[Iatrogenic bladder lithiasis in the Burch technique. An infrequent complication]. / Litiasis vesical yatrogénica en la técnica de Burch. Una complicación infrecuente.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an uncommon case of iatrogenic bladder lithiasis in a female patient who underwent colposuspension according to the Burch technique. METHODS/RESULTS: A female patient who had undergone colposuspension for urinary stress incontinence presented with irritative bladder symptoms and dyspareunia two years later. Patient evaluation revealed stone formation on the nonresorbable suture. Stone removal was achieved endoscopically using local anesthesia and without compromising continence. CONCLUSION: Removal of the calculus that had formed on the suture was achieved by endoscopy without compromising continence.

[The prevention of stage-T1 superficial bladder tumors with 27 mg. of BCG weekly over 6 weeks]. / Profilaxis de los tumores superficiales de vejiga estadio T1 con 27 mg. de BCG semanal durante seis semanas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of prophylactic treatment of stage T1 superficial tumors of the bladder with 27 mg BCG weekly for 6 weeks and to compare the results reported in the literature. METHODS: BCG instillations were offered to 235 patients and was accepted by 111 (group A) and refused by 124 (group B). Three weeks thereafter, intravesical instillation of 27 mg BCG was administered for 6 weeks. The patients were controlled regularly according to the standard control procedures utilized in our setting. RESULTS: 39% of the patients in group A showed recurrence versus 71.7% of those in group B (p < 0.001). No differences in progression of tumor stage was observed; 6.3% for group A and 10.9% for group B. By grade, significant differences were found in the number of recurrence in those with G1 (28.5% vs 69%; p < 0.001) and G2 (47% vs 72%; p < 0.01) tumors, but not for G3 (53% vs 77%; p = n.s.). No differences were found in the number of progressions. For those with G2 and G3, the results were not as good as those reported in the literature. The incidence of toxicity was 33%. CONCLUSIONS: The results achieved in patients with G2 and especially G3 tumors were not as good as those reported in the literature, therefore we do not recommend this approach. For those with G1 tumors and assuming a toxicity rate of 33%, the results are similar to those reported elsewhere using higher doses, and therefore this approach could be utilized.

[The prognostic factors in T1 superficial bladder carcinoma. Our experience]. / Factores pronósticos en el carcinoma superficial de vejiga T1. Nuestra experiencia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prognostic factors for recurrence and disease progression in T1 superficial carcinoma of the bladder for prophylactic therapeutic planning. METHODS: Of 309 patients with superficial carcinoma of the bladder that had only undergone TUR, we selected 196 patients that met the following requirements: T1 tumor, one year minimum follow-up (except for recurrence), TUR complete on gross examination. The changes observed with recurrence (presence of a tumor regardless of grade or stage) and disease progression (higher tumor stage and therefore infiltrating) in the following parameters were analyzed: tumor grade, node involvement, volume resected, number of tumors, primary or recurrent and age. RESULTS: 141 (72%) showed recurrence and 23 disease progression (11.7%) at two-years' mean follow-up. The resected tumor volume was found to be a prognostic factor for recurrence by univariate (0.010) and multivariate analysis (0.039). Tumor grade (0.0005) and node involvement (0.040) were prognostic factors for disease progression by univariate analysis and tumor grade (0.006) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Resected tumor volume, node involvement and tumor grade were found to be prognostic factors. The incidence of disease progression in this series falls within the lower ranges reported in the literature.

[Histologic-ultrasonographic correlation of gland asymmetry and "pseudoruptures" of the prostatic capsule]. / Correlación histoecográfica de la asimetría glandular y de las "pseudorupturas" de la cápsula prostática.

An histo-ultrasound correlation was carried out between the information obtained with pre-operative transrectal ultrasound and that obtained with the histopathological study of 29 prostate specimens from patients with mean age 63 years (range, 52 to 71 years), who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy for infiltrant neoplasia of the bladder (22/29) and radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (7/29). The (extrinsic and intrinsic) ultrasound parameters were analyzed focusing in the study of the prostatic capsule or "pseudocapsule". With this comparative, echographic and histological study the concept of capsular "pseudorupture" that results from the presence of (arterial and/or venous) vessels, nerves and fibromuscular folds at the periprostatic fat tissue is introduced. The interruption of the capsular echogram was seen as an indication of tumoral involvement of the capsule, and extracapsular spread. Our results allow us to suggest that this assertion should be reconsidered since these capsular "interruptions", "irregularities" or "pseudoruptures" are present in the normal prostate. Similarly, glandular asymmetry in relation with an heterogenous growth in one lobe in defined to differentiate it from that seen in neoplastic processes.