[Intravesical adjuvant regimen of epitubicin for intermediate risk NMIBC: Feasability study from CC-AFU vessie]. / Instauration du traitement adjuvant endovésical par épirubicine des tumeurs de vessie n'infiltrant pas le muscle : premier retour national d'expérience du CC-AFU vessie.

INTRODUCTION: Mitomycin C is the gold standard intravesical adjuvant therapy for intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Tensions in the supply of mitomycin have emerged in France since late 2019. The ANSM in agreement with the AFU proposed to use epirubicin, already available in other European countries in this indication. The objective of our study was to report the initial French experience with the use of epirubicin in adjuvant treatment of NMIBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a French multicenter retrospective descriptive study to collect, from the centers of the members of the CC-AFU bladder, the clinico-pathological data of the patients, the indications, the modalities of use (dose, indication, circuit in the pharmacy) and the tolerance data of epirubicin. The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on treatment interruptions was also identified. Of the 20 centers contacted, 5 (25%) had implemented the epirubicin administration protocol developed by the CC-AFU bladder subcommittee. A total of 61 patients were treated with endovesical instillations of epirubicin between November 2019 and November 2020 for NMIBC at a single dose of 50mg. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (mean age 67 years, 64-77 years) were treated with epirubicin, of which 45 (73.8%) were male. The patients had intermediate-risk NMIBC in 88.5%, the rest had high-risk disease. Induction therapy without or with maintenance was planned for 48 (78.7%) and 13 patients (21.3%), respectively. The preparation and administration of epirubicin was similar to that of mitomycin: central pharmacy preparation for same-day dispensing with immediate outpatient instillation. Unlike mitomycin, urinary alkalinization was not required. Of the 498 total instillations scheduled, 345 were performed (69.3%). The COVID-19 epidemic significantly impacted epirubicin delivery: one patient could not start treatment (1.6%), 8 patients (13.1%) had to discontinue it permanently; the rest of the patients underwent delayed instillations (18%). Other causes of discontinuation included infectious complications (9.8%). No major toxicities were reported. CONCLUSION: The implementation of an adjuvant epirubicin treatment protocol presented a good feasibility with low toxicity, without modifying the organization of the patients' care pathway. In the context of unpredictable mitomycin shortage, epirubicin represents a good therapeutic alternative in the endovesical adjuvant treatment of intermediate-risk NMIBC. LEVEL OF PROOF: 3.

[French ccAFU guidelines - update 2020-2022: bladder cancer]. / Recommandations françaises du Comité de cancérologie de l'AFU ­ actualisation 2020­2022 : tumeurs de la vessie.

OBJECTIVE: - To update French guidelines for the management of bladder cancer specifically non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBC). METHODS: - A Medline search was achieved between 2018 and 2020, notably regarding diagnosis, options of treatment and follow-up of bladder cancer, to evaluate different references with levels of evidence. RESULTS: - Diagnosis of NMIBC (Ta, T1, CIS) is based on a complete deep resection of the tumor. The use of fluorescence and a second-look indication are essential to improve initial diagnosis. Risks of both recurrence and progression can be estimated using the EORTC score. A stratification of patients into low, intermediate and high risk groups is pivotal for recommending adjuvant treatment: instillation of chemotherapy (immediate post-operative, standard schedule) or intravesical BCG (standard schedule and maintenance). Cystectomy is recommended in BCG-refractory patients. Extension evaluation of MIBC is based on contrast-enhanced pelvic-abdominal and thoracic CT-scan. Multiparametric MRI can be an alternative. Cystectomy associated with extended lymph nodes dissection is considered the gold standard for non-metastatic MIBC. It should be preceded by cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in eligible patients. An orthotopic bladder substitution should be proposed to both male and female patients with no contraindication and in cases of negative frozen urethral samples; otherwise transileal ureterostomy is recommended as urinary diversion. All patients should be included in an Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. For metastatic MIBC, first-line chemotherapy using platin is recommended (GC or MVAC), when performans status (PS <1) and renal function (creatinine clearance >60 mL/min) allow it (only in 50% of cases). In second line treatment, immunotherapy with pembrolizumab demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival. CONCLUSION: - These updated French guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for the diagnosis and treatment of patients diagnosed with NMIBC and MIBC.

