Supporting the role of penile trauma and micro-trauma in the etiology of Peyronie's disease. Prospective observational study using the electronic microscope to examine two types of plaques.

OBJECTIVES: The etiopathogenesis of Peyronie's disease (PD) remains not clearly understood. The most accepted theory attributes the histological lesions of PD to the effects of trauma to the corpora cavernosum of the penis. The aim of our study is to verify whether similar histological features exist between these two tissues, providing new evidence in favor of the traumatic theory in the etiopathogenesis of Peyronie's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was carried out at our institution from January 2013 to June 2018, involving patients having undergone surgery for PD and those with delayed surgery for penile trauma. Both excised PD and post-traumatic plaques were analyzed by blind pathologists with an 80kV potential acceleration electron microscope. RESULTS: Five patients were identified with a post-traumatic plaque (Group 1) and therefore an equal number of PD patients were enrolled for Group 2. The ultrastructural characteristics of the two types of preparations were very similar. In all the samples we showed an inflammatory reaction of the structure of the tunica albuginea, a production of the disorganized extracellular matrix, a proliferation of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts. Furthermore, we have found an increase in the density and collagen deposits grouped in the extracellular space and within the fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the theory that attributes lesions and symptoms typical of PD to the effects of cavernous body trauma.

Inter-rater reliability in the radiological classification of renal injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Although many radiologists invoke the surgical classification of renal injury proposed by the American Association for Surgery in Trauma (AAST), there has been only limited work on the role of the AAST system as an imaging stratification. The aim was to determine the inter-rater reliability (IRR) amongst radiologists and urologists using the AAST system. METHODS: A 1-year retrospective study of consecutive patients with computed tomography (CT) evidence of renal trauma managed at a Level 1 trauma center. Three radiologists and three urologists independently stratified the presentation CT findings according to the AAST renal trauma classification. Agreement between independent raters and mutually exclusive groups was determined utilizing weighted kappa coefficients. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients were included. Individual inter-observer agreements ranged from 54/101 (53.4%) to 62/101 (61.4%), with corresponding weighted kappa values from 0.61 to 0.69, constituting substantial agreement. Urologists achieved intra-disciplinary agreement in 49 cases (48.5%) and radiologists in 36 cases (35.6%). Six-reader agreement was achieved in 24 cases (23.7%). The AAST grade I injuries had the highest level of agreement, overall. CONCLUSION: The finding of substantial IRR amongst radiologists and urologists utilizing the AAST system supports continued use of the broad parameters of the AAST system, with some modification in specific categories with lower agreement.

Cycling Trauma as a Cause of Arterial Priapism in Children and Teenagers.

Bicycle riding has multiple beneficial cardiovascular effects; however, it is a well-documented source of significant urologic injuries. Priapism is a rare condition in children, and occurs primarily because of congenital hematologic diseases or adverse drug reactions. A pediatric clinical case and literature review of a high-flow priapism secondary to cycling trauma is described here to highlight their etiopathologic correlation. Bicycle riding trauma is a rare but possible cause of high-flow priapism in children, and a high index of suspicion should ensure appropriate management.