Arjun Sivaraman

Transperineal Template-guided Mapping Biopsy of the Prostate

This chapter presents the role of transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy (TTMB) in determining management strategy in patients with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa). TTMB is an effective procedure for detecting PCa in patients who have had previous negative biopsies and a high suspicion of cancer. TTMB shows prostate cancer in one-third of such patients. TTMB is also used to help select patients for prostate cancer management. The Transatlantic Consensus Group on Active Surveillance and Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer recommends emerging detecting tools such as new imaging techniques and transperineal mapping biopsies to improve prostate cancer management.

Transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy of the prostate: Transperineal mapping biopsy of prostate

Accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer has eluded clinicians for decades. With our current understanding of prostate cancer, urologists should devise and confidently present the available treatment options – active surveillance/radical treatment/focal therapy to these patients. The diagnostic modalities used for prostate cancer have the dual problem of false negativity and overdiagnosis. Various modifications in the prostate biopsy techniques have increased the accuracy of cancer detection, but we are still far from an ideal diagnostic technique. Transperineal template‐guided mapping biopsy of the prostate is an exhaustive biopsy technique that has been improvised over the past decade, and has shown superior results to other available modalities. We have carried out a PubMed search on the available experiences on this diagnostic modality, and along with our own experiences, we present a brief review on transperineal template‐guided mapping biopsy of the prostate.

Patient selection for prostate focal therapy in the era of active surveillance: an International Delphi Consensus Project

Background:Whole-gland extirpation or irradiation is considered the gold standard for curative oncological treatment for localized prostate cancer, but is often associated with sexual and urinary impairment that adversely affects quality of life. This has led to increased interest in developing therapies with effective cancer control but less morbidity. We aimed to provide details of physician consensus on patient selection for prostate focal therapy (FT) in the era of contemporary prostate cancer management.Methods:We undertook a four-stage Delphi consensus project among a panel of 47 international experts in prostate FT. Data on three main domains (role of biopsy/imaging, disease and patient factors) were collected in three iterative rounds of online questionnaires and feedback. Consensus was defined as agreement in ⩾80% of physicians. Finally, an in-person meeting was attended by a core group of 16 experts to review the data and formulate the consensus statement.Results:Consensus was obtained in 16 of 18 subdomains. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a standard imaging tool for patient selection for FT. In the presence of an mpMRI-suspicious lesion, histological confirmation is necessary prior to FT. In addition, systematic biopsy remains necessary to assess mpMRI-negative areas. However, adequate criteria for systematic biopsy remains indeterminate. FT can be recommended in D’Amico low-/intermediate-risk cancer including Gleason 4+3. Gleason 3+4 cancer, where localized, discrete and of favorable size represents the ideal case for FT. Tumor foci <1.5 ml on mpMRI or <20% of the prostate are suitable for FT, or up to 3 ml or 25% if localized to one hemi-gland. Gleason 3+3 at one core 1mm is acceptable in the untreated area. Preservation of sexual function is an important goal, but lack of erectile function should not exclude a patient from FT.Conclusions:This consensus provides a contemporary insight into expert opinion of patient selection for FT of clinically localized prostate cancer.

What is next in robotic urology

The application of robotic technology in surgical practice was developed during the past three decades, but its clinical application has made a significant impact during the last 10 years. Urologists have embraced surgical robots throughout their evolution, and robot-assisted urologic surgeries have matured into everyday clinical practice in many parts of the world. Long-term data from robot-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP), an early robotic urologic surgery, has shown that the results are comparable to contemporary open radical prostatectomy (ORP) cohorts. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is largely restricted to high-volume academic centers; comparative studies have demonstrated significant advantages in favor of RAPN over laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) to achieve adequate warm ischemia time, surgical margins free of cancer cells, and no peri-operative complications. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy shows results that are comparable to contemporary open radical cystectomy. Several authors have reported the feasibility of robotic intracorporeal urinary diversion. The available long-term outcomes of robot-assisted urological surgeries are comparable to conventional open surgical methods and are associated with fewer complications. Surgical robots continue to evolve, and robotic engineers alongside surgeons strive hard to synthesize and evaluate novel robotic platforms, downsize hardware, and develop flexible instruments and newer technologies. Robotic applications available at this point represent the infancy of this technology. Future developments in robotics are profoundly limited to human imagination and can potentially scale to unimaginable heights. We would expect robots coupled with imaging and energies, aiming to provide accurate and reliable treatments which will be finely targeted by biogenetic information.