[French ccAFU guidelines - update 2020-2022: upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma]. / Recommandations françaises du Comité de cancérologie de l'AFU - actualisation 2020­2022 : tumeurs de la voie excrétrice urinaire supérieure.

INTRODUCTION: -The purpose was to propose an update of the French guidelines from the national committee ccAFU on upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC). METHODS: - A systematic Medline search was performed between 2018 and 2020, as regards diagnosis, options of treatment and follow-up of UTUC, to evaluate different references with levels of evidence. RESULTS: - The diagnosis of this rare pathology is based on CT-scan acquisition during excretion and ureteroscopy with histological biopsies. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) remains the gold standard for surgical treatment, nevertheless a conservative endoscopic approach can be proposed for low risk lesion: unifocal tumor, possible complete resection and low grade and absence of invasion on CT-scan. Close monitoring with endoscopic follow-up (flexible ureteroscopy) in compliant patients is therefore necessary. After RNU, bladder instillation of chemotherapy is recommended to reduce risk of bladder recurrence. A systemic chemotherapy is recommended after RNU in pT2-T4 N0-3 M0 disease. CONCLUSION: - These updated guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for diagnosis and treatment for UTUC.

Recommandations françaises du Comité de cancérologie de l'AFU - actualisation 2020­2022: tumeurs de la voie excrétrice urinaire supérieure / French ccAFU guidelines - update 2020­2022: upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

The purpose was to propose an update of the French guidelines from the national committee ccAFU on upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC). A systematic Medline search was performed between 2018 and 2020, as regards diagnosis, options of treatment and follow-up of UTUC, to evaluate different references with levels of evidence.The diagnosis of this rare pathology is based on CT-scan acquisition during excretion and ureteroscopy with histological biopsies. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) remains the gold standard for surgical treatment, nevertheless a conservative endoscopic approach can be proposed for low risk lesion: unifocal tumor, possible complete resection and low grade and absence of invasion on CT-scan. Close monitoring with endoscopic follow-up (flexible ureteroscopy) in compliant patients is therefore necessary. After RNU, bladder instillation of chemotherapy is recommended to reduce risk of bladder recurrence. A systemic chemotherapy is recommended after RNU in pT2­T4 N0­3 M0 disease. These updated guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for diagnosis and treatment for UTUC.

L'objectif était de proposer une mise à jour des recommandations du Comité de cancérologie de l'Association française d'urologie (AFU) pour la prise en charge des tumeurs de la voie excrétrice supérieure (TVES). Une revue systématique de la littérature (Medline) a été effectuée de 2018 à 2020 sur les éléments du diagnostic, les options de traitement et la surveillance des TVES en évaluant les références avec leur niveau de preuve. Le diagnostic de cette pathologie rare repose sur l'uro-TDM avec acquisition au temps excréteur et l'urétérorénoscopie souple avec prélèvements biopsiques. Le traitement chirurgical de référence est la néphro-urétérectomie totale (NUT), mais un traitement conservateur peut être discuté pour les lésions dites « à bas risque ¼ : tumeur de bas grade, sans infiltration sur l'imagerie, unifocale < 2 cm, accessible à un traitement complet et nécessitant alors une surveillance endoscopique rapprochée par urétéroscopie souple chez un patient compliant. Une instillation postopératoire de chimiothérapie est recommandée et permet de diminuer le risque de récidive vésicale après NUT. La chimiothérapie adjuvante a démontré son bénéfice clinique comparée à la surveillance après NUT pour les tumeurs (pT2­T4 N0­3 M0). Ces nouvelles recommandations doivent contribuer à améliorer non seulement la prise en charge des patients, mais aussi le diagnostic et la décision thérapeutique des TVES.

