Molecular characteristics and markers of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Pitfalls due to intratumoral heterogeneity and identification of genetic alterations associated with metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify clear cell renal cell carcinoma-related gene mutations potentially associated with aggressive disease, sarcomatoid differentiation or poor prognosis. METHODS: We carried out genomic analysis of 217 tumor foci from 25 patients with conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma (14 patients), clear cell renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation (six patients) and non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (five patients). Each tumor nodule on the tissue block that corresponded to the same focus on the slide was separated from the normal parenchyma and other histologically distinct areas of tumor. The isolated tumor foci were used for subsequent analyses and sequencing. Deoxyribonucleic acid from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues was extracted. Multiplex bar-coded polymerase chain reaction amplification was carried out using next-generation sequencing libraries. RESULTS: Overall, 67 protein alterations, including amino acid alterations, frame shifts and splice site mutations in seven genes were identified in the cohort of renal cell carcinoma tumors included in this study. Fewer patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation had clear cell renal cell carcinoma-related mutations in comparison with patients with conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Additionally, the average number of unique clear cell renal cell carcinoma-related protein alterations per patient was significantly lower in clear cell renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation than in conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Mutations in PBRM1 were identified in a higher proportion of patients with high-grade tumors (World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology grade 4) and in the primary tumors of six of 10 (60%) patients with metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are pitfalls due to intratumoral heterogeneity and sampling bias, mutations in PBRM1 may be associated with metastasis and aggressive disease in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Upper pole urologist-obtained percutaneous renal access for PCNL is safe and efficacious.

INTRODUCTION: Interventional radiologist may be hesitant to obtain upper pole access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) due to a higher complication rate. Renal access gained by urologists may achieve higher stone-free rates with similar complication rates. We evaluate our institution's contemporary results of percutaneous renal access in the upper pole for nephrolithotomy by urologists, which we believe both safe and efficacious. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective chart review included all PCNL's performed by fellowship-trained endourologists from 2003 to 2014 at a single institution. Inclusion criteria included patients in which renal access was obtained by the urologist via the upper pole for PCNL. Stone-free status was determined by either KUB or CT scan on POD #1. Patients without stones visible on KUB or less than 4 mm on CT were considered stone-free. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients obtained upper pole access for PCNL. There were a total of 53 (37%%) staghorn calculi, of which 35 (66%) were partial staghorn stones. Renal access was obtained above 11th rib in 12.5% (n = 18), between the 11th and 12th rib in 57.6% (n = 83), subcostal in 14.6% (n = 21) and undetermined in the rest. Complications were seen in 18 (12.5%) of patients. Hydropneumothorax requiring chest tube was seen in 8 (5.6%) patients. Postoperative imaging confirmed 93 (64.5%) patients stone-free, and 35 (24.3%) required a second look PCNL. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with upper pole percutaneous renal access for nephrolithotomy has shown that it has an acceptable complication risk. It should be a part of an endourologist's armamentarium that operate on large burden, complex stones or ureteral pathology.

