Decision regret after prostate biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis: a Korean multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Many people struggle with the choice in a series of processes, from prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis to treatment. We investigated the degree of regret after the prostate biopsy (PBx) and relevant factors in patients recommended for biopsy for suspected PCa. METHODS: From 06/2020 to 05/2022, 198 people who performed PBx at three institutions were enrolled and analyzed through a questionnaire before and after biopsy. Before the biopsy, a questionnaire was conducted to evaluate the sociodemographic information, anxiety scale, and health literacy, and after PBx, another questionnaire was conducted to evaluate the decision regret scale. For patients diagnosed as PCa after biopsy, a questionnaire was conducted when additional tests were performed at PCa staging work-up. RESULTS: 190 patients answered the questionnaire before and after PBx. The mean age was 66.2 ± 7.8 years. Overall, 5.5% of men regretted biopsy, but there was no significant difference between groups according to the PCa presence. Multivariate analysis, to identify predictors for regret, revealed that the case when physicians did not properly explain what the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was like and what PSA elevation means (OR 20.57, [95% CI 2.45-172.70], p = 0.005), low media literacy (OR 10.01, [95% CI 1.09-92.29], p = 0.042), and when nobody to rely on (OR 8.49, [95% CI 1.66-43.34], p = 0.010) were significantly related. CONCLUSIONS: Overall regret related to PBx was low. Decision regret was more significantly related to media literacy rather than to educational level. For patients with relatively low media literacy and fewer people to rely on in case of serious diseases, more careful attention and counseling on PBx, including a well-informed explanation on PSA test, is helpful.

Pathological Characteristics of Prostate Cancer in Men Aged < 50 Years Treated with Radical Prostatectomy: a Multi-Centre Study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Recently, younger prostate cancer (PCa) patients have been reported to harbour more favourable disease characteristics after radical prostatectomy (RP) than older men. We analysed young men (<50 years) with PCa among the Korean population, paying attention to pathological characteristics on RP specimen and biochemical recurrence (BCR). METHODS: The multi-centre, Severance Urological Oncology Group registry was utilized to identify 622 patients with clinically localized or locally advanced PCa, who were treated with RP between 2001 and 2017. Patients were dichotomized into two groups according to age (< 50-year-old [n = 75] and ≥ 50-year-old [n = 547]), and clinicopathological characteristics were analysed. Propensity score matching was used when assessing BCR between the two groups. RESULTS: Although biopsy Gleason score (GS) was lower in younger patients (P = 0.033), distribution of pathologic GS was similar between the two groups (13.3% vs. 13.9% for GS ≥ 8, P = 0.191). There was no significant difference in pathologic T stage between the < 50- and ≥ 50-year-old groups (69.3% vs. 68.0% in T2 and 30.7% vs. 32.0% in ≥ T3, P = 0.203). The positive surgical margin rates were similar between the two groups (20.0% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.178). BCR-free survival rates were also similar (P = 0.644) between the two groups, after propensity matching. CONCLUSION: Contrary to prior reports, younger PCa patients did not have more favourable pathologic features on RP specimen and showed similar BCR rates compared to older men. These findings should be considered when making treatment decisions for young Korean patients with PCa.

An Asian traditional herbal complex containing Houttuynia cordata Thunb, Perilla frutescens Var. acuta and green tea stimulates hair growth in mice.