Five simultaneous artificial intelligence data challenges on ultrasound, CT, and MRI.

PURPOSE: The goal of this data challenge was to create a structured dynamic with the following objectives: (1) teach radiologists the new rules of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), while building a large multicentric prospective database of ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and MRI patient images; (2) build a network including radiologists, researchers, start-ups, large companies, and students from engineering schools, and; (3) provide all French stakeholders working together during 5 data challenges with a secured framework, offering a realistic picture of the benefits and concerns in October 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant clinical questions were chosen by the Société Francaise de Radiologie. The challenge was designed to respect all French ethical and data protection constraints. Multidisciplinary teams with at least one radiologist, one engineering student, and a company and/or research lab were gathered using different networks, and clinical databases were created accordingly. RESULTS: Five challenges were launched: detection of meniscal tears on MRI, segmentation of renal cortex on CT, detection and characterization of liver lesions on ultrasound, detection of breast lesions on MRI, and characterization of thyroid cartilage lesions on CT. A total of 5,170 images within 4 months were provided for the challenge by 46 radiology services. Twenty-six multidisciplinary teams with 181 contestants worked for one month on the challenges. Three challenges, meniscal tears, renal cortex, and liver lesions, resulted in an accuracy>90%. The fourth challenge (breast) reached 82% and the lastone (thyroid) 70%. CONCLUSION: Theses five challenges were able to gather a large community of radiologists, engineers, researchers, and companies in a very short period of time. The accurate results of three of the five modalities suggest that artificial intelligence is a promising tool in these radiology modalities.

French ccAFU guidelines ­ Update 2018­2020: Bladder cancer / Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la vessie

Objective: To propose updated French guidelines for non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive (MIBC) bladder cancers. Methods: A Medline search was achieved between 2015 and 2018, as regards diagnosis, options of treatment and follow-up of bladder cancer, to evaluate different references with levels of evidence. Results: Diagnosis of NMIBC (Ta, T1, CIS) is based on a complete deep resection of the tumor. The use of fluorescence and a second-look indication are essential to improve initial diagnosis. Risks of both recurrence and progression can be estimated using the EORTC score. A stratification of patients into low, intermediate and high risk groups is pivotal for recommending adjuvant treatment: instillation of chemotherapy (immediate post-operative, standard schedule) or intravesical BCG (standard schedule and maintenance). Cystectomy is recommended in BCG-refractory patients. Extension evaluation of MIBC is based on contrast-enhanced pelvic-abdominal and thoracic CT-scan. Multiparametric MRI can be an alternative. Cystectomy associated with extended lymph nodes dissection is considered the gold standard for non-metastatic MIBC. It should be preceded by cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in eligible patients. An orthotopic bladder substitution should be proposed to both male and female patients with no contraindication and in cases of negative frozen urethral samples; otherwise transileal ureterostomy is recommended as urinary diversion. All patients should be included in an Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. For metastatic MIBC, first-line chemotherapy using platin is recommended (GC or MVAC), when performans status (PS < 1) and renal function (creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min) allow it (only in 50 % of cases). In second line treatment, immunotherapy with pembrolizumab demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival. Conclusion: These updated French guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for the diagnosis and treatment for NMIBC and MIBC.

RETRACTED: Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la vessie French ccAFU guidelines ­ Update 2018­2020: Bladder cancer / Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la vessie.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). Cet article est retiré de la publication à la demande des auteurs car ils ont apporté des modifications significatives sur des points scientifiques après la publication de la première version des recommandations. Le nouvel article est disponible à cette adresse: doi:10.1016/j.purol.2019.01.006. C'est cette nouvelle version qui doit être utilisée pour citer l'article. This article has been retracted at the request of the authors, as it is not based on the definitive version of the text because some scientific data has been corrected since the first issue was published. The replacement has been published at the doi:10.1016/j.purol.2019.01.006. That newer version of the text should be used when citing the article.

