Necrosis zone depth after bipolar plasma vaporization and resection in the human prostate.

Objectives: To compare the depth of thermal necrosis after use of bipolar resection and vaporization technique comparing intra-individually bipolar loop and bipolar button electrodes. Methods: Transurethral resection and vaporization of the prostate was performed in 55 male patients (260 specimens in total). In a standardized procedure, a bipolar resection loop was used for resection, and a bipolar button electrode was used for vaporization. Both electrodes were applied in each patient, either in the left or in the right lateral lobe. The depth of necrotic zones in the resected or vaporized tissue of each patient was measured in a standardized way by light microscopy. Results: The mean depth with standard deviation of thermal injury caused by the loop electrode was 0.0495±0.0274 mm. The vaporization electrode caused a mean thermal depth with standard deviation of 0.0477±0.0276 mm. The mean difference of necrosis zone depths between the two types of electrodes (PlasmaButton-resection loop) was -0.0018 mm (p=0.691). Conclusion: For the first time, we present directly measured values of the absolute necrosis zone depth after application of plasma in the transurethral treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The measured values were lower than in all other transurethral procedures. Standardized procedures of measurement and evaluation allow a statistically significant statement that the low necrosis depth in bipolar procedures is independent of the applied electrodes.

Temporal stability of quality of life assessments in cancer patients.

Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome criterion in cancer research and practice. Multiple studies have been performed to test the short-term temporal stability (1 day-2 weeks) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30, but its stability over longer periods of time is largely unknown. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was administered at two time points between 3 and 12 months apart in six samples of cancer patients with varying characteristics (N between 298 and 923). Averaged across the six samples, the coefficients of temporal stability (intra-class correlation coefficients ICC) were between 0.31 and 0.59 for the single scales. The 2-item global health/QoL scale showed a mean coefficient of 0.44. When the stability coefficients were calculated separately for males and females and for younger vs. older patients, no systematic gender or age differences were found in the temporal stability of the QoL scales, though the stability was slightly higher in males (vs. females) and in older subgroups (vs. younger subgroups). It is nearly impossible to predict the course a cancer patients' QoL will take over a several month period. Repeated measurements are necessary to track QoL developments.

Prospective Study of CRMP4 Promoter Methylation in Prostate Biopsies as a Predictor For Lymph Node Metastases.

Background: For patients with prostate cancer (PCa), the presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a strong predictor of poor outcome. However, the approaches with promising sensitivity and specificity to detect LNM are still lacking. We investigated the value of collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4) promoter methylation in biopsies as a predictor for LNM. Methods: CRMP4 promoter methylation at two previously identified CpG sites was determined in 80 case-matched biopsy samples (the training set) using bisulfite pyrosequencing. The predictive cutoff value was independently validated using cohort I of 339 PCa patients (Southern China) and cohort II of 328 case patients (Germany, across China). Mann-Whitney U test, the receiver operating characteristic curve, McNemar's test, and logistic regression were used to assess data. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: In the training set, CRMP4 promoter methylation (≥15.0% methylated) was statistically significantly associated with LNM (P < 001). Successful validations were achieved in both cohorts I and II (sensitivity = 92.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 79.3 to 97.9, and sensitivity = 92.2%, 95% CI = 81.1 to 97.8, respectively; specificity = 92.7%, 95% CI = 80.2 to 99.1, and specificity = 91.3%, 95% CI = 87.4 to 94.4, respectively). The sensitivity of CRMP4 promoter methylation is superior to conventional MRI (cohort I: 92.3% vs 26.2%, P < 001; cohort II: 92.2% vs 33.3%, P < 001). CRMP4 promoter methylation is an independent predictor of LNM (cohort I: hazard ratio [HR] = 8.35, 95% CI = 5.64 to 12.35, P < 001; cohort II: HR = 12.46, 95% CI = 5.82 to 26.70, P < 001) in a multivariable analysis model. Conclusion: CRMP4 promoter methylation in diagnostic biopsies could be a robust biomarker for LNM in PCa.