BACKGROUND: Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HC) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Asia for the treatment of patients with alopecia, usually in combination with other two herbal medicines (Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFVA) and green tea (GT)). However, the effect of this herbal complex has not been clearly demonstrated. We sought to determine the hair growth-promoting effect of this herbal complex (HC, PFVA, and GT) in the animal model. METHODS: Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (negative control, finasteride (1 mg/kg) as a positive control, and two (200 and 400 mg/kg) concentrations of the herbal complex as experimental groups) and were fed its corresponding medications orally for 25 days. Hair growth was evaluated visually and microscopically. Western blot analysis for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 was performed. RESULTS: The herbal complex exhibited hair growth-promoting activity in C57BL/6 mice. Grossly, the area of hair regrowth was 55.1 (±3.8) %, 70.2 (±6.3) % and 83.5 (±5.7) % in negative control, herbal complex 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg group, respectively. In histologic examination, the hair follicle count in deep subcutis was 2.6 (±0.7), 5.8 (±0.7) and 8.6 (±1.2) and the diameter of hair follicles was 11.9 (±5.0) µm, 17.4 (±3.9) µm and 22.8 (±5.2) µm in negative control, herbal complex 200 and 400 mg/kg group, respectively. The expression of IGF-1 was 0.14 (±0.01), 0.23 (±0.02) and 0.24 (±0.01) and the expression of TGF-ß1 was 0.26 (±0.01), 0.19 (±0.02) and 0.15 (±0.01) in negative control, the 200 and 400 mg/kg group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This data provides adequate preliminary experimental evidence to support the hair regeneration effect of this herbal complex.

Evaluation of the 7th American Joint Committee on cancer TNM staging system for prostate cancer in point of classification of bladder neck invasion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system for prostate cancer, paying special attention to bladder neck invasion, in an Asian population. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data of 368 men who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2003 and 2011 at our institution were reviewed. The main interest of this study was to confirm that both isolated positive bladder neck margin and positive bladder neck margin associated with other surgical margin have more favorable biochemical outcomes than seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b). RESULTS: The 3-year biochemical recurrence-free survival for men with organ confined disease, extraprostatic extension, isolated positive bladder neck margin, positive bladder neck margin with other surgical margin and seminal vesicle invasion was 88.9, 74.8, 51.2, 19.4 and 18.8%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the increased risk of progression associated with an isolated positive bladder neck margin (hazard ratio 4.34, 95% confidence interval 1.40-13.46, P = 0.011) was less than that of seminal vesicle invasion (hazard ratio 9.67, 95% confidence interval 3.70-25.25, P < 0.001). As for the positive bladder neck margin with other surgical margin, the increased risk of progression (hazard ratio 9.32, 95% confidence interval 3.50-24.82, P < 0.001) was similar to that of men with seminal vesicle invasion. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, men with isolated positive bladder neck margin and positive bladder neck margin plus other surgical margin had no worse biochemical outcomes than those with seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b). It is reasonable to classify prostate cancer with bladder neck invasion (the 6th American Joint Committee on Cancer edition pT4 category) into the 7th edition pT3 category.

Patent processus vaginalis in adults who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: predictive signs of postoperative inguinal hernia in the internal inguinal floor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk for postoperative inguinal hernia according to the presence of patent processus vaginalis in an adult population. METHODS: Medical records of 205 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy from May 2007 to November 2011 were reviewed. Age, prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, body mass index, operative time and history of previous abdominal surgery were evaluated. The existence of patent processus vaginalis was also evaluated for the development of postoperative inguinal hernia. RESULTS: Postoperative inguinal hernia occurred in 20 out of 410 (4.9%) groins (17/205 patients; 8.3%), and patent processus vaginalis was observed in 49 out of 410 (11.9%) groins. In the normal groin group, inguinal hernia occurred in seven out of 361 (1.9%) groins. However, in the patent processus vaginalis group, it occurred in 13 out of 49 (26.5%) groins. On univariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model, age, body mass index, history of previous abdominal surgery and patent processus vaginalis were significant risk factors. Among them, patent processus vaginalis significantly increased the risk of postoperative inguinal hernia in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 22.37). In the patent processus vaginalis group, inguinal hernia developed at 12.9 ± 9.2 months after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and 15 ± 7.4 months in the normal groin group. Inguinal hernia-free ratios were significantly lower in the patent processus vaginalis group than the normal groin group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The existence of patent processus vaginalis represents an important risk factor for postoperative inguinal hernia in adults. Urologists should consider the possibility of postoperative inguinal hernia when patent processus vaginalis is observed during surgery.

