pharmacokinetics and patient safety after post-TURBT EMDA. METHODS: We performed a single centre study with 25 patients diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. All patients underwent complete resection of all visible tumors and post-TURBT intravesical electromotive drug administration (EMDA) of mitomycin (40 mg) for 30 min. Blood samples were taken before starting the electrical current and 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after starting the procedure for quantification of mitomycin serum levels. RESULTS: In 24 patients, the measured serum level of mitomycin was below the detection threshold of 50 ng/ml. In one patient serum level was elevated 15 min (155 ng/ml) and 30 min (65 ng/ml) after intravesical instillation. Nine patients reported a slight tingling sensation in the bladder during mitomycin administration. Discreet pressure in the suprapubic area was reported by one patient. One patient had a first degree skin burn at the site of one skin electrode. CONCLUSION: Postoperative EMDA with mitomycin is a safe procedure. The measured mitomycin serum levels were below toxic concentrations. These findings encourage the initiation of large randomized controlled trials with postoperative EMDA-assisted instillation of mitomycin to test its influence on the recurrence rate of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

[Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: bladder-sparing therapy]. / Urothelkarzinom der Harnblase : Organerhaltende Therapiestrategien.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder can - in the majority of cases - be safely treated by transurethral resection and bladder preservation. In case of more aggressive and genetically instable tumors, the effect of radical cystectomy depends on tumor volume. If complete resection of invasive tumors is also possible, the additional effect of radical cystectomy seems to be marginal. In patients with favorable tumor location and acceptable prostate parameters, prostate-sparing surgery seems to be oncologically safe with good quality of life.

[Organ and kidney function preservation in renal cell carcinoma]. / Organ- und Funktionserhalt beim Nierenzellkarzinom.

BACKGROUND: The organ-preserving partial nephrectomy has increasingly established itself in small unilateral renal tumours (<4 cm) with contralateral healthy kidney and counter gained in recent years in importance. There was found a significantly increased cardiovascular mortality rate and deteriorated quality of life, the more intact kidney tissue has been removed. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the influence of pre- and perioperative factors on direct postoperative course was examined, including 5-year survival rate and relapse behaviour after open organ-preserving partial nephrectomy in our own collective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study of 1657 patients were collected, who underwent surgery between 2007 and 2013 in the Department of Urology at the University Hospital Essen because of a renal tumour. 38 % of these operations (n = 636) were performed organ-preserving. In this trial there are factors identified that have an impact on need of blood transfusion and length of hospitalization in organ-preserving operation method. RESULTS: No independent parameter can be determined for the need of blood transfusion. Tumour size and thus time of resection procedure does not affect the need of erythrocytes administration. In addition, the tumour size influences neither the postoperative serum-haemoglobin nor serum-creatinine. Increased patient age and female gender are identified as non-modifiable factors, which cause a longer hospitalisation. Postoperative pain therapy can be considered as a variable size, which does not affect the length of hospital stay. Modifiable factors that increase the overall length of stay, however, are the type of direct postoperative monitoring (ICU vs. anaesthetic recovery room) and the administration of blood transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: There are constant factors, which can be associated with a longer residence time in the framework of an organ-preserving partial nephrectomy. Further there is shown evidence of the independence of the tumour size - in addition to proven good oncological results - of an extension of indication of organ-preserving nephrectomy of tumours > 4 cm.