Novel clinical diagnostic criteria based on noninvasive examination findings to predict the presence of urodynamic detrusor underactivity in men.

AIMS: To investigate the usefulness of novel clinical diagnostic criteria based on noninvasive examination findings to diagnose urodynamic detrusor underactivity (DU) in men. METHODS: We developed clinical diagnostic criteria to predict the presence of urodynamic DU in men as follows: (a) bladder voiding efficiency <70% on uroflowmetry, (b) existence of "sawtooth and interrupted waveforms" on uroflowmetry, and (c) ultrasonography-documented intravesical prostatic protrusion <10 mm. We analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of these clinical criteria for diagnosing urodynamic DU in men aged 50 years or above with lower urinary tract symptoms who underwent urodynamic studies. RESULTS: Of the 314 men analyzed (mean age, 72.4 years; mean detrusor contraction index [DCI], 98.8; and mean bladder outlet obstruction index [BOOI], 43.9), 89 men met this clinical DU diagnostic criteria. Of these, 79 men (88.8%) had urodynamic DU (DCI < 100 and BOOI < 40), nine (10.1%) had DU + BOO (DCI < 100 and BOOI ≥ 40), and one (1.1%) had normal voiding functions. None of the men with urodynamic BOO (DCI ≥ 100 and BOOI ≥ 40) met the clinical DU diagnostic criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of these clinical diagnostic criteria for urodynamic DU were 69.3%, 95.0%, 88.8%, and 84.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed clinical DU diagnostic criteria showed a high PPV (88.8%) for diagnosing urodynamic DU. None of the patients with BOO met the clinical diagnostic criteria for DU. These clinical DU diagnostic criteria may be useful in identifying men with urodynamic DU in clinical practice.

Recent insights on the clinical, pathological, and molecular features of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate.

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, a unique histopathologic entity that is often observed (especially in advanced prostate cancer), is characterized by the proliferation of malignant cells within normal acini or ducts surrounded by a basement membrane. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is almost invariably associated with an adjacent high-grade carcinoma and is occasionally observed as an isolated subtype. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate has been demonstrated to be an independent poor prognostic factor for all stages of cancer, whether localized, de novo metastatic, or castration-resistant. It also has a characteristic genetic profile, including high genomic instability. Recognizing and differentiating it from other pathologies is therefore important in patient management, and morphological diagnostic criteria for intraductal carcinoma of the prostate have been established. This review summarizes and outlines the clinical and pathological features, differential diagnosis, molecular aspects, and management of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, as described in previous studies. We also present a discussion and future perspectives regarding intraductal carcinoma of the prostate.

Two types of detrusor underactivity in men with nonneurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms.

AIMS: To clarify the clinical features of men with nonneurogenic detrusor underactivity (DU) by focusing on storage dysfunction (SD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and urodynamic data of men with nonneurogenic DU. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of SD, such as detrusor overactivity (DO) and reduced bladder compliance (BC). Patient characteristics, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and urodynamic parameters were compared. DU was defined as bladder contractility index (BCI) ≤ 100 and bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) ≤ 40. RESULTS: Of 212 men with DU, 123 (58.0%) had concomitant SD (SD + DU group), and 89 (42.0%) had only DU (DU-only group). Age, prostate volume, and severity of storage symptoms were significantly higher in the SD + DU group. Particularly, >80% of men in the SD + DU group met the diagnostic criteria for overactive bladder in Japan, which was significantly higher than the 26% of men in the DU-only group. The frequency of urinary urgency incontinence (UUI) was also significantly higher in the SD + DU group (65% vs. 12% in DU-only group). In contrast, voiding symptoms, including straining, were more severe in the DU-only group. Regarding the urodynamic parameters, compared to the DU-only group, bladder capacity was significantly smaller and BOOI and BCI were significantly higher in the SD + DU group. However, there was no significant difference in the maximum flow rate and bladder voiding efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 60% of men with DU had SD, such as DO and/or reduced BC, whereas the remaining 40% had increased bladder capacity without an increase in detrusor pressure during the storage phase. There were significant differences in the storage and voiding symptoms between the groups. It is important to divide patients with DU based on SD to accurately clarify the clinical picture of DU.