Optimal timing to evaluate prediagnostic baseline erectile function in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate assessment of prediagnostic baseline erectile function (EF) is crucial when evaluating postoperative changes of EF in patients undergoing bilateral nerve sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RLRP). Because score domains of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) can be affected by factors such as recall intervals and psychological stress or discomfort due to cancer diagnosis and treatment, it is important to assess the prediagnostic baseline EF at appropriate times. AIM: To determine optimal timing to evaluate prediagnostic baseline EF in patients undergoing bilateral nerve sparing RLRP. METHODS: Between March 2009 and February 2010, 54 patients ranging in age from 48 to 74 years were asked to complete IIEF-5 questionnaires before prostate biopsy, 1 day before RLRP, and 1 month after RLRP to assess preoperative baseline EF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the mean scores of IIEF-5 were analyzed using paired t-tests. The strengths of the linear relationships among the three IIEF-5 scores were quantified using Pearson's correlation coefficient. An interrator agreement analysis in distribution was performed using the kappa statistic to determine the degree of agreement among the IIEF-5 scores. RESULTS: The mean IIEF-5 score before RLRP was significantly higher than the mean IIEF-5 score before prostate biopsy (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the mean IIEF-5 scores before prostate biopsy and 1 month following RLRP (P = 0.931). Scores of the IIEF-5 taken before prostate biopsy and 1 month following RLRP showed substantial agreement (kappa = 0.712), whereas scores of the IIEF-5 taken before prostate biopsy and before RLRP showed lower agreement (kappa = 0.325). CONCLUSION: To more accurately assess the prediagnostic baseline EF in patients with localized prostate cancer, the IIEF-5 questionnaire should be administered before prostate biopsy rather than before RLRP as cancer diagnosis-related symptoms and depression can affect IIEF-5 scores.

Is it suitable to eliminate bone scan for prostate cancer patients with PSA ≤ 20 ng/mL?

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relationship between bone metastasis (BM) and clinical or pathological variables, including the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration. METHODS: This retrospective study included 579 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (Pca) who underwent a bone scan study at our institution between 2002 and 2010. We used receiver operating characteristics curves to evaluate accuracy of bone metastasis between serum PSA 10 and 20 ng/mL. RESULTS: A positive bone scan result was found in 83 men (14.3%) with PCa. However, 27 men (4.6%) with serum PSA between 10 and 20 ng/mL, 29/579 men (5.0%) with GS ≤ 7, and 21/83 (25.3%) with serum PSA ≤ 20 ng/mL and Gleason score (GS) ≤ 7 had positive bone scans. In the logistic regression analyses, clinical T stage (odds ratio [OR] = 3.26; 95% CI, 2.29-4.33; P = 0.021), GS (OR = 3.41; 95% CI, 2.91-4.63; P = 0.019), and serum PSA (OR = 8.37; 95% CI, 3.91-19.21; P < 0.001) were predictive factors of detecting the BM. When the serum PSA concentration ≤20 ng/mL and GS ≤ 7, AUC value of bone scans for the detection of BM was 0.640 (P = 0.020; 95% CI, 0.563-0.717). With serum PSA at 10 ng/mL and GS ≤ 7, the AUC values of bone scans were 0.828 (P < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.773-0.883). CONCLUSIONS: Bone scans might be necessary in men with serum PSA between 10 and 20 ng/mL. New guidelines for eliminating bone scans in patients with newly diagnosed Pca are needed, especially in Asians.

Does performance of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy within 2 weeks of prostate biopsy affect the outcome?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) performed within either 2 or 4 weeks of prostate biopsy is associated with surgical difficulty or immediate postoperative outcome. METHODS: Of the 121 patients that underwent RALP at our institution, 104 patients were prospectively included. Patients were sequentially divided into three groups: first patient in group A (interval from biopsy to RALP: 2 weeks), second patient in group B (2-4 weeks), third patient in group C (more than 4 weeks), fourth patient in group A, and so on. The clinical, operative, pathological, and postoperative functional data were collected. RESULTS: Group A consisted of 31 patients, group B of 33, and group C of 40 patients. Median patient age and median follow up were 61.1 years and 14.1 months, respectively. In group A, mean estimated blood loss was significantly higher than the other two groups, even though there was no significant difference in the mean console time. Postoperative complications did not make any difference among the groups. In the multivariable analysis, the interval from biopsy to surgery did not affect operative times or surgical margins, or the immediate postoperative outcomes (e.g. recovery of erectile function, continence, and biochemical recurrence). CONCLUSION: A short interval for less than two weeks between the prostate biopsy and the RALP seems to be feasible and safe. Further studies with larger samples are needed to corroborate these findings.

