[Urological comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis : literature review]. / Urologische Begleiterkrankungen bei Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis : Literaturübersicht.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of urolithiasis which is further negatively impacted by a reduced bone density. Interstitial cystitis also tends to occur more often in patients with rheumatic diseases. The high incidence of bacterial urogenital infections is influenced by the use of immunomodulating drugs. Many RA patients have to undergo numerous tests until a diagnosis is reached and are then treated as outpatients on a tightly controlled schedule. Despite a closely controlled rheumatological follow-up, urological screening and determination of a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value (in men over 45 years old) should not be neglected. In patients with an increased risk of renal and bladder neoplasms or when such a diagnosis is known, the benefit of long-term use of high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID, aspirin type) should be carefully weighed up with a risk profile and after specialist urological assessment. Patients who suffer from sexual dysfunction due to physical limitations and prolonged medical therapy should undergo urological and gynecological assessment to exclude contributing causes. The use of aphrodisiacs and erection-enhancing drugs (e.g. PDE5 inhibitors, local injection with prostaglandins and vacuum therapy) require prior approval by a medical specialist and also cardiovascular stability. Acute urinary retention is more common in chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases.

[Synchronous bilateral renal cell cancer with a single ovarian metastasis and a fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery]. / Synchroner bilateraler Nierentumor mit singulärer Ovarialmetastase und fibromuskulärer Dysplasie der Nierenarterie.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian metastases of renal cell cancer (RCC) are extremely rare with less than 20 cases reported to date. These metastases occur in the majority of cases metachronous (i. e. prior to or after identification of the primary tumour) or--such as in our case--synchronous. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old women was diagnosed for synchronous bilateral renal and a left-sided ovarian mass. In a first surgical step, the ovarian metastasis was removed laparoscopically and the 20 cm tumour on the right kidney via a transperitoneal tumour nephrectomy (histology: clear cell RCC, pT3bN0V1R0M1). Prior to nephron-sparing surgery of the left kidney an angiography was performed revealing a massive fibromuscular dysplasia. Under cold ischaemic perfusion, the two RCCs (pT1aV0R0) on the left side were excised and the renal artery replaced by a Goretex graft. Twelve hours postoperatively the patient became anuric and two stents were placed endoradiologically because of a stenosis of the proximal anastomosis. Two years after surgery the patient is recurrence-free and her renal function is normal. CONCLUSION: Although extremely rare, the possibility of an ovarian metastasis should be considered in women with RCC. The presented case was unique because of synchronous bilateral RCC, an ovarian metastasis and a fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery requiring a sophisticated surgical approach.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell cancer: long-term results of a prospective trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of short-term adjuvant chemotherapy on relapse rates, treatment-related morbidity, and long-term toxicity in patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor (NSGCT I) who carry a high risk of relapse, ie, who show blood-vessel invasion (VI) by the primary tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1985 to January 1995, 42 NSGCT I patients with VI were treated with two courses of cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (PEB) after orchidectomy. Of these, 29 patients with a follow-up time of more than 2 years are the subject of this report. NSGCT I patients without VI were assigned to a surveillance program and served as controls for the assessment of long-term toxicity. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 79 months (range, 27 to 119), two patients relapsed. One developed fully differentiated mature teratoma; the other was a true chemotherapy failure and again developed embryonal carcinoma. Twenty-seven patients (93%) are alive without evidence of disease; one patient (3%) died of progressive testicular cancer and another of lung cancer. The two courses of PEB did not cause any severe acute adverse reactions. The assessment of late sequels of adjuvant chemotherapy based on clinical and laboratory evidence of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, fertility, and secondary neoplasms, as well as on a psychosocial questionnaire, did not show any significant disadvantages versus the control group. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy with two courses of PEB is an effective and reasonable treatment option for patients with clinical stage I NSGCT who carry a high risk of relapse. No adverse late sequelae were detected within a median follow-up time of more than 6 years.

Risk-adapted treatment choice in stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell cancer by regarding vascular invasion in the primary tumor: a prospective trial.

Based on the results of a retrospective study, which found blood vessel invasion to be the most important prognostic factor in clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell cancer (NSTGCC I), a prospective study was started in 1985 which assigned NSTGCC I patients without evidence of vascular invasion to surveillance and patients with vascular invasion to two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin. Twenty-two patients entered the surveillance group and 18 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up is 30 months (3 to 50 months). Relapses occurred in three patients (7.5%), one in the surveillance group (4.5%), two in the chemotherapy group (11%). Thirty-eight patients (95%) are alive and without evidence of disease. Two patients of the adjuvant-treated group died, one of progressive germ cell cancer and one of lung cancer. We conclude that low- and high-risk NSTGCC I patients can be identified by considering blood vessel invasion. The presence of embryonal carcinoma and vascular invasion seem to be interrelated prognostic factors, because in 94% of vessel invasion the invading element was embryonal carcinoma. The exclusion of patients with vascular invasion from surveillance decreases relapse rates remarkably. Adjuvant chemotherapy diminishes relapse rates in high-risk patients but does not entirely prevent relapse.