RETRACTED: Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la voie excrétrice supérieure French ccAFU guidelines ­ Update 2018­2020: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma / Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la voie excrétrice supérieure.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). Cet article est retiré de la publication à la demande des auteurs car ils ont apporté des modifications significatives sur des points scientifiques après la publication de la première version des recommandations. Le nouvel article est disponible à cette adresse: doi:10.1016/j.purol.2019.01.005. C'est cette nouvelle version qui doit être utilisée pour citer l'article. This article has been retracted at the request of the authors, as it is not based on the definitive version of the text because some scientific data has been corrected since the first issue was published. The replacement has been published at the doi:10.1016/j.purol.2019.01.005. That newer version of the text should be used when citing the article.

[ypT0N0 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Incidence and prognosis. A review from the Bladder group of the French Committee of Oncology]. / Pièce opératoire ypT0N0 après séquence chimiothérapie néo-adjuvante ­ cystectomie pour TVIM : épidémiologie et impact pronostique. Une mise au point du CCAFU Vessie.

INTRODUCTION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is recommended for localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer when patients are fit for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. A pathological complete response can be observed, corresponding to ypT0N0 stage on the radical cystectomy specimen. This review discusses the incidence, prognosis and potential therapeutic impact of complete response on pathological specimen in NAC treated patients. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using Medline database, with no time frame. The articles were selected using the following keywords association: "Bladder cancer" (Mesh) AND "Neoadjuvant chemotherapy" (Mesh) AND "pT0" (Mesh). RESULTS: After NAC, ypT0N0 rates vary from 9 to 46% among the series, reported rates that are higher compared to those of pT0 without NAC administration. The incidence depends on the chemotherapy regimen (maximal local effect with cisplatin-based chemotherapy) and the pathological type of the disease (presence of variant histologies). Molecular analyses of bladder cancer could probably help in the near future to identify and predict NAC responders. Pathological complete response is associated with a favorable prognosis in terms of recurrence-free and overall survival. Nevertheless, disease recurrences are still observed in 10-15% of cases, which underlies the importance of local treatment and close follow-up even in these patients. CONCLUSION: ypT0N0 rate is approximately 25% after NAC, that is 4.3 higher than after bladder resection alone. The prognosis is better than that with residual tumor on specimen and is comparable to that of pT0 without NAC administration.

Variability induced by the MR imager in dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging of the prostate.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the variability induced by the imager in discriminating high-grade (Gleason≥7) prostate cancers (HGC) using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected 3T MRIs with temporal resolution<10 seconds and comprising T1 mapping from a prospective radiologic-pathologic database of patients treated by prostatectomy. Ktrans, Kep, Ve and Vp were calculated for each lesion seen on MRI using the Weinmann arterial input function (AIF) and three patient-specific AIFs measured in the right and left iliac arteries in pixels in the center of the lumen (psAIF-ST) or manually selected by two independent readers (psAIF-R1 and psAIF-R2). RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (mean age, 63.6±4.9 [SD]; range: 48-72 years) with 100 lesions on MRI (55 HGC) were selected. MRIs were performed on imager A (22 patients, 49 lesions) or B (21 patients, 51 lesions) from two different manufacturers. Using the Weinmann AIF, Kep (P=0.005), Ve (P=0.04) and Vp (P=0.01) significantly discriminated HCG. After adjusting on tissue classes, the imager significantly influenced the values of Kep (P=0.049) and Ve (P=0.007). Using patient-specific AIFs, Vp with psAIF-ST (P=0.008) and psAIF-R2 (P=0.04), and Kep with psAIF-R1 (P=0.03) significantly discriminated HGC. After adjusting on tissue classes, types of patient-specific AIF and side of measurement, the imager significantly influenced the values of Ktrans (P=0.0002), Ve (P=0.0072) and Vp (P=0.0003). For all AIFs, the diagnostic value of pharmacokinetic parameters remained unchanged after adjustment on the imager, with stable odds ratios. CONCLUSION: The imager induced variability in the absolute values of pharmacokinetic parameters but did not change their diagnostic performance.