How Much Reliable Is the Current Belief on Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer?

Objective: To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of grade group 1 (GG1) prostate cancer in Korean populations. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 492 consecutive radical prostatectomy specimens from our institution, which included those from 322 men with clinical GG1 and 170 with clinical GG2 tumors between years 2009 and 2018. The incidence of Gleason score (GS) upgrading, extraprostatic extension (EPE), and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) were evaluated in patients with clinical GG1. In pathological GG1 cases, the distribution of adverse pathological features including EPE, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion (PNI), and biochemical recurrence (BCR) was analyzed. Results: Altogether, 78 (24.2%) out of 322 men in the clinical GG1 group demonstrated upgrading of GS, including 19 men with pathological Gleason score 4 + 3 = 7 and 6 with ≥ pathological Gleason score 4 + 4 = 8 cases. EPE was found in 37 (11.5%) and 22 (8.9%) men in clinical GG1 and pathological GG1 group, respectively. The incidence of LVI and PNI in the pathological GG1 cases was 2.8% (n = 7) and 28.6% (n = 71), respectively. BCR was observed in 4 men in pathological GG1 T2 (n = 226) and 2 men in GG1 T3 (n = 22) group. When we compared the pathological features between pathological GG1 T3 vs. GG2 T2, there was no statistical differences in the incidence of LVI and PNI between the two groups. Conclusions: Contrary to the current concept that GG1 is almost always clinically insignificant, it seems that GG1 still possess its respectable position as a group of cancer with aggressiveness. These findings should be kept in mind when deciding on treatment options for prostate cancer patients in the Asian populations.

Predicting Insignificant Prostate Cancer: Analysis of the Pathological Outcomes of Candidates for Active Surveillance according to the Pre-International Society of Urological Pathology (Pre-ISUP) 2014 Era Versus the Post-ISUP2014 Era.

PURPOSE: To analyze the difference in the prediction accuracy with an active surveillance (AS) protocol between two eras (pre-International Society of Urological Pathology [pre-ISUP]-2014 vs. post-ISUP2014). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 118 candidates for AS who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2009 and 2017. We divided our patients into two groups (group 1 [n=57], operation date 2009-2015; group 2 [n=61], operation date 2016-2017). Pathologic slides in group 1 were reviewed to distinguish men with cribriform pattern (CP) because the determination of Gleason scores in old era had been based on pre-ISUP2014 classification. Postoperative outcomes in the two eras were analyzed twice: first, all men in group 1 vs. group 2; second, the remaining men after excluding those with CPs in group 1 vs. group 2. RESULTS: The proportion of men with insignificant prostate cancer (iPCa) was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (36.8% vs. 57.4%, p=0.040). After excluding 11 men with CPs from group 1, those remaining (46 men) were compared again with group 2. In this analysis, the proportion of men with iPCa was similar between the two groups (old vs. contemporary era: 41.3% vs. 57.4%, p=0.146). Nine of 11 men with CP had violated the criteria for iPCa in the earlier comparison. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of the AS protocol has been affected by the coexistence of CPs and pure Gleason 6 tumors in the pre-ISUP2014 era. We suggest to use only contemporary (post-ISUP2014) data to analyze the accuracy with AS protocols in future studies.

Association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and intravesical prostatic protrusion in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty men aged >50 years who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms at our institution between 2014 and 2018 were analyzed. Pearson's method was used for analysis of the correlation between NLR and IPP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of IPP. Further analysis according to total prostate volume (TPV) was performed. RESULTS: The NLR correlated positively with IPP (Pearson's r = 0.459, P < 0.001) and was an independent predictor of IPP ≥10 mm (odds ratio, 2.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-5.47; P = 0.0006). Among the 142 men with prostates <40 cm3 , mean NLR was 2.50 ± 0.71 in those with IPP ≥10 mm and 1.71 ± 0.57 in those with IPP < 10 mm (P < 0.001). The NLR differed significantly between those with a prostate <40 cm3 and IPP ≥10 mm and those with a larger prostate and IPP < 10 mm (2.50 ± 0.71 vs 2.07 ± 0.77, respectively; P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: NLR can be used as a surrogate marker for presence of IPP. Its clinical value would be especially important in men with a small prostate gland but high IPP. The NLR seemed to be more strongly correlated with IPP than with TPV.