R.E.N.A.L. (Radius, exophytic/endophytic, nearness to collecting system or sinus, anterior/posterior, and location relative to polar lines) nephrometry score predicts early tumor recurrence and complications after percutaneous ablative therapies for renal cell carcinoma: a 5-year experience.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic value of R.E.N.A.L. (radius, exophytic/endophytic, nearness to collecting system or sinus, anterior/posterior, and location relative to polar lines) nephrometry score after percutaneous ablation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective 5-year study was performed. Participants were 87 consecutive patients (median age, 67.1 y; 59.7% male, 40.3% female) with 101 biopsy-proven RCCs who underwent percutaneous ablation (54.0% cryoablation, 46.0% radiofrequency ablation). Follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all cases (mean follow-up, 34.6 mo ± 23.5). R.E.N.A.L. scores were analyzed to determine the association of the score with treatment outcomes and complications. RESULTS: All tumors corresponded to stage 1A disease. Mean tumor size was 2.05 cm (range, 0.7-3.9 cm), and 50.5% of the lesions measured > 2 cm. Nephrometry score was > 8 in 31.4% of lesions. Overall recurrence rate was 16.8%, first-year recurrence rate was 7.9%, and complication rate was 9.9%. A nephrometry score > 8 was associated with increased complications after percutaneous ablation (P < .0001), increased overall recurrence (P < .0001), and increased risk of first-year recurrence (P < .0001). Immediate complications were associated with tumor size > 2 cm (P < .0001) and risk of local recurrence (P < .001). Age, gender, and percutaneous ablation technique were not correlated with recurrence or immediate complications. Patients undergoing cryoablation had a higher nephrometry score with no significant differences in recurrence rate compared with RF ablation (P = .199). CONCLUSIONS: A R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score ≥ 8 predicts recurrence and complications after percutaneous renal ablation.

von Hippel-Lindau exonic methylation analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

PURPOSE: Aberrant promoter methylation turns off gene expression and is involved in human malignancy. Studies show that first exon methylation has a tighter association with gene silencing compared to promoter methylation or gene mutation. However, to our knowledge the clinical importance of exonic methylation in renal cell carcinoma is unknown. We analyzed renal cell carcinoma for VHL gene exonic methylation using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 48 institutionally banked renal cell carcinoma patient tissue samples VHL exon sequencing was done as well as methylation analysis of promoter and exon 1 by mass spectrometry or conventional bisulfite analysis. Methylated human lymphocytic DNA (0% and 100%), nontemplate distilled H2O, and the UOK121 and UOK171 human renal cell carcinoma cell lines served as assay controls. Samples were considered hypermethylated if a CpG site showed greater than 50% methylation. RESULTS: Nine of the 43 patient samples read by our exon 1 assay had methylated VHL exon 1 sites, including 3 showing hypermethylation. The exon 1 methylation assay was robust and reproducible. Samples with exon 1 hypermethylation showed no exonic mutations. All samples assayed at VHL exon 2 were hypermethylated. CONCLUSIONS: To assay renal cell carcinoma tumors for VHL methylation matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is robust and reproducible, and capable of quantifying the methylation status of individual DNA bases. Exon 1 methylation may be an alternate mechanism of VHL gene silencing in renal cell carcinoma in addition to mutation and promoter methylation. Applying this assay in patient populations may allow enhanced diagnosis or tumor typing in the future.

Efficacy of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in advanced bladder cancer: results from the International Radical Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC).

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the surgical feasibility and outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for pathological T4 bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of a prospectively maintained International Radical Cystectomy Consortium database was conducted for 1118 patients who underwent RARC between 2003 and 2012. We dichotomised patients based on pathological stage (≤pT3 vs pT4) and evaluated demographic, operative and pathological variables in relation to morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: In all, 1000 ≤pT3 and 118 pT4 patients were evaluated. The pT4 patients were older than the ≤pT3 patients (P = 0.001). The median operating time and blood loss were 386 min and 350 mL vs 396 min and 350 mL for p T4 and ≤pT3, respectively. The complication rate was similar (54% vs 58%; P = 0.64) among ≤pT3 and pT4 patients, respectively. The overall 30- and 90-day mortality rate was 0.4% and 1.8% vs 4.2% and 8.5% for ≤pT3 vs pT4 patients (P < 0.001), respectively. The body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiology score, length of hospital stay (LOS) >10 days, and 90-day readmission were significantly associated with complications in pT4 patients. Meanwhile, BMI, LOS >10 days, grade 3-5 complications, 90-day readmission, smoking, previous abdominal surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with mortality in pT4 patients. On multivariate analysis, BMI was an independent predictor of complications in pT4 patients, but not for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: RARC for pT4 bladder cancer is surgically feasible but entails significant morbidity and mortality. BMI was independent predictor of complications in pT4 patients.