[French ccAFU guidelines - Update 2018-2020: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma]. / Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la voie excrétrice supérieure.

INTRODUCTION: To propose an update of the French guidelines from the national committee ccAFU on upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC). METHODS: A systematic Medline search was performed between 2016 and 2018, with regards to the diagnosis, the options of treatment and the follow-up of UTUC, to evaluate the different studies with levels of evidence. RESULTS: The diagnosis of this rare disease is based on CT-scan acquisition during excretion and ureteroscopy with histological biopsies. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) remains the gold standard for surgical treatment, nevertheless a conservative endoscopic approach can be proposed for low-risk diseases: unifocal tumour, possible complete resection low-grade and lack of invasion on CT-scan. Close monitoring with endoscopic follow-up (flexible ureteroscopy) in compliant patients is therefore necessary. After RNU, bladder instillation of chemotherapy is recommended in order to reduce the risk of bladder recurrence. An adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended after RNU in pT2-T4 N0-3 M0 disease. CONCLUSION: These updated guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for diagnosis and treatment of UTUC.

[Head to head comparison of two currently used nomograms predicting the risk of side specific extra capsular extension to indicate nerve sparing during radical prostatectomy for treatment of prostate cancer]. / Validation externe des nomogrammes de prédiction de l'extension extra-prostatique spécifiquement au côté pour des patients atteints de cancer de prostate traités par prostatectomie totale.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a head to head comparison of these two nomograms by an external validation combined with an identification of probability cut-offs when to indicate NS. METHODS: The full models of the nomograms of Ohori et al. and Steuber et al. were used to calculate the risk of ECE based on PSA and side specific information on clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score, % positive cores, and % cancer in cores. A dataset of 968 prostate half lobes was used retrospectively for analysis. All patients underwent laparoscopic robot-assisted or open radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. RESULTS: The predictive accuracy of the Ohori nomogram was at 0.80 and for the Steuber Nomogram at 0.78 (comparison P > 0.05). In the calibration plot, the Ohori nomogram showed less departures from ideal predictions than the Steuber nomogram. The best probability cut-off to allow NS for the Ohori nomogram seemed to be ≤ 10%, permitting NS in 59.7% of all cases and being associated with a false negative rate of 10%. The best cut-off for the Steuber nomogram seemed to be ≤ 8%, permitting NS in 44% and associated with a false negative rate 12.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The Ohori et al. and the Steuber et al. nomograms allow highly accurate and comparable predictions of the risk of side specific ECE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Buccodental side effects of sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Few data evaluated severe buccodental adverse events. The aim of this study was to evaluate sunitinib buccodental toxicity in patients with metastatic RCC and to compare it with that of standard chemotherapy in patients with other solid cancers. METHODS: Patients with RCC treated with sunitinib and patients with other solid tumours treated with chemotherapy were followed for 3 months. Data on dental appliances, oral hygiene/care practices before and during treatment were collected. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included (58 RCC treated by sunitinib: group S, and 58 treated by chemotherapy: group C). No differences in dental care habits were noted before treatment. In group S, patients reported significantly more frequent pain (P<0.01), teeth instability (P=0.01), gingival bleeding (P=0.01) and change in teeth colour (P=0.02). In all, 58% of patients in this group had to modify their diet (P<0.01). Frequency of dentist visits for teeth removal was increased (25% vs 8%, P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Sunitinib seems to increase buccodental toxicity as compared with chemotherapy. This finding emphasises the need for optimal dental care and standardised dental follow-up in patients treated with sunitinib.