Urodynamic risk factors of asymptomatic bacteriuria in men with non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in middle-aged and older men with non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and clarify urodynamic factors related to the presence of ASB. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of men with LUTS who underwent urine culture examination, LUTS severity assessment, and urodynamic studies. The patients were allocated into two groups (the ASB + LUTS and LUTS-only) according to presence or absence of ASB. The patients' characteristics and urodynamic factors related to the development of ASB were assessed using univariate, binomial logistic regression, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. RESULTS: Of 440 men, 93 (21.1%) had ASB. Parameters related to voiding functions, such as maximum flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, bladder voiding efficiency (BVE), and bladder contractility index (BCI), were significantly reduced in the ASB + LUTS group, while bladder outlet obstruction index was not different between the groups. Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of diabetes, lower BCI, and lower BVE were significantly associated with the presence of ASB. In addition, ROC analysis identified 55% as the optimal cutoff value of BVE for the presence of ASB, with a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 83%. CONCLUSIONS: ASB was found in > 20% of men with non-neurogenic LUTS and was associated with decreased bladder contractility and decreased BVE. BVE could predict presence of ASB with high sensitivity and specificity.

Clinical features and urodynamic findings in elderly men with chronic prostatitis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the complication rate of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men with lower urinary tract symptoms, and to clarify their clinical features and urodynamic findings. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of treatment-naïve men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Patients were divided into two groups (chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome + lower urinary tract symptoms and lower urinary tract symptoms only) according to the presence or absence of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and the patient characteristics as well as the parameters of lower urinary tract symptoms and lower urinary tract function assessed by urodynamics were compared. The diagnostic criteria for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome included a complaint of pelvic pain for ≥3 months, National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index pain subscore ≥4, and negative culture of a urine specimen collected after prostate massage. RESULTS: Out of 386 men, 123 (31.9%) had chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Parameters of lower urinary tract symptoms and National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index scores were significantly higher in the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome + lower urinary tract symptoms group. Although there were no significant intergroup differences in voiding parameters such as maximum flow rate and bladder outlet obstruction index, storage functions such as the incidence of detrusor overactivity and bladder compliance were significantly reduced in the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome + lower urinary tract symptoms group. The multivariable regression analysis revealed that a low serum total testosterone level (<3.5 ng/mL), complications of hyperlipidemia, and presence of overactive bladder and detrusor overactivity were significantly associated with the development of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic prostatitis causes a significant decrease in storage function, such as an increase in detrusor overactivity. Additionally, low serum testosterone levels and hyperlipidemia were found to be significantly associated with the development of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Effects of tadalafil on storage and voiding function in patients with male lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A urodynamic-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of tadalafil on storage and voiding function in treatment-naïve patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia, based on a urodynamic study. METHODS: This was an open-labeled, single-center, prospective study. A total of 80 untreated outpatients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia received tadalafil 5 mg/day for 12 weeks. Subjective symptoms and objective findings on voiding and storage function obtained through urodynamic studies, including cystometry and pressure flow study, were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients with a mean age of 70.2 years and a mean prostate volume of 45.6 mL were included in the analysis. In the International Prostate Symptom Score and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, mean total scores significantly improved from 18.2 to 13.4 (P < 0.001) and 6.5 to 4.7 (P < 0.001), respectively, after treatment. Mean maximum bladder capacity significantly increased by approximately 35 mL (P < 0.001). Detrusor overactivity disappeared in 15 (39.5%) of 38 patients with detrusor overactivity at baseline (P < 0.001). Mean maximum flow rate on pressure flow study significantly increased from 7.1 to 9.1 mL/s (P < 0.001) and mean bladder outlet obstruction index significantly decreased from 61.3 to 47.1 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with tadalafil 5 mg once daily effectively relieves lower urinary tract symptoms based on objective improvement of storage and voiding function, such as detrusor overactivity and bladder outlet obstruction, in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Treatment escalation and de-escalation of de-novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors combined with androgen deprivation therapy have become the standard of care for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), regardless of tumor volume or risk. However, survival of approximately one-third of these patients has not improved, necessitating further treatment escalation. On the other hand, for patients with oligometastatic mCSPC, there is an emerging role for local radiation therapy. Although data remain scarce, it is expected that treatment of both primary tumor as well as metastasis-directed therapy may improve survival outcomes. In these patients, systemic therapy may be de-escalated to intermittent therapy. However, precise risk stratification is necessary for risk-based treatment escalation or de-escalation. In addition to risk stratification based on clinical parameters, research has been conducted to incorporate genomic and/or transcriptomic data into risk stratification. In future, an integrated risk model is expected to precisely stratify patients and guide treatment strategies. Here, we first review the transition of the standard treatment for mCSPC over the last decade and further discuss the newest concept of escalating or de-escalating treatment using a multi-modal approach based on the currently available literature.