Clinical utility of transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy of the prostate after negative magnetic resonance imaging−guided transrectal biopsy

PURPOSE We evaluated the prostate cancer detection with transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy in patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen and negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Totally 75 patients underwent transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy for prior negative MRI-guided (cognitive registration) biopsy during April 2013 to August 2014. Primary objective was to report clinically significant cancer detection in this cohort of patients. Significant cancer was defined using varying thresholds of MCL or Gleason grade 3+4 or greater or both. Cancers with more than 80% of positive core length anterior to the level of urethra were termed anterior zone cancer. Secondary objective was to evaluate the potential clinical and radiological predictors for significant cancer detection. RESULTS The mean age was 61.6 ± 6.5 years and median prostate-specific antigen was 10.4 ng/dl (7.9-18) with a mean MRI target size of 7.2mm (4-11). Transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy identified cancer in 36% (27/75) patients and 66.6% (18/27) of them were anterior zone cancers. The rates of detection of clinically significant and insignificant cancer according to the several definitions used range from 22.7% to 30.7% and 5.3% to 13.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis did not identify any predictors for finding clinically significant and anterior cancers in this group of patients. CONCLUSION Transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy appears to be an excellent biopsy protocol for downstream management following negative MRI-guided biopsy. Most of the cancers detected were predominantly anterior tumors.

Superficial Implantation of the I-Stop TOMS Transobturator Sling in the Treatment of Postprostatectomy Urinary Incontinence: Description of a Novel Technique and 1-Year Outcomes

INTRODUCTION To describe a new technique for superficial implantation of the I-Stop TOMS transobturator sling and present the clinical outcomes on patients treated for mild to moderate urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS We evaluated the four-arm sub urethral sling I-Stop TOMS performed in our institution between March 2012 and March 2015 using a superficial implantation technique. After a small incision, the perineal aponeurosis was incised but no muscle dissection was performed. Inclusion criteria for sling procedure used in the study was mild (1-2 pads/day) to moderate (3-5 pads/day) postprostatectomy incontinence and at least 12 months after radical prostatectomy. Improvement was defined as the patient having 50% reduction in the number of pads and success as patient either not wearing pads or using one security pad. The primary objective was to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving continence after the modified sling implantation technique at 12 months after surgery. Fifty-two patients underwent our new technique and 34 had completed 12 months follow-up. The procedure was successful for 28 patients (82.4%). There was an improvement in 25 patients (73.5%). Pad use at 12 months had decreased significantly compared with baseline (mean 0.7 vs 2.2, P  <  .00001). The complications were rare and the procedure was well tolerated as shown by median visual analogic scale of 1.5 (interquartile range, 2 to 1). CONCLUSION This novel approach for insertion of the transobturator I-Stop TOMS male sling is a quick, simple, and well-tolerated procedure with low complication rate, allowing a significant improvement in postprostatectomy incontinence.

Are all grade group 4 prostate cancers created equal? Implications for the applicability of the novel grade grouping

BACKGROUND According to the novel prostate cancer (PCa) grade grouping, men with Gleason score 8 should be included in the grade group 4 regardless of primary and secondary scores. We aimed at evaluating the effect of Gleason patterns on the risk of recurrence in men with grade group 4 PCa. PATIENTS AND METHODS Overall, 1,089 patients treated with radical prostatectomy with grade group 4 PCa at final pathology were identified. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as 2 consecutive prostate-specific antigen values≥0.2ng/ml and rising. Clinical recurrence (CR) was defined as positive imaging after BCR. Kaplan-Meier analyses assessed time to BCR and CR. Multivariable Cox regression analyses assessed the impact of Gleason patterns on the risk of BCR and CR. RESULTS Overall, 295 (27.1%), 651 (59.8%), and 143 (13.1%) patients had pathologic Gleason pattern 3+5, 4+4, and 5+3. Overall, 435 (39.9%) patients had positive margins and 439 (30.2%), 300 (27.5%), 350 (32.1%), and 216 (19.8%) had pT2, pT3a, pT3b/4, and pN1 disease. Median follow-up was 83 months. Overall, 536 and 221 patients experienced BCR and CR. The 10-year BCR- and CR-free survival rates were 42.9% and 67.5% vs. 38.3% and 59.7% vs. 40.6% and 50.4% for patients with pathologic Gleason pattern 3+5 vs. 4+4 vs. 5+3, respectively (all P≤0.005). In multivariable analyses, patients with Gleason pattern 3+5 were at lower risk of BCR compared to those with 4+4 (P = 0.002). Men with Gleason pattern 3+5 were at lower risk of CR compared to those with 4+4 and 5+3 (all P≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patients with a primary Gleason score 3 are at reduced risk of recurrence as compared to their counterparts with 4 or 5. Primary and secondary Gleason scores should be considered to stratify the risk of recurrence after surgery in patients with grade group 4 PCa.