Aggressive angiomyxoma with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic contrast enhancement: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Aggressive angiomyxoma (AA) is a rare benign soft tissue tumour usually affecting the pelvis and perineum of young women. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial in the management of AA patients for its diagnostic contribution and for the preoperative assessment of the actual tumour extension. Given the current development of less aggressive therapeutics associated with a higher risk of recurrence, close follow-up with MRI is fundamental after treatment. In this context, diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging has already shown high efficacy in the detection of early small relapses in prostate or rectal cancer. CASE REPORT: We report here a case of pelvic AA in a 51-year-old woman examined with dynamic contrast enhancement and DW-MRI, including apparent diffusion coefficient mapping and calculation. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first description of DW-MRI in AA reported in the literature. Here, knowledge about imaging features of AA will be reviewed and expanded.

Could thyroid dysfunction influence outcome in sunitinib-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Sunitinib is a standard of care for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Hypothyroidism is frequently observed under sunitinib therapy. This study was conducted to prospectively determine the correlation between thyroid function and progression-free survival (PFS) in this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eleven mRCC patients treated with sunitinib were evaluated for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and T4 levels before treatment and every 6 weeks during treatment. Survival was analysed according to a landmark method with a cut-off of 6 months, excluding early progressive or early-censored patients. RESULTS: Out of the 102 patients with normal baseline thyroid function, 53% developed thyroid dysfunction, including 95% hypothyroidisms out of which 90.9% received L-thyroxine replacement. Median time to TSH alteration was 5.4 months. Median PFS was 11.7 months for the entire population. Median PFS was not different between the groups with abnormal or normal thyroid function after 6 months of treatment (18.9 and 15.9 months, respectively, log-rank P = 0.94, hazard ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval = 0.54-1.93). There was no difference even after adjustment for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre classification and therapy line. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal thyroid function with hormonal substitution did not increase survival in our population, independent of initial prognosis and previous treatments. Larger comparative studies are deserved to validate these conclusions.

[Real time elastography in the diagnosis of prostate cancer: comparison of preoperative imaging and histology after radical prostatectomy]. / Élastographie en temps réel pour l'identification du cancer de prostate : comparaison d'imagerie préopératoire avec l'anatomopathologie après prostatectomie totale.

INTRODUCTION: Conventional grey scale ultrasound has only limited sensitivity and specificity in the detection of prostate cancer. Real time elastography is a promising modality to overcome this problem. The goal of the current study was an evaluation of real time elastography for the correct detection of prostate cancer lesions in prostatectomy specimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 11/2008 and 05/2009, 28 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and scheduled for radical prostatectomy underwent real time elastography before radical prostatectomy. Elastography was performed using a Hitachi(®) EUB 7500 ultrasound machine with a V53W rectal probe at 7,5MHz by one operator. During the exam, each prostate was partitioned into 12 sectors (anterior, posterior, left, right, base, middle gland, apex). Suspect zones were identified and filed depending on their localization. The prostatectomy specimens were processed according to the Stanford protocol in 3-5mm step sections. The preoperative and postoperative results regarding tumor localization were compared. RESULTS: In total, 88 cancer lesions could be identified in the prostatectomy specimen, where 125 sectors were positive for a total of 336 sectors evaluated. Based on elastography 134 suspicious sectors were identified. For real time elastography, the sensitivity and specificity for correct cancer identification were 73.4 and 79.0 %, respectively. The negative and positive predictive value was 83.4 and 67.4 %, respectively. Accuracy for correct identification of the tumor lesion was 76.5 %. CONCLUSION: In this study, real time elastography showed high accuracy in the identification of prostate cancer lesions in the prostate. Routine use of elastography could improve the diagnosis of prostate cancer, as well as the therapeutic management.