Designing an ethics curriculum to support global health experiences in surgery.

BACKGROUND: The field of global health is rapidly expanding in many medical centers across the US. As a result, medical students have increasing opportunities to incorporate global health experiences (GHEs) into their medical education. Ethics is a critical component of global health curricula, yet little literature exists to direct the further development of didactic training. Therefore, we sought to define ethical encounters experienced by medical students participating in short-term surgical GHEs and create a framework for the design of ethics curriculum specific to global surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Emory University Departments of Surgery, Urology, and Anesthesia, in partnership with the non-profit organization Project Medishare, have taken annual humanitarian surgical trips to Hinche, Haiti. All medical students returning from the trips in 2011 and 2012 received a 35-question survey to assess demographic data, extent of prior ethics education, frequency of exposure and situational confidence to ethical subject matter, as well as ethical conflicts involved in surgical GHEs. The same comparative data were also collected for domestic clinical clerkships. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 21 medical students completed the survey. Nearly all (88.3%) students had previous formal ethics training as an undergraduate or in medical school. Ethical issues were commonly encountered during domestic clinical encounters and volunteerism. However, students reported enhanced exposure to the professional obligation of surgeons (P = 0.025) and truth-telling/surgeon-patient relationships (P = 0.044) during surgical volunteerism. Despite increased exposure, situational confidence did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Ethical issues are commonly confronted during GHEs in surgery and differ from domestic clinical encounters. Healthcare ethics curriculum should be designed to meet the needs of medical students involved in global health.

Renal cell carcinoma in patients with end-stage renal disease has favorable overall prognosis.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) demonstrate a greater risk for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than the general population. This study compared pathological and clinical outcomes in patients with RCC with and without ESRD. Patients with ESRD who underwent nephrectomy and were found to have RCC at our institution since 1999 were identified. The control group was composed of patients from the general population with RCC. The primary outcome was risk of cancer recurrence. The study included 338 RCC patients: 84 with ESRD and 243 without ESRD. In the ESRD group, mean tumor size was smaller, there was decreased prevalence of advanced T category (>3) , and the average Karakiewicz nomogram score was lower. ESRD was associated with decreased tumor recurrence and clear cell pathology. No patients with ESRD had metastatic disease. There was no difference in overall or cancer-specific mortality between the ESRD and control groups. Patients with ESRD who develop RCC have a better prognosis compared to RCC in patients without ESRD, which is likely secondary to favorable histopathologic phenotype as well as the likelihood of early diagnosis. Thus, the delay between nephrectomy and renal transplantation may not be necessary, especially in patients with asymptomatic, low grade tumors.

External validation of the modified Glasgow prognostic score for renal cancer.

PURPOSE: The modified Glasgow prognostic Score (mGPS) incorporates C-reactive protein and albumin as a clinically useful marker of tumor behavior. The ability of the mGPS to predict metastasis in localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unknown in an external validation cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with clinically localized clear cell RCC were followed for 1 year post-operatively. Metastases were identified radiologically. Patients were categorized by mGPS score as low-risk (mGPS = 0 points), intermediate-risk (mGPS = 1 point) and high-risk (mGPS = 2 points). Univariate, Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses examined Recurrence -free survival (RFS) across patient and disease characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 129 patients in this study, 23.3% developed metastases. Of low, intermediate and high risk patients, 10.1%, 38.9% and 89.9% recurred during the study. After accounting for various patient and tumor characteristics in multivariate analysis including stage and grade, only mGPS was significantly associated with RFS. Compared with low-risk patients, intermediate- and high-risk patients experienced a 4-fold (hazard ratios [HR]: 4.035, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.312-12.415, P = 0.015) and 7-fold (HR: 7.012, 95% CI: 2.126-23.123 P < 0.001) risk of metastasis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: mGPS is a robust predictor of metastasis following potentially curative nephrectomy for localized RCC. Clinicians may consider mGPS as an adjunct to identify high-risk patients for possible enrollment into clinical trials or for patient counseling.

