Boaz Moskovitz

BONE ANCHORED SLING FOR THE TREATMENT OF POST-PROSTATECTOMY INCONTINENCE

PURPOSE This ongoing study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a new minimally invasive sling procedure for treating post-prostatectomy incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 16 men 56 to 74 years old (mean age 67) underwent the procedure using the Straight-In bone anchoring system. Time after prostatectomy was 1.5 to 5 years (mean 2.5). Of the 16 patients 14 had urodynamically confirmed stress urinary incontinence, while 2 had mixed incontinence with stress incontinence and detrusor instability. The procedure is performed with the patient in the lithotomy position using a perineal approach. Four miniature bone screws with pre-attached pairs of No. 1 polypropylene sutures are placed directly into the medial aspect of the inferior rami of the pubic bone. A pair of bone anchors is placed just below the symphysis on each side, and the second pair is inserted 3 to 4 cm. lower. To support the bulbar urethra a gelatin coated polyethylene terephthalate trapezoid shaped sling or cadaveric fascia lata is tied to the pubic bone using the 4 pairs of sutures attached to the bone anchors. Urethral resistance is increased to 30 to 50 cm. water above baseline pressure. RESULTS Followup was 4 to 20 months (mean 12.2). Of the 14 men with the preoperative urodynamic diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence 12 were cured of incontinence, defined as subjectively dry with no or only 1 pad used daily for security without any episode of leakage, while 2 were improved subjectively with a decrease of 50% or more in pads daily. Two other patients with the preoperative diagnosis of mixed urinary incontinence were improved. Postoperatively urodynamic study in these patients revealed resolved stress incontinence but persistent urge urinary incontinence. They responded to anticholinergics and are completely dry. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were minimal with no erosion, infection or osseous complications. CONCLUSIONS This new minimally invasive male sling procedure is safe and efficacious. Adjusting sling tension by measuring urethral resistance results in a low rate of over correction and failure. Further experience is needed to establish this procedure as treatment for post-prostatectomy incontinence.

Clinical Significance of Tumor Angiogenesis in Patients with Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between angiogenesis and various histopathologic features as well as clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS Microvessel density was quantified by using immunocytochemical staining of endothelial cells for factor VIII-related antigen of 36 specimens taken from patients with pathologic Stage pT1 or pT2 RCC. All patients underwent radical nephrectomy and were followed for a mean time of 97.3 months. RESULTS No association was noted between microvessel count (MVC) and either cell type, architecture, or tumor size. Inverse correlation was noted between MVC and nuclear area (P = 0.006), nuclear elipticity (P = 0.016), nuclear roughness (P = 0.039), and histologic grade (P = 0.047). Patients having tumors with low MVC had significantly better survival rate compared with those with high MVC neoplasms (P = 0.0014, by Cox proportional hazards method). CONCLUSIONS Despite lack of correlation with known predictors of survival, MVC provides independent prognostic information for patients with localized RCC.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation-induced haemorrhagic cystitis

To assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) for treating haemorrhagic cystitis.

Cancer of the Prostate: Is There a Need for Aggressive Treatment?

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate constitutes 18 % of all cancers in men, and is a major cause of neoplastic death second only to carcinoma of lungs and large bowel. In spite of the high incidence of the disease, there is still disagreement as to the right treatment. In our study we reviewed 101 patients in stages T0b, T1 + T2, T3 (N₀M₀) who were treated by nonradical prostatectomy and no other treatment. The follow-up of these patients was 58 months. The actuarial 5- and 10-year survival according to stage was respectively: 91.30 and 64.62% in stage T0b; 60.61 and 34.11 % in stage T1 + T2, and 41.67% in stage T3. Survival rates resembled those quoted in the literature. Our results justify a less aggressive approch to carcinoma of the prostate.