Radiotherapy of testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN): a novel treatment regimen for a rare disease.

PURPOSE: Testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN) is a consistent precursor of most invasive germ cell tumors, currently treated by radiotherapy with 20 Gy, which destroys TIN but preserves Leydig cells. Nevertheless, analysis has shown dose-dependent dysfunction even with low therapeutic doses of 20 Gy in some cases. Therefore, we tested a dose reduction regimen by delivering smaller fractional doses to enhance the tolerance of Leydig cells. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1993 and 1999, 9 patients were treated for TIN in a prospective multicenter trial. A total dose of 13 Gy was administered in 10 fractions of 1.3 Gy. Hormonal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were assayed serially. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 36 months, no patient showed evidence of local disease. A first postradiation biopsy was obtained 3-12 months after radiotherapy; 5 patients underwent a second biopsy 2-3 years after treatment. All biopsies showed a Sertoli cell-only pattern. Follicle-stimulating hormone levels continued to increase 1 year after radiotherapy, signaling eradicated spermiogenesis. Luteinizing hormone and testosterone remained within the normal range 2 years after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of TIN, there seems to be a dose reduction potential to 13 Gy by lowering single fractional doses, which enhances the therapeutic ratio in favor of the Leydig cells.

Clinical usefulness of percentage of free serum prostate specific antigen.

Serum concentrations of total and free prostate specific antigen were measured retrospectively in 268 patients, in order to test the usefulness of percentage of free prostate specific antigen in distinguishing between cancer and benign hyperplasia of the prostate and to improve the specificity of cancer screening. Four groups were investigated: 94 urologic patients without prostate disease (controls), 98 patients with a histologically confirmed benign hyperplasia, 76 with histologically established prostatic adenocarcinoma, 18 of them after radical prostatectomy. Total and free prostate specific antigen concentrations were measured in frozen serum, in a retrospective mode, by using an equimolar monoclonal antibody immunoassay. Median percentage of free prostate specific antigen was 20.48% in controls, 17.75% in patients with hyperplasia, 10.52% in patients with cancer and 33.03% in patients after prostatectomy. Median percentage of free prostate specific antigen was significantly lower in men with cancer than in patients with benign hyperplasia (P < 0.0001). The percentage of free prostate specific antigen increased the specificity of cancer screening: a cut-off of 23.6% detected at least 90% of cancers and would have eliminated 34.7% of biopsies in benign hyperplasias. A prospective study is ongoing to confirm these results.

[Publications: good or bad? Critical appraisal of scientific publications]. / Publikationen: Gut oder Schlecht? Kritische Betrachtung wissenschaftlicher Publikationen.

Doctors interested in medical research are flooded by publications in numerous scientific journals. Scientific manuscripts manifest, however, a wide range in terms of quality and conclusiveness, irrespective of their scientific context and the reader ought to be able to assess the value of the presented data and information. We have thus compiled a checklist in an attempt to provide the doctor with a relatively simple means of distinguishing between "good" and "bad" publications, even if he/she is not concerned with scientific methodology issues on a routine basis. Some aspects of "publication bias" are also touched upon in order to point out certain problems from the opposite perspective, namely that of the physician concerned with active scientific work.

[Is lymphadenectomy in stage I of non-seminomatous testicular cancer still justified?]. / Ist die Lymphadenektomie im Stadium I des nichtseminomatösen Hodentumors noch gerechtfertigt?

Testicular cancer is the tumour of the male genital tract which is most easily and successfully treated today. This very circumstance dictates that for ethical reasons we are more bound than ever to prevent unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in these young patients. They should receive only the maximum necessary and not the maximum possible therapy. The difference between these two critical concepts determines the extent of treatment morbidity. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RLA) is only a diagnostic procedure in approximately 85% of cases. This is the reason for critically reviewing the necessity of this investigation in early non-seminomatous cancer of the testes. The prognostic impact of vascular invasion by the primary tumour is demonstrated in a retrospective study of 86 pathohistological specimens of germ cell tumours. We suggest the inclusion of vascular invasion basically as criterion for any prospective "wait and see" protocol in early non-seminomatous germ cell tumours.

[Problems concerning diagnosis and therapy of poorly vascularized malignant kidney tumors (author's transl)]. / Problematik der Diagnostik und Therapie gefässarmer maligner Nierentumoren.

Clear directives for the indication of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures have as yet not been formulated. We postulate a solution using poorly vascularized and avascular tumors of the kidney verified by x-ray studies and surgical exploration. An attempt was made to achieve an exact diagnosis of poorly vascularized space occupying processes of the kidney (the available figures range from 3--10% among kidney tumors) using optimal economical standardized test methods. We suggest that the time between the first diagnosis and the surgical exploration be kept as short as medically responsible.