International Robotic Radical Cystectomy Consortium: A way forward.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is an emerging operative alternative to open surgery for the management of invasive bladder cancer. Studies from single institutions provide limited data due to the small number of patients. In order to better understand the related outcomes, a world-wide consortium was established in 2006 of patients undergoing RARC, called the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC). Thus far, the IRCC has reported its findings on various areas of operative interest and continues to expand its capacity to include other operative modalities and transform it into the International Radical Cystectomy Consortium. This article summarizes the findings of the IRCC and highlights the future direction of the consortium.

A missense SNP in the tumor suppressor SETD2 reduces H3K36me3 and mitotic spindle integrity in Drosophila.

Mutations in SETD2 are among the most prevalent drivers of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We identified a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in SETD2, E902Q, within a subset of RCC patients, which manifests as both an inherited or tumor-associated somatic mutation. To determine if the SNP is biologically functional, we used CRISPR-based genome editing to generate the orthologous mutation within the Drosophila melanogaster Set2 gene. In Drosophila, the homologous amino acid substitution, E741Q, reduces H3K36me3 levels comparable to Set2 knockdown, and this loss is rescued by reintroduction of a wild-type Set2 transgene. We similarly uncovered significant defects in spindle morphogenesis, consistent with the established role of SETD2 in methylating α-Tubulin during mitosis to regulate microtubule dynamics and maintain genome stability. These data indicate the Set2 E741Q SNP affects both histone methylation and spindle integrity. Moreover, this work further suggests the SETD2 E902Q SNP may hold clinical relevance.

Impact of surgeon and volume on extended lymphadenectomy at the time of robot-assisted radical cystectomy: results from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC).

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Lymph node dissection and it's extend during robot-assisted radical cystectomy varies based on surgeon related factors. This study reports outcomes of robot-assisted extended lymphadenectomy based on surgeon experience in both academic and private practice settings. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of, and predictors for, extended lymph node dissection (LND) in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for bladder cancer, as extended LND is critical for the treatment of bladder cancer but the role of minimally invasive surgery for extended LND has not been well-defined in a multi-institutional setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Used the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC) database. In all, 765 patients who underwent RARC at 17 institutions from 2003 to 2010 were evaluated for receipt of extended LND. Patients were stratified by age, sex, clinical stage, institutional volume, sequential case number, and surgeon volume. Logistic regression analyses were used to correlate variables to the likelihood of undergoing extended LND. RESULTS: In all, 445 (58%) patients underwent extended LND. Among all patients, a median (range) of 18 (0-74) LNs were examined. High-volume institutions (≥100 cases) had a higher mean LN yield (23 vs 15, P < 0.001). On univariable analysis, surgeon volume, institutional volume, and sequential case number were associated with likelihood of undergoing extended LND. On multivariable analysis, surgeon volume [odds ratio (OR) 3.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.37-5.06, P < 0.001] and institution volume [OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.47-4.78, P = 0.001) were associated with undergoing extended LND. CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted LND can achieve similar LN yields to those of open LND after RC. High-volume surgeons are more likely to perform extended LND, reflecting a correlation between their growing experience and increased comfort with advanced vascular dissection.

Computed tomography based renal parenchyma volume measurements prior to renal tumor surgery are predictive of postoperative renal function.

