Diagnosis, workup, and risk stratification of upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare disease that presents unique challenges to urologists from both a diagnostic and management standpoint. UTUC is a clinically heterogenous disease with a varied natural history, and given its location in the upper urinary tract, treatment has the potential to cause or worsen chronic kidney disease. Therefore, physicians caring for patients with UTUC must be facile with multiple diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in order to provide optimal patient care. We present an overview of the epidemiology, histology, risk factors, and contemporary approach to the diagnosis, laboratory evaluation, imaging, and risk stratification for patients with UTUC. Computerized tomographic urography, thorough endoscopic evaluation, and biopsy (endoscopically or percutaneously) remain the standard of care for the diagnosis and staging of patients with suspected UTUC. Preoperative nomograms are vital to select patients more optimally for preoperative systemic chemotherapy and facilitate clinical trial enrollment. A thorough understanding of the various diagnostic challenges, imaging/pathologic limitations, biomarkers, and risk stratification tools will allow us as a field to develop new modalities to improve our diagnostic capabilities and reduce the risk of under diagnosis and over treatment for our patients.

Impact of Inner Layer Renorrhaphy Suture on Renal Artery Pseudoaneurysm Formation Following Robotic-assisted Partial Nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the impact of resection base inner layer renorrhaphy suture type on renal artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP) rate following robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). METHODS: Five hundred and sixty-three consecutive RAPNs performed by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into 3 categories: (1) No base suture, (2) monofilament barbed suture (2-0 V-Loc 180 absorbable suture, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN), (3) polyglactin 910 (2-0 Vicryl coated suture, Ethicon Inc, Cincinnati, OH). In a secondary analysis, we evaluated suturing (Vicryl and V-Loc) vs no base suture. All patients had outer cortical renorrhaphy performed with 0-Vicryl suture utilizing the standard sliding clip technique. RESULTS: One hundred ten patients (19.5%) had V-Loc suturing, 255 patients (45.3%) had Vicryl suturing, and 198 patients (35.2%) had no base suture. Patients had a median age of 62.8years (interquartile range: 53.5-69.7) and median RENAL score was 8 (6-9). Median mass size from preoperative imaging was 3.0 cm (2.5-4.0) for V-Loc, 3.3 cm (2.5-4.2) for Vicryl, and 2.0 cm (1.8-3.0) for no base suture (P < .001). Overall, 21 patients (3.7%) developed a symptomatic postoperative RAP. The rate of RAP was 3.6% (4/110) for V-Loc, 3.9% (10/255) for 2-0 Vicryl, and 3.5% (7/198) for no base suture (P = 1.00). Similarly, the rate of RAP was 3.5% (7/198) for no base suture and 3.8% (14/365) for base suture (P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: Utilization of base suture and type of base suture used during RAPN was not predictive of postoperative RAP development.

Rotator cuff repair in upper extremity ambulators: an assessment of longitudinal outcomes.

Background: Individuals who rely on wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches for ambulation have an increased incidence of rotator cuff tears due to altered shoulder biomechanics and increased force transmission across the shoulder joint. The purpose of our study is to review our longitudinal outcomes treating upper extremity ambulators to guide patient expectations and identify risk factors for rotator cuff repair failure. Methods: A total of fifteen patients were included after a cohort of thirty-nine patients were identified. The mean age was 54.9 years at the time of index rotator cuff repair, with each patient requiring either wheelchair, cane, walker, or crutches for ambulation. Clinical outcomes were measured (strength, range of motion, and pain scores), and patient-reported outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Simple Shoulder Test, and University of California Los Angeles functional shoulder assessment tool) were obtained. No follow-up imaging was obtained unless indicated by a change in clinical status. Results: Within our cohort, 14 of 15 (93%) presented with supraspinatus tears, 7 of 15 (47%) with infraspinatus tears, and only 3 of 15 (20%) with subscapularis pathology. Additionally, the rates of concurrent biceps pathology or acromioclavicular joint pathology were significant at 53% and 73%, respectively. Only one patient in our cohort experienced known failure of cuff repair, despite longitudinal follow-up at an average of 97 months following surgery, however, routine follow-up imaging was not obtained. There were statistically significant improvements in visual analog scale pain scores, forward flexion ROM and strength, and abduction ROM. Additionally, statistically significant improvements were noted in all patient-reported outcome scores measured. Conclusion: Despite the apparent risks associated in rotator cuff repair in upper extremity ambulators, these patients demonstrate clinically significant improvements following surgery. Appreciating additional pathology beyond the rotator cuff is important in formulating a treatment plan.

Renin Production by Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumors and Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and the Role of Angiotensin Signaling Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To profile juxtaglomerular cell tumors (JXG) and histologic mimics by analyzing renin expression; to identify non-JXG renin-producing tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data sets; and to define the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and patient outcomes with angiotensin signaling inhibitor (ASI) use in tumors of interest. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen JXGs and 10 glomus tumors (GTs), a histologic mimic, were evaluated for clinicopathologic features; TCGA data were analyzed to identify non-JXG renin-overexpressing tumors. An institutional registry was queried to determine the incidence of HTN, the use of ASIs in hypertensive patients, and the impact of ASIs on outcomes including progression-free survival (PFS) in a tumor type with high renin expression (clear cell renal cell carcinoma [CC-RCC] diagnosed between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012). RESULTS: We found an association between renin production and HTN in JXG compared with GT. Analysis of TCGA data found that a subset of CC-RCCs overexpress renin relative to 29 other tumor types. Furthermore, analysis of our institutional registry revealed a high prevalence (64%) of HTN among 1203 patients treated with radical or partial nephrectomy for nonmetastatic CC-RCC. On multivariable Cox regression, patients with HTN treated with ASIs (34%) had improved PFS (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.00; P=.05) compared with patients with HTN not treated with ASIs (30%). CONCLUSION: The identification of renin expression in a subset of CC-RCC may provide a biologic rationale for the high prevalence of HTN and improved PFS with ASI use in hypertensive patients with nonmetastatic CC-RCC.