Stage pT0 after radical prostatectomy: a diagnostic dilemma.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the misdiagnosed prostate cancer in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens and the associated parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3,821 patients were treated by RP. A meticulous process to identify misdiagnosed PCa in the specimen was followed. This protocol included the review of biopsies, prostatic specimens after TURP and RP surgical specimens. The prostatic specimens were further sectioned. Immunohistochemistry was also performed. The clinical parameters of the cases that were confirmed to be pT0 stage were compared to 1,164 RP patients. RESULTS: The incidence of pT0 was 0.7 % of the cases. Eighteen patients (Group A) were operated after TURP and 10 patients (Groups B) after transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate. Eleven (Group Ac) cases of Group A and seven (Group Bc) cases of Group B were confirmed to be pT0 cases. The re-examination of the slides and specimens revealed the presence of PCa in three cases. The remaining cases were detected by IHC. The comparison of Group Ac to the Group C (representative cohort, 1164 patients) showed that the pre-operative PSA value was significantly higher in the case of the Group C. The pre-operative Gleason, the percentage of biopsy cores for cancer and the length of cores containing cancer were observed to be significantly lower in the case of Group Bc in comparison with Group C. CONCLUSIONS: The meticulous search protocol in pT0 cases showed that 35.7 % of the specimens included undiagnosed PCa. This strengthens the need for further careful work-up of any RP specimen of stage pT0.

Early retirement in cancer patients with or without comorbid mental health conditions: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The authors investigated whether cancer patients who have comorbid mental health disorders (MD) are at greater risk of early retirement compared with those who do not have MD. METHODS: Individuals ages 18 to 55 years from a consecutive sample of patients who were admitted for inpatient oncologic treatment were interviewed using structured clinical interviews to ascertain MD. The patients were followed for 15 months, and the date of early retirement was documented. Rates of early retirement per 100 person-years (py) in patients with and without MD were compared using multivariate Poisson regression models. RESULTS: At baseline, 491 patients were interviewed, and 150 of those patients (30.6%) were diagnosed with MD. Forty-one patients began full early retirement during follow-up. In patients with MD, the incidence of early retirement was 9.3 per 100 py compared with 6.1 per 100 py in mentally healthy patients. The crude rate ratio (RR) was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-2.8). The effect of MD on early retirement was modified in part by income: in patients with low income, the adjusted RR was 11.7, whereas no effect was observed in higher income groups. Patients with depression were at greater risk of retirement when they had higher income (RR, 3.4; P = .05). The effects of anxiety (RR, 2.4; P = .05), adjustment disorders (RR, 1.7; P = .21), and alcohol dependence (RR, 1.8; P = .40) on early retirement were equal across income groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health conditions are risk factors for early retirement in cancer patients, although this effect differs according to the type of disorder and the patient's income level.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in urological centres - the experience of the German Laparoscopic Working Group.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) performed in several German centres with different laparoscopic experience, as LA has become the gold-standard approach for benign surgical adrenal disorders; however, for solitary metastasis or primary adrenal cancer its precise role is uncertain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 363 patients who underwent a LA were prospectively collected in 23 centres. All centres were stratified into three groups according to their experience: group A (<10 LAs/year), group B (10-20 LAs/year) and group C (>20 LAs/year). In all, 15 centres used a transperitoneal approach, four a retroperitoneal approach and four both approaches. Demographic data, perioperative and postoperative variables, including operating time, surgical approach, tumour size, estimated blood loss, complications, hospital stay and histological tumour staging, were collected and analysed. RESULTS: The transperitoneal approach was used in 281 cases (77.4%) and the retroperitoneal approach was used in 82 patients (22.6%). In all, 263 of 363 lesions (72.5%) were benign and 100 (27.5%) were malignant. The mean (sd) operating time was 127.22 (55.56) min and 130.16 (49.88) min after transperitoneal and retroperitoneal LA, respectively. The mean complication rates for transperitoneal and retroperitoneal LA were 5% and 10.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: LAs performed by urologists experienced in laparoscopy is safe for the removal of benign and malignant adrenal masses. LA for malignant adrenal tumours should be performed only in high-volume centres by a surgeon performing at least >10 LAs/year.