INTRODUCTION: To determine whether preoperative computed tomography (CT) based renal parenchymal volume (RPV) measurements would be predictive of postoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2005 to 2010, 189 patients with preoperative CT imaging performed at Emory University Hospital underwent renal tumor surgery. Preoperative and postoperative renal function was determined by estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using standard Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations. Preoperative CT measured RPV was calculated to determine association of predicted preserved renal parenchyma with postoperative renal function and the development of CKD (GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RESULTS: For the entire cohort, radical nephrectomy (RN), lower preoperative GFR, and volume of kidney without tumor were associated with the development of CKD (p = < 0.05). If the non-tumor bearing kidney constituted ≥ 50% of the total bilateral preoperative RPV, then risks of developing CKD were decreased. In patients treated with partial nephrectomy (PN) or ablation, total bilateral preoperative RPV measurements predicted postoperative renal function (CKD ≥ 3 versus CKD < 3) to a significant degree (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CT based RPV measurements are independently associated with the development of CKD in patients undergoing renal tumor surgery. This provides urologists with another tool in the assessment of patients with renal tumors.

Metastatic retroperitoneal hemangiopericytoma.

Hemangiopericytomas are rare mesenchymal lesions arising from pericytes within the walls of capillaries. They often have an unpredictable course. We present a case of a large retroperitoneal hemangiopericytoma in a 65-year-old woman who initially presented with upper gastrointestinal discomfort. Following exptirpative surgery, pathology was consistent with hemangiopericytoma of low malignant potential. Widespread metastasis was discovered on follow up imaging, 17 months following surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first case report demonstrating a primary retroperitoneal hemangioperictoma with confirmed metastases.

Health related quality of life for stone formers.

PURPOSE: Urolithiasis is a common urological condition that causes significant pain and suffering. Until recently few studies had been done to examine how quality of life is affected in stone formers. We hypothesized that patients with multiple recurrent episodes of urolithiasis have worse health related quality of life. Thus, we identified specific factors that impact health related quality of life in patients with urolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an institutional review board approved study we recruited 386 patients through mailings and through the outpatient clinic who were evaluated at our institution for urolithiasis in the last 5 years. Each patient was asked to answer questionnaires on stone disease, including SF-36®, a validated 36-item health care quality of life survey. RESULTS: Of the 386 patients recruited for study 115 responded to our inquiry. Variables such as surgical complications, time from last stone episode, number of emergency room visits and number of surgeries correlated with the SF-36 domains. CONCLUSIONS: Urolithiasis is associated with severe physical and psychological effects that lead to clinically significant impairment in quality of life. Our findings confirm and expand the findings of previous groups showing the many ways in which stone formation can affect patient quality of life. Appreciation of these effects in the acute and chronic treatment settings may change the way that the disease is approached.

Treatment Patterns and Overall Survival Outcomes Among Patients Aged 80 yr or Older with High-risk Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) present a therapeutic dilemma of balancing treatment of a potentially lethal malignancy with overtreatment of a cancer that may not threaten life expectancy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate treatment patterns and overall survival outcomes in this group of patients. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. We queried the National Cancer Database for high-risk PCa in patients aged 80 yr or older diagnosed during 2004-2016. INTERVENTION: Eligible patients underwent no treatment following biopsy (ie, observation), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone, radiation therapy (RT) alone, RT + ADT, or surgery. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Kaplan-Meier, log rank, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to compare overall survival (OS). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 19 920 men were eligible for analysis, and the most common treatment approach was RT + ADT (7401 patients; 37.2%). Observation and ADT alone declined over time (59.3% in 2004 vs 47.5% in 2016). There was no observed difference in OS between observation and ADT alone (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.09; p = 0.105). Definitive local treatment was associated with improved OS compared with ADT alone (RT alone, HR 0.54, 95% CI, 0.50-0.59, p < 0.0001; ADT + RT, HR 0.48, 95% CI, 0.46-0.50, p < 0.0001; surgery, HR 0.50, 95% CI, 0.42-0.59, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrates that the use of definitive local therapy, including surgery or RT ± ADT, is increasing and is associated with a 50% reduction in overall mortality compared with observation or ADT alone. While prospective validation is warranted, elderly men with high-risk disease eligible for definitive management should be counseled on the risks, including a possible compromise in OS, with deferring definitive management. PATIENT SUMMARY: Elderly men are more often diagnosed with higher-risk prostate cancer but are less likely to receive curative treatment options than younger men. Our analysis demonstrates that for men ≥80 yr of age with high-risk prostate cancer, definitive local therapy, including surgery or radiation therapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy, is associated with a 50% reduction in overall mortality compared with observation or androgen deprivation therapy alone. We therefore recommend that life expectancy (ie, physiologic age) be taken into account, over chronologic age, and that elderly men with good life expectancy (eg, >5 yr; minimal comorbidity) should be offered definitive, life-prolonging therapy.