The impact of tumor size on clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma treated by radical nephrectomy

PURPOSE We investigated the influence of tumor size on clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma treated with radical nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed retrospectively the records of 54 patients with pathological T1, T2 renal cell carcinoma for age, sex, histological grade, cell type, architecture, deoxyribonucleic acid ploidy pattern, nuclear morphometry and vimentin expression. Variables found to predict outcome were correlated with tumor size, which was further tested for its prognostic value. RESULTS The best predictors of prognosis were grade, ploidy pattern, nuclear morphometry and vimentin expression. Small (less than 5 cm.) and large (larger than 5 cm.) tumors had similar distribution of prognostic variable subgroups. No differences in progression rate or survival were noted between the tumor size categories. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that small renal tumors may follow unfavorable courses and require aggressive treatment.

Intravesical mitomycin C combined with hyperthermia for patients with T1G3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

OBJECTIVES Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) classified as T1G3 represents one of the most challenging issues in urologic oncology. Although it is still considered a lesion amenable for conservative management, the risk for recurrence and progression remains high. The aim of this study was to define both recurrence and progression rate in patients with T1G3 UCC treated by complete transurethral resection (TURT) and adjuvant thermochemotherapy approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data of patients with T1G3 NMIBC who underwent TURT followed by thermochemotherapy (TCT) treatment. Data recorded included age, gender, previous resections, previous intravesical treatment, time to tumor recurrence, and progression. TCT was given once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks, followed by 6 maintenance sessions at 4 to 6 weeks intervals. During each treatment session, 40 mg of mitomycin C (MMC) was instilled into the bladder in combination with bladder wall hyperthermia of 42 ± 2 °C for 60 minutes. Follow-up cystoscopy and urinary cytology were performed every 3 months for the first 2 years and than biannually. RESULTS A total of 56 T1G3 patients were treated with adjuvant TCT treatment at 7 urologic centers. Mean age was 68 years (range 35-91), 10 were females and 46 were males. Twenty-six patients failed on at least 1 previous intravesical treatment. Five patients who dropped out due to adverse events before reaching the first outcome evaluation cystoscopy were referred to another intravesical therapy, and were therefore excluded from the current analysis. A total 51 patients were available for analysis. Median follow-up time of tumor-free patients was 18 months (average 20, range 2-49 months). Seventeen patients (33.3%) had tumor recurrence and 4 of them progressed to muscle invasive disease. The median time to recurrence was 9 months (average 11, range 2-31 months). The Kaplan-Meier estimated recurrence rate for this group is: 42.9% at 2 years, 51.0% at 4 years. CONCLUSIONS TCT can be an effective adjuvant treatment option after TURT to prevent recurrence in patients with T1G3 NMIBC. Progression rate after this treatment was low (7.9%). TCT treatment was documented to be effective also in those who failed previous intravesical BCG. Treatment was confirmed to be safe and well tolerated.

Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Intravesical Chemohyperthermia with Mitomycin C Versus Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for Adjuvant Treatment of Patients with Intermediate- and High-risk Non–Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND Despite adjuvant intravesical therapy, recurrences in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are still high; therefore, new treatment options are needed. The use of chemohyperthermia (CHT) as an alternative treatment is expanding in Europe. To date, however, there has been a lack of prospective randomised data. OBJECTIVE To compare CHT using mitomycin C (MMC) with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as adjuvant treatment for intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Between 2002 and 2012, 190 NMIBC patients were randomised in this controlled, open-label, multicentre trial for 1-yr CHT (six weekly treatments and six maintenance treatments) and 1-yr BCG immunotherapy (six weekly treatments and three weekly maintenance treatments at months 3, 6, and 12). Patients and physicians giving the interventions were aware of assignment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00384891). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The primary end point was 24-mo recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses in all papillary NMIBC patients (n=147). Analyses were done with the log-rank test and Fisher exact test. All tests were two-sided. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS The 24-mo ITT RFS was 78.1% in the CHT group compared with 64.8% in the BCG group (p=0.08). The 24-mo RFS in the PP analysis was 81.8% in the CHT group compared with 64.8% in the BCG group (p=0.02). Progression rates were <2% in both groups. Regarding the side-effects, no new safety concerns were identified. A concern is that this study closed prematurely and thus is underpowered. Furthermore, blinding of treatment for patients and physicians was impossible; this may have resulted in unavoidable bias. CONCLUSIONS CHT is a safe and effective treatment option in patients with intermediate- and high-risk papillary NMIBC. A significantly higher 24-mo RFS in the CHT group was seen in the PP analysis. Based on the results above, CHT is an option for BCG therapy as adjuvant treatment for intermediate- and high-risk papillary NMIBC. PATIENT SUMMARY Recurrences in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer are common, despite adjuvant therapies. We compared 24-mo recurrence-free survival (RFS) with chemohyperthermia (CHT) versus bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. According to these data, CHT therapy appears to be safe and has higher 24-mo RFS than BCG therapy.