Results from a monocentric phase II trial of erlotinib in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Erlotinib is an orally active small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted against human epidermal growth factor receptor 1/epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB1), known to be overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a phase II monocentric study of 30 patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, 29 had castration-resistant prostate cancer and 23 had received prior chemotherapy. Patients received erlotinib: 150 mg/day, increased to 200 mg at week 4, and continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Efficacy was defined as a decrease or stabilization of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) without clinical progression. Clinical benefit was evaluated by Karnofsky performance status and pain intensity, and response was an improvement in one of these parameters without worsening in the other. RESULTS: Median age was 69 years (range 51-77 years), and median PSA 102 ng/ml (range 3-1213 ng/ml). Dose escalation to 200 mg was possible in 16 (55%) patients. Moderate toxicity was observed. No patient had a decrease in PSA, 14% had stabilization, less than the >or=20% expected. PSA-doubling time, evaluated before and after erlotinib, was increased for 10 patients (P = 0.0058). Clinical benefit was achieved in 40% of patients. CONCLUSION: Erlotinib demonstrated an improvement in clinical benefit. Future directions should include evaluating its use in less advanced prostate cancer.

Computed tomography in suspected local breast cancer recurrence.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective study was to test computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of local breast cancer recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study population included 103 women referred for mamma CT examination for reasons of suspicious findings in a conservatively treated breast. In these patients, both clinical and conventional imaging studies (mammography, ultrasonography) features of local recurrences were non specific or suspicious. The patients underwent breast CT before and 90 s after intra-venous contrast medium administration. Criterion for cancer recurrence was detection of a lesion with an enhancement of 20 UH or more. The final diagnosis was based on operative histopathological findings or follow-up for over two years. RESULTS: Local recurrence was confirmed on histology in 52 patients. CT identified 47 breast recurrent cancers. False-positive contrast enhancement was seen in five patients. CT showed 90% sensitivity, 90% specificity and 90% accuracy. CONCLUSION: Although mamma CT examination proved to have a high diagnostic efficacy in evaluating breast cancer recurrence, routine computed tomography is unnecessary for most patients.

"Mesorectum": the surgical value of an anatomical approach.

The quality of total extirpation of the "mesorectum" nowadays determines the prognosis of rectal cancer but the planes of surgical dissection which have been proposed and the anatomical restrictions of this "mesorectum" are sometimes contradictory. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships of the "mesorectum" with the fascias and nerves of the pelvic cavity to harmonize the plane of dissection in its total extirpation. Four pelvises (2 male, 2 female) harvested from embalmed cadavers were studied by dissection and anatomico-imaging correlation. Two pelvises (1 male, 1 female) were injected with copolymer via the internal iliac and inferior mesenteric arteries. They were then frozen and sectioned sagittally into two hemi-pelvises for the dissection. The two other pelvises were initially studied in 5 mm cuts with CT scanning and magnetic resonance scanning in the sagittal and "transverse oblique" planes. They were then frozen and then cut sagittally into two hemi-pelvises. Each hemi-pelvis was then cut into anatomical sections with an electric saw similar to the radiological cuts: sagittal cuts on the right hemi-pelvis, and "transverse oblique" cuts on the left hemi-pelvis. It was noted that the "mesorectum" was carpeted behind and laterally by a postero-lateral fibrous envelope belonging to the pelvic visceral fascia and in front by a recto-genital membrane of variable nature corresponding to the "Denonvilliers fascia". The postero-lateral fibrous envelope splits into two leaves (anterior and posterior) in front of the sacral concavity and constitutes, lateral to the rectum, the armature of the pelvic plexus. These two leaves delineated the avascular retro-rectal space. The results of the correlations were deceptive. Their use was limited by dilatation of the rectum, which flattened the perirectal fat onto the pelvic walls on all the sections. Nonetheless, the description of the "mesorectum" and the demonstration of its enveloping fascias by dissection allowed the development of a dissection plane for its total extirpation.

CT of small bowel obstruction in adults.

The increasing use of computed tomography in evaluating patients with acute abdominal pain has revolutionized the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction in adults. Computed tomography is incontestably the most useful and powerful tool to make positive, topographic, and etiologic diagnoses of small bowel obstruction. Good knowledge of some key signs and rigorous analysis of computed tomographic images by radiologists should lead to improved diagnosis and appropriate treatment.