Same session bilateral ureteroscopy is safe and efficacious.

PURPOSE: Bilateral ureteroscopy can be done in 1 sitting, obviating the need for multiple procedures. We analyzed our experience with same session bilateral ureteroscopy to determine its safety and efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study of a 9-year period at Emory University Hospital 1,575 consecutive ureteroscopic procedures were done, of which 95 (6.0%) were done as same session bilateral ureteroscopy, thus constituting our study cohort. Bilateral procedures were performed for urolithiasis in 71 cases, urothelial carcinoma in 9, ureteral stricture in 2 and another indication in 13. Patients were followed at least 1 month postoperatively to evaluate procedural success and assess perioperative complications. RESULTS: Mean age of the 44 male and 40 female patients was 49.8 years. Multiple procedures were done in 9 patients and same session bilateral ureteroscopy was done in 93 of 95 (98%). Intraoperative and postoperative (greater than 1 month) bilateral stone-free rates were 86% and 64%, respectively. The mean change in serum creatinine postoperatively was 0.02 mg/dl (range -0.9 to 1.3). No patient had acute postoperative azotemia. Postoperative complications in 9.7% of patients included pain necessitating an emergency room visit in 4, pyelonephritis/urinary tract infection in 2, and urinary retention, intractable stent pain leading to early removal and urosepsis/death in 1 each. CONCLUSIONS: Same session bilateral ureteroscopy is efficacious and safe to evaluate and treat upper tract pathology. While most complications are minor, they may be higher than that typically reported for unilateral ureteroscopic procedures.

Acute abdominal pain: is there a potential role for MRI in the setting of the emergency department in a patient with renal calculi?

Acute flank pain is a frequent clinical presentation encountered in emergency departments, and a work-up for obstructive urolithiasis in this setting is a common indication for computed tomography (CT). However, imaging alternatives to CT for the evaluation of renal colic are warranted in some clinical situations, such as younger patients, pregnancy, patients that have undergone multiple prior CT exams and also patients with vague clinical presentations. MRI, although relatively insensitive for the direct detection of urinary calculi, has the ability to detect the secondary effects of obstructive urolithiasis. Using rapid, single shot T2-weighted sequences without and with fat saturation provides an abdominopelvic MR examination that can detect the sequelae of clinically active stone disease, in addition to alternate inflammatory processes that may mimic the symptoms of renal colic. In addition, MR nephro-urography (MRNU) has the ability to provide quantitative analysis of renal function that has the potential to direct clinical management in the setting of obstructing calculi. This review describes the potential utility and limitations of MRI in the emergency setting for diagnosing causes of flank pain and renal colic, particularly in patients with unusual presentations or when an alternative to CT may be warranted.

Estimated volume growth characteristics of renal tumors undergoing active surveillance.