A case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the bladder treated by combination therapy of surgery, local radiation, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the bladder is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. We present the case of an 81-year-old woman complaining of bladder irritation. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a bulky bladder tumor, which was diagnosed as cT4aN0M0. A transurethral resection of the bladder tumor revealed pT2 or higher urothelial carcinoma. The patient underwent total cystectomy with an ileal conduit diversion. Histological examination revealed a primary undifferentiated bladder carcinoma with a sarcoma component, pT3aN0M0. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus carboplatin was administered. However, this regimen was discontinued after one course due to significant myelosuppression. Four months after total cystectomy, a pelvic tumor with suspected local recurrence was detected on CT. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent undifferentiated carcinoma with a sarcoma component by a transperineal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Local radiation therapy and immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors were prescribed. After three courses of immunotherapy with pembrolizumab, the primary tumor disappeared. Upon continuing immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment, the patient has maintained a complete response without tumor recurrence in the following six months.

Comparison of the Uroflowmetry Parameter Results Between Transgender Males Undergoing Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy and Age-Matched Cisgender Females: Preliminary Data.

Purpose: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT) using testosterone is administered to transgender males. Although various effects caused by hormonal therapy have been reported, those on lower urinary tract function have remained unclear. The present study compared the uroflowmetry (UFM) parameter results between transgender males and age-matched cisgender females. Methods: A total of 26 transgender males who received GHT for longer than 1 year and the same number of age-matched cisgender females were enrolled. The UFM parameter results and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) were compared between groups. Results: The median age at enrollment was 31.5 years, and the median duration of hormonal therapy was 2.7 years. There was no significant difference in the maximum flow rate or average flow rate between groups, whereas the mean voided volume (VV) (370±168 vs. 252±73 mL, p<0.001) and PVR (57.3±39.5 vs. 19.4±30.5 mL, p<0.001) were significantly greater in the transgender male group than those in the cisgender female group. Conclusion: The VV on UFM and postvoided residual urine volume in the transgender males who received GHT for >1 year were significantly increased compared with age-matched cisgender females.

[PRIMARY PROSTATIC RHABDOMYOSARCOMA WITH REPEATING CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE FROM BRAIN METASTASES IN AN ADULT: A CASE REPORT].

A 28-year-old man visited a nearby doctor with a chief complaint of hematospermia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor 12-cm in diameter in his pelvis and he was introduced to our hospital. The tumor had replaced the prostate and infiltrated the rectum. He already had multiple lung, pelvic lymph, and bone metastases. He was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma based on pathological findings after needle tumor biopsy. His disease was stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma according to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study, and he received a VAC (vincristine, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy regimen. Despite a partial response with 44% shrinkage in tumor diameter after seven cycles of chemotherapy, he experienced cerebral hemorrhage from small brain metastases during preparation for the eighth course. During gamma knife planning, the cerebral hemorrhage from small brain metastases repeated four times. The patient died 8 months after the introduction of chemotherapy.

[A CASE WITH LATE RECURRENCE OF EXTRAGONADAL GERM CELL TUMOR].

A 61-year-old man had undergone resection of teratoma with a histological component of seminoma occurring in the anterior mediastinum at 26 years of age in 1978, followed by radiation treatment to the resected area. He had a recurrence tumor in the left retroperitoneum 2 years later, which was resected combined with left nephrectomy and was proved to be the same pathology as the initial tumor. At 36 years after the initial treatment, the tumor recurred in the right lung. Although he underwent surgical treatment after chemotherapy, he died due to the tumor recurrence 16 months later.