Suppression of Oxidative Stress of Modified Gongjin-Dan (WSY-1075) in Detrusor Underactivity Rat Model Bladder Outlet Induced by Obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-oxidative stress and preventive effect of modified Gongjin-dan (WSY-1075) in a detrusor underactivity rat model. METHODS: Rats were randomly allocated to three groups: shamoperated (control), bladder outlet obstruction-induced detrusor underactivity (BOO-DU), and BOO-DU with WSY-1075 (WSY) groups. WSY-1075 was orally administrated to rats 200 mg daily for 2 weeks prior to the operation and 4 weeks after the operation. Bladder outlet obstruction was surgically induced in rats by ligation around the urethra avoiding total obstruction. Cystometrography was conducted on rats in each group for examination of bladders. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, bladder outlet obstruction led to a significant increase in oxidative stress with consequent changes to molecular composition, and decrease in maximal detrusor pressure (P<0.05). WSY-1075 treatment significantly suppressed oxidative stress and prevented degenerative and dysfunctional changes in bladder, as compared with BOO-DU group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: WSY-1075 had beneficial effect on prevention of BOO-DU.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Naftopidil Treatment for Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Hypertension: A Prospective, Open-Label Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of naftopidil for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients, mainly focusing on changes in blood pressure (BP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of a total of 118 patients, 90 normotensive (NT) and 28 hypertensive (HT) patients were randomly assigned to be treated with naftopidil 50 mg or 75 mg for 12 weeks, once-daily. Safety and efficacy were assessed by analyzing changes from baseline in systolic/diastolic BP and total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at 4 and 12 weeks. Adverse events (AEs), obstructive/irritative subscores, quality of life (QoL) score, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and benefit, satisfaction with treatment, and willingness to continue treatment (BSW) questionnaire were also analyzed. RESULTS: Naftopidil treatment decreased mean systolic BP by 18.7 mm Hg for the HT 50 mg group (p<0.001) and by 18.3 mm Hg for the HT 75 mg group (p<0.001) and mean diastolic BP by 17.5 mm Hg for the HT 50 mg group (p<0.001) and by 14.7 mm Hg for the HT 75 mg group (p=0.022). In the NT groups (both naftopidil 50 mg and 75 mg), naftopidil elicited no significant changes in BP from baseline values. After 12 weeks, naftopidil 50 and 75 mg groups showed significant improvements in IPSS scores (total, obstructive/irritative subscores, QoL score) and Qmax from baseline. AEs were reported in 7.8% (50 mg group) and 2.9% (75 mg group) of patients. In both the 50 mg and 75 mg groups, >86% of all patients agreed to continue their current medications. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that naftopidil treatment in BPH patients with hypertension allows for optimal management of BP within the normal range.

Current status of active surveillance in prostate cancer.

Active surveillance (AS) is a management strategy involving close monitoring the course of disease with the expectation to intervene if the cancer progress, in a super-selected group of low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Determining AS candidates should be based on careful individualized weighing of numerous factors: life expectancy, general health condition, disease characteristics, potential side effects of treatment, and patient preference. Several protocols have been developed to determine insignificant PCa for choosing ideal AS candidates. Results regarding disease reclassification during AS have been also reported. In an effort to enhance accuracy during selection of AS candidate, there were several reports on using magnetic resonance imaging for prediction of insignificant PCa. Currently, there is an urgent need for further clinical studies regarding the criteria for recommending AS, the criteria for reclassification on AS, and the schedule for AS. Considering the racial differences in behavior of PCa between Western and Asian populations, more stringent AS protocols for Asian patients should be established from additional, well-designed, large clinical studies.