[High-dose chemotherapy and reinfusion of hematopoietic stem cells in advanced germ cells tumors with poor prognosis--the position in 1996]. / Hochdosischemotherapie und Reinfusion von hämatopoetischen Stammzellen bei fortgeschrittenen Keimzelltumoren mit schlechter Prognose--Stand 1996.

High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) is a promising treatment for patients with germ cell tumours and a poor prognosis. The selection of patients who may profit from this intervention is challenging for the urologist, as the indication has to be carefully established. Exclusion criteria primarily concern impaired organ functions. Prior to HDCT haematopoietic stem cells are obtained after the administration of conventional-dose chemotherapy plus G- or GM-CSF stimulation. HDCT consists of a combination of carboplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide. After HDCT, haematologic monitoring and maximal supportive care are essential. It is therefore recommended that HDCT only be administered at specialized centres.

[Topical immunotherapy (KLH) vs. chemotherapy (Ethoglucid) in prevention of recurrence of superficial bladder cancer. A prospective randomized study]. / Topische Immuntherapie (KLH) vs. Chemotherapie (Ethoglucid) in der Rezidivprophylaxe oberflächlicher Harnblasenkarzinome. Eine prospektiv randomisierte Studie.

A prospective randomized controlled study on the effect of KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) versus etoglucid in the prevention of recurrences in primary and recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (stage pTa-pT1, grades 1-3 according to the recommendations of UICC and WHO) after complete transurethral resection of the tumor started in 198. Patients in group 1 (n = 76) were immunized with 1 mg KLH intracutaneously, after which they received bladder instillations of 30 mg (30 ml) KLH weekly for 6 weeks and then monthly for 1 year. Patients in group 2 (n = 85) received weekly bladder instillations of 0.565 g etoglucid (50 ml 1% solution) for 6 weeks and then monthly for 1 year. The percentage of recurrences, recurrence rate, disease-free interval and tumor progression rate were evaluated for both treatment groups. The end-point of the study was progression in stage or grade or more than two recurrences during the observation period. The shortest follow-up was 12 months, the mean follow-up, 27.5 months. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in percentage of recurrences (43.4% KLH-53.9% etoglucid), recurrence rate (4.4 KLH-3.9 etoglucid), mean disease-free interval (12.1 months KLH-13.6 months etoglucid) or progression rate (6.5% KLH-9.4% etoglucid).

Lord's procedure--the best operation for hydrocele?

A prospective study was carried out to compare Lord's hydrocele operation with traditional surgical procedures. The groups of patients investigated were comparable in terms of age, period of observation, number of previous aspirations and size of hydrocele. The incidence of isolated hydrocele of the spermatic cord, as well as epididymal cysts, was lower in the patients who underwent Lord's procedure (7.2 versus 15.8%), as was the percentage of patients reporting post-operative pain for more than 3 days (4.3 versus 15.8%, p less than 0.05).

Bladder neck strictures after radical retropubic prostatectomy: still an unsolved problem.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors responsible for anastomotic strictures of the bladder neck after radical retropubic prostatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 239 consecutive patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy between 1987 and 1996, 36 (15%) developed anastomotic strictures after surgery. The influence of tumour stage, previous prostatic surgery, urinary extravasation and postoperative bacteriuria were assessed. RESULTS: In 21 patients (58%), the bladder neck stricture occurred within 3 months of surgery, in 11 (30%) at 4-12 months after surgery and in four (11%) more than 12 months after surgery; three of these also had local recurrence. Advanced tumour stage and positive margins did not correlate with a higher stricture rate, nor was there a significant difference in stricture rates with three or four anastomotic sutures. However, extravasation at the time of catheter removal (16 of 36 patients (44%) with vs 34 of 183 patients without (19%) stricture, bacteriuria of > 10(6) c.f.u./mL at the time of catheter removal (stricture group 21 of 36 patients (58%) stricture with vs 71 of 203 (35%) without) and previous prostatic surgery (TURP or open surgery, stricture in 28% of those previously operated vs 13% with no previous surgery) were significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: There are three risk factors for anastomotic stricture after radical prostatectomy: previous operations on the prostate, extravasation and asymptomatic bacteriuria.

[Testicular tumor staging: the ranking of CT and ultrasonic diagnosis]. / Hodentumor-Staging: Wertigkeit der CT- und Ultraschalldiagnostik.

In a retrospective study 79 patients suffering from a tumour of the testis were analysed between March 1977 and March 1983. Of these, 31 patients were examined via CT. The radiologist's task was the staging of these cases. The results show the superiority of CT diagnosis, which led to only one false-negative report. For the evaluation of stage II ultrasonography is useful, too, even though small lymphomas might be overlooked. If CT is not available, sonography, which is less costly, might be a good substitute. With regard to cooperative therapy, staging together with the histology of the primary tumour and determination of tumour markers are of essential importance.