INTRODUCTION: The detection rate of incidental renal masses is increasing. Historically these masses have been treated with extirpative surgery. Hence, there is little information on the growth rate, metastatic potential, and natural history of renal tumors. Through active surveillance, we study the natural history of renal masses and determine their growth rate and risk for metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2007, active surveillance was offered to select patients with renal masses with no evidence of metastasis. Based on imaging studies from the initial diagnosis to the last follow up, tumor growth rates were determined. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were studied for a total of 58 masses. Mean age of patients at diagnosis was 64.3 years. Mean Charlson comorbidity score was 5.2 (median 5, range 2-13). Mean follow up period was 22 months (median 17, range 5-121). Mean initial tumor volume was 6.6 cm3 (median 2.7, range 0.03-43.2). Mean growth rate was 1.9 cm3/yr (median 0.1, range -3.8-27.9), and 6.8% had a volume doubling time of less than 1 year. No patient developed radiographic evidence of metastasis or died during follow up. Thirteen patients (15 masses) went onto operative intervention at a mean follow up of 19 months (median 18, range 4-36); 10/15 (67%) revealed renal cell carcinoma and 5/15 (33%) were benign. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, negligible growth rates are observed in the vast majority of renal masses undergoing active surveillance, and thus, a carefully selected patient population may be safely managed with active surveillance with serial imaging.

Dynamic Evaluation of the Modified Glasgow Prognostic Scale in Patients With Resected, Localized Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between dynamic changes in the modified Glasgow Prognostic Scale (mGPS) and postnephrectomy survival among localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who underwent nephrectomy for localized ccRCC with preoperative mGPS = 0 from 2005 to 2018. The primary exposure of interest was ΔmGPS between 2 points - 60 days prior to surgery and 1 year after surgery. We assessed the relationship between ΔmGPS and survival outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to determine survival estimates and Cox proportional hazards models were fit to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Multivariable models were constructed using both ΔmGPS and clinical variables known to be associated with differences in survival. RESULTS: We identified 313 patients for our analytic cohort with a median follow-up time of 20.2 months. Thirty-seven (11.9%) patients died and 39 (12.54%) showed recurrence during follow-up. Two hundred sixty-three (84.6%) patients had unchanged mGPS before and after surgery, while 48 (15.4%) patients showed an increase in postoperative mGPS from preoperative mGPS. Compared to patients with unchanged mGPS, patients with a higher postoperative mGPS had an increased risk of death (HR = 3.05 [1.39-6.68], P = .005) and recurrence (HR = 2.98 [1.34-6.64], P = .008). CONCLUSION: Patients with an increase in mGPS following nephrectomy for ccRCC were more likely to die and experience cancer recurrence. Assessing dynamic changes in this cheap, validated, and reproducible test may be useful in identifying patients at higher risk for more aggressive disease or for counseling patients regarding risk of cancer recurrence.

Overall survival comparison between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) vs ADT plus EBRT with brachytherapy boost in clinically node-positive prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Optimal therapy for clinically node-positive, nonmetastatic (cN1) prostate cancer (PC) patients remains controversial, ranging from aggressive local therapy to palliative systematic therapy alone. Despite guideline support, it is unclear if a brachytherapy (BT) boost should be considered for cN1 patients as these patients were excluded from randomized trials establishing its benefit. Herein, we compare definitive radiation therapy (RT) with or without a BT boost in cN1 PC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify men with cN1 PC treated with definitive RT and concomitant androgen deprivation therapy between 2004 and 2013. Overall survival (OS) was compared between those who received external beam RT (EBRT) or combination EBRT plus BT boost (EBRT + BT) using Kaplan-Meier with propensity score matching and Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: With a median followup of 48.5 months, 1,650 patients were eligible for this analysis, 103 (6.2%) of whom received EBRT + BT. Younger age, no medical comorbidities, and Gleason score of six were associated with higher likelihood of receiving EBRT + BT over EBRT alone. The mean (median) OS for EBRT and EBRT + BT was 99.0 (110.6) months vs 109.2 (not reached) months, respectively (p = 0.048). However, no significance difference in OS was observed between the groups after propensity score matching. On multivariable analysis, EBRT + BT was not significantly associated with improved OS (adjusted HR 0.67, 95% CI, 0.41-1.07, p = 0.098). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective, observational study of patients with cN1 PC treated with definitive RT and concomitant androgen deprivation therapy, EBRT + BT had an unadjusted improvement in OS compared with EBRT alone that lost statistical significance after multivariable adjustment and propensity score matching.