An operation for incisional lumbar hernia.

To date, no standard technique for incisional lumbar hernia repair can be recommended since it depends on the size of the defect in the transversalis fascia. A new technique for this purpose, by using plication of the normal fascia, is described.

The Value of Quantitative 99MTechnetium Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Renal Scintigraphy For Predicting Postoperative Renal Insufficiency In Patients Undergoing Nephrectomy

PURPOSE Radical nephrectomy is a routine urological practice. However, little is known about the use of dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) scan to evaluate compensatory changes after surgery and its ability to identify patient at risk for postoperative chronic renal failure or insufficiency. We predicted remaining kidney function using DMSA scan and serum creatinine. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 42 patients were enrolled in the study. All underwent DMSA scan before surgery and in 38 DMSA scan was done after unilateral nephrectomy. Serum creatinine was determined before and 1 year after surgery. The Student t test was used to determine statistical significance. Spearman rank core analysis was used to evaluate the association of calculated creatinine clearance time after surgery and renal absolute uptake before surgery. We performed 1-way ANOVA comparison of the means to determine the influence of age distribution on kidney hypertrophy and the increase in kidney uptake. RESULTS Average patient age was 61.5 years. Baseline mean creatinine clearance time was 71.5 ml. per minute, which decreased to 58.6 ml. per minute after nephrectomy (p <0.0001). Before surgery DMSA scan of the remaining kidney demonstrated an absolute uptake of 4.2% higher than that in the resected kidney (13.5% versus 9.35%, p = 0.0008). After nephrectomy the remaining kidney had an average increase of 3.9% of mean absolute uptake (17.7% versus 13.8%, p = 0.0001). Spearman rank core analysis demonstrated an association of higher preoperative absolute uptake in the remaining kidney with postoperatively high creatinine clearance time (r = 0.458, p = 0.003). Furthermore, 75% of patients with postoperative creatinine clearance time less than 40 ml. per minute presented with a preoperative absolute uptake of lower than 11% in the remaining kidney. In contrast, 75% of those with a postoperative creatinine clearance time of higher than 40 ml. per minute had a preoperative absolute uptake of higher than 11%. CONCLUSIONS A preoperative absolute uptake of lower than 11% in the remaining kidney was a significant risk factor for postoperative chronic renal insufficiency.

How accurate is helical CT volumetric assessment in renal tumors

Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of tumor size measurement on CT studies of renal tumors. Sixteen patients with tumors of the kidneys were imaged by helical CT prior to surgery. Assessment of tumor volume was made by two radiologists on the CT images with the summation of area method, then compared with the resected specimen water displacement volume. Intra- and interobserver agreement for CT measurements were also assessed. There were substantial differences between the CT volume measurement compared with the tumor post-operative volume (mean of differences 30.05±91.6, 95%CI: 31.45–91.55). The inter- and intraobservation agreements for tumor measurement by CT was found to be satisfactory (ANOVA: p<0.0001; t-test: p<0.05). The CT volumetric measurement by area summation is a method with good inter- and intraexamination reproducibility but not an accurate technique for tumor volume assessment.