Recovery of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy

ABSTRACT Introduction: In the era of minimally-invasive surgery, urinary incontinence (UI) after radical prostatectomy (RP) still represents a troublesome issue for a considerable rate of patients. Factors associated with the risk of post-RP UI, need to be carefully assessed throughout the overall clinical management process thus including the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative setting. Areas covered: This review analyses current published evidences regarding clinical and surgical aspects associated with urinary continence (UC) recovery after RP. A careful evaluation of patient’s clinical characteristics should be carried out before surgery in order to properly counsel the patients regarding the risk of UI. In the last two decades, the advent of robotic surgery has led to an overall improvement of functional outcomes after RP, thanks to the development of different surgical strategies based on either the ‘preservation’ or the ‘reconstruction’ of the anatomical elements responsible for urinary continence. Finally, several therapeutic strategies including either a conservative approach, or pharmacological and surgical treatments, should be carefully considered for the post-operative management of UI. Expert commentary: A comprehensive pre-operative patient’s clinical assessment, along with a proper and well-conducted surgical procedure and an effective post-operative care management are essential element to achieve a high probability of UC recovery.

Comparative Analysis of Partial Gland Ablation and Radical Prostatectomy to Treat Low and Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer: Oncologic and Functional Outcomes

Purpose We analyzed the oncologic and functional outcomes of partial gland ablation compared with robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy in patients with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. Materials and Methods A total of 1,883 patients underwent robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy and 373 underwent partial gland ablation from July 2009 to September 2015. We selected 1,458 of these participants for analysis, including 1,222 and 236 treated with robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy and partial gland ablation, respectively. Patients had a Gleason score of 3 + 3 or 3 + 4, clinical stage T2b or less, prostate specific antigen 15 ng/dl or less, unilateral disease and life expectancy greater than 10 years. Propensity score matching analysis (1:2) was applied in the overall robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy sample, which selected 472 patients for comparison. For partial gland ablation 188 men underwent high intensity focused ultrasound and 48 underwent cryotherapy. Oncologic outcomes were analyzed in terms of the need for salvage treatment. Partial gland ablation failure was defined as any positive control biopsy after treatment. Functional outcomes were assessed by validated questionnaires. Results Matching was successful across the 2 groups, although men treated with partial gland ablation were older (p <0.001). Mean followup in the partial gland ablation group was 38.44 months. Partial gland ablation failure was observed in 68 men (28.8%), including 53 (28.1%) treated with high intensity focused ultrasound and 15 (31.2%) treated with cryotherapy. Partial gland ablation was associated with a higher risk of salvage treatment (HR 6.06, p <0.001). Complications were comparable between the groups (p = 0.06). Robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy was associated with less continence recovery and a lower potency rate 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery (p <0.001). Conclusions In select patients with organ confined prostate cancer partial gland ablation offered good oncologic control with fewer adverse effects that required additional treatments. Potency and continence appeared to be better preserved after partial gland ablation.

Can pelvic node dissection at radical prostatectomy influence the nodal recurrence at salvage lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer

Purpose To verify the quality of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) performed at radical prostatectomy (RP) and its impact on nodal recurrence in patients undergoing salvage lymph node dissection (sLND). Materials and Methods Retrospective review of 48 patients who underwent sLND for presumed nodal recurrence, to describe the PLND characteristics at RP and correlate the anatomical sites and number of suspicious nodes reported in radiological imaging and final pathology of sLND. Results Overall, at RP, 8 (16.7%) did not undergo PLND, 32 (66.7%) and 8 (16.7%) received a “limited” (between external iliac vein and obturator nerve) and an “extended” (external iliac, hypogastric, and obturator) dissection, respectively. Median nodes removed during limited and extended dissection were 2 and 24, respectively. At sLND, the mean age was 61.3 years and median prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 1.07 ng/mL. Median nodes removed at sLND were 17 with a median of 2 positive nodes. Recurrent nodes were identified within the template of an extended PLND in 62.5%, 50.0% and 12.5% patients, respectively, following prior no, limited and extended dissection at RP. Recurrence outside the expected lymphatic drainage pathway was noted in 37.5% patients with prior extended dissection at RP. There was a correlation between imaging and pathology specimen in 83% for node location and 58.3% for number of anatomical sites involved. Conclusions In prostate cancer patients undergoing sLND, most had inadequate PLND at the original RP. Pattern of nodal recurrence may be influenced by the prior dissection and pre sLND imaging appears to underestimate the nodal recurrence.