Easily removable ureteral catheters for internal drainage in children: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: We review our experience using a new and easily removable ureteral catheter in patients who underwent complicated ureteral reimplantation. Our goal was to shorten hospital stay and lower anxiety during catheter removal without fear of postoperative ureteral obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2009 and September 2010, nine patients who underwent our new method of catheter removal after ureteral reimplantation were enrolled. Patients who underwent simple ureteral reimplantation were excluded from the study. Following ureteral reimplantation, a combined drainage system consisting of a suprapubic cystostomy catheter and a ureteral catheter was installed. Proximal external tubing was clamped with a Hem-o-lok clamp and the rest of the external tubing was eliminated. Data concerning the age and sex of each patient, reason for operation, method of ureteral reimplantation, and postoperative parameters such as length of hospital stay and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Of the nine patients, four had refluxing megaureter, four had a solitary or non-functional contralateral kidney and one had ureteral stricture due to a previous anti-reflux operation. The catheter was removed at postoperative week one. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.4 days (range 1-4 days), and the mean follow-up was 9.8 months. None of the patients had postoperative ureteral obstructions, and there were no cases of migration or dislodgement of the catheter. CONCLUSION: Our new method for removing the ureteral catheter would shorten hospital stays and lower levels of anxiety when removing ureteral catheters in patients with a high risk of postoperative ureteral obstruction.

Effects of post biopsy digital rectal compression on improving prostate cancer staging using magnetic resonance imaging in localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of digital rectal-compression immediately after transrectal prostate biopsy (P-bx) for improving the accuracy of prostate cancer (PCa) staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2008 and June 2010, 94 consecutive patients who had a radical prostatectomy were included in our retrospective analysis. The exclusion criteria included a history of previous P-bx and surgery, a biopsy performed in another hospital, a number of biopsy cores different from 12, or a condition interfering with bleeding assessment. The subjects were divided into two groups, compression and non-compression. All enrolled patients took magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for PCa staging. RESULTS: The compression and non-compression groups were comparable with respect to several baseline characteristics. However, the total hemorrhage score of intraprostatic bleeding was significantly different between the groups, even with adjustment for the time from biopsy to MRI (compression:15.4 ± 2.32, non-compression: 24.9 ± 2.43, p<0.001). The intra-prostatic cancer location matching rate was higher in the compression group (78.0%) than in the non-compression group (70.2%) (p = 0.011). Overall accuracy of staging in compression and non-compression groups was 84.7% and 77.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that digital rectal compression performed immediately after prostate biopsy to reduce intraprostatic hemorrhage improves the accuracy for detection of PCa using MRI.

The change of prostate cancer treatment in Korea: 5 year analysis of a single institution.

PURPOSE: We analyzed changes to the trends of prostate cancer management and patient characteristics at a single institute during 5 years due to the significant increase of the prostate cancer incidence and the robotic equipment in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate cancer patient data from a single institute recorded from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed. Cancer stage, initial treatment modalities, and the pattern of outpatient clinical management were reviewed. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2010, 386 prostate cancers were newly diagnosed at the institute. The proportion of localized and locally advanced cancer cases increased from 67% in 2006 to 79% in 2010 respectively. Among the treatment choices during follow-up in the out-patients clinic, the proportion of radical prostatectomies increased from 43% in 2006 to 62% in 2010. In contrast, the proportion of hormone therapies decreased from 58% to 37%. For initial treatment choice, radical prostatectomy was chosen for 59% of the patients who were newly diagnosed with cancer during the study period. However, hormone therapy alone was administrated as a primary therapy to 26%. Analysis of the radical prostatectomy subgroup showed that a robot- assisted technique was used in 83% of the patients, and the remaining 17% underwent an open radical prostatectomy. CONCLUSION: As the prostate cancer incidence increased in Korea, the proportion of localized and locally advanced cancer also increased. In addition, the main treatment modality changed from non-surgical treatment to radical prostatectomy.

Is small prostate volume a predictor of Gleason score upgrading after radical prostatectomy?

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze the relationship between prostate volume and Gleason score (GS) upgrading [higher GS category in the radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen than in the prostate biopsy] in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 247 men who underwent RP between May 2006 and April 2011 at our institution. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) volume was categorized as 25 cm³ or less (n=61), 25 to 40 cm³ (n=121) and greater than 40 cm³ (n=65). GS was examined as a categorical variable of 6 or less, 3+4 and 4+3 or greater. The relationship between TRUS volume and upgrading of GS was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 87 patients (35.2%) were upgraded, 20 (8.1%) were downgraded, and 140 (56.7%) had identical biopsy and pathological Gleason sum groups. Smaller TRUS volume was significantly associated with increased likelihood of upgrading (p trend=0.022). Men with prostates 25 cm³ or less had more than 2.7 times the risk of disease being upgraded relative to men with TRUS volumes more than 40 cm³ (OR 2.718, 95% CI 1.403-8.126). CONCLUSION: In our study, smaller prostate volumes were at increased risk for GS upgrading after RP. This finding should be kept in mind when making treatment decisions for men with prostate cancer that appears to be of a low grade on biopsy, especially in Asian urologic fields.

Transvesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation in children with bilateral vesicoureteral reflux: surgical technique and results.

OBJECTIVES: To report our initial experience with transvesicoscopic cross-trigonal ureteral reimplantation (TVUR), describing stepwise the surgical procedure and determining critical aspects of this surgery in the actual surgical field. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between September 2008 and April 2010, 48 patients with bilateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) underwent TVUR. To identify the critical aspects affecting the surgical difficulty, we divided our TVUR procedure into four steps: TVUR set-up, mobilization of ureters, creation of submucosal tunnels, and ureterovesical anastomosis. To evaluate the evolution of our TVUR, we analyzed changes in the operative time and complications versus increase in surgeon experience (dividing our cases into three groups: the first third, the second third, and the last third). Changes in operative time for all four steps of TVUR were analyzed separately, as well as change in overall operative time. RESULTS: Of a total of 48 cases, 45 patients underwent TVUR successfully except for 3 cases of open conversion. Among the 45 cases, the mean overall operative time was 155.6 min. In 1 patient, proximal migration of the ureteral catheter occurred. No other perioperative complications were observed. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.6 days. The VUR resolution rate was 96.4%. Upon analysis of our results by step, Step 4 (ureterovesical anastomosis) required the largest portion of the overall operative time in most cases. During the early period of our TVUR, we encountered several technical difficulties. However, the operative times for all four steps were stabilized with increasing number of cases, without deteriorating surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our report demonstrates that TVUR might potentially be a safe and effective alternative to open ureteral reimplantation in children with VUR, with a shorter learning curve than expected.

Magnetic resonance imaging targeted biopsy in men with previously negative prostate biopsy results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of targeted prostate biopsy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to characterize clinicopathologic features of tumors detected with targeted prostate biopsy in men with previous negative prostate biopsy results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 87 patients with a persistently increasing level of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), at least one previous set of negative 12-core prostate biopsies, and normal digital rectal examination. All patients were examined with combined T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI before undergoing the prostate biopsy. Prostate biopsy was performed using transrectal ultrasonography-guided standard 12 cores plus targeted biopsy to suspicious region(s) as identified on T2 images on their MRI. RESULTS: Of a total of 87 cases, 82 (94.2%) patients had suspicious lesion(s) on their MRI. Of these 82 patients, 46 (56.0%) patients had prostate cancer (PCA) as determined by the biopsy. The patients with PCA showed a significantly higher incidence of having suspicious lesion(s) (the anterior or apex) on MRI than the patients without PCA (P<0.05). On analysis by dividing all biopsy cores into the targeted cores and standard cores, PCA was found in 149/518 (28.8%) MRI-targeted cores and in 32/903 (3.6%) standard cores (P=0.012) Of 43 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, 37 (86.0%) patients were detected with PCA located at the anterior or apex portion of the prostate. For tumor characteristics according to tumor locations, there was no significant correlation between tumor location and Gleason scores or pathologic stage. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a MRI-targeted prostate biopsy after prostate MRI might be considered for the identification of cancer foci and the detection of PCA, for patients with a previous negative standard prostate biopsy result despite a persistently elevated PSA value.