Boyd R. Viers

Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is Associated with Advanced Pathologic Tumor Stage and Increased Cancer-specific Mortality Among Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder Undergoing Radical Cystectomy

BACKGROUND Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation that has been associated with adverse survival in a variety of malignancies. However, the relationship between NLR and oncologic outcomes following radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of preoperative NLR with clinicopathologic outcomes following RC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We identified 899 patients who underwent RC without neoadjuvant therapy at our institution between 1994 and 2005 and who had a pretreatment NLR. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Preoperative NLR (within 90 d prior to RC) was recorded. Recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of NLR with clinicopathologic outcomes. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Median postoperative follow-up was 10.9 yr (interquartile range: 8.3-13.9 yr). Higher preoperative NLR was associated with significantly increased risks of pathologic, extravesical tumor extension (odds ratio [OR]: 1.07; p=0.03) and lymph node involvement (OR: 1.09; p=0.02). Univariately, 10-yr cancer-specific survival was significantly worse among patients with a preoperative NLR (≥2.7 [51%] vs. <2.7 [64%]; p<0.001). Moreover, on multivariate analysis, increased preoperative NLR was independently associated with greater risks of disease recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04; p=0.02), death from bladder cancer (HR: 1.04; p=0.01), and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.03; p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Elevated preoperative NLR among patients undergoing RC is associated with significantly increased risk for locally advanced disease as well as subsequent disease recurrence, and cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. These data suggest that serum NLR may be a useful prognostic marker for preoperative patient risk stratification, including consideration for neoadjuvant therapy and clinical trial enrollment.

Efficiency, satisfaction, and costs for remote video visits following radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Telemedicine in an ambulatory surgical population remains incompletely evaluated. OBJECTIVE To investigate patient encounters in the outpatient setting using video visit (VV) technology compared to traditional office visits (OVs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS From June 2013 to March 2014, 55 prescreened men with a history of prostate cancer were prospectively randomized. VVs, with the patient at home or at work, were included in the outpatient clinic calendar of urologists. INTERVENTION Remote VV versus traditional OV. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS An equivalence analysis was used to assess the primary outcome, visit efficiency as measured by time studies. Secondary outcomes were patient/provider satisfaction and costs. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS There were 28 VVs and 27 OVs. VVs were equivalent in efficiency to relative to OVs, as measured by patient-provider face time (mean 14.5 vs 14.3min; p=0.96), patient wait time (18.4 vs 13.0min; p=0.20), and total time devoted to care (17.9 vs 17.8min; p=0.97). There were no significant differences in patient perception of visit confidentiality, efficiency, education quality, or overall satisfaction. VVs incurred lower costs, including distance traveled (median 0 vs 95 miles), travel time (0 vs 95min), missed work (0 vs 1 d), and money spent on travel (

The Incremental Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prostate Cancer Staging before Radical Prostatectomy

0 vs

Preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts death among patients with localized clear cell renal carcinoma undergoing nephrectomy.

48; all p<0.0001). There was a high level of urologist satisfaction for both VVs (88%) and OVs (90%). The major limitation was sample size. CONCLUSIONS VV in the ambulatory postprostatectomy setting may have a future role in health care delivery models. We found equivalent efficiency, similar satisfaction, but significantly reduced patient costs for VV compared to OV. Further prospective analyses are warranted. PATIENT SUMMARY Among men with surgically treated prostate cancer, we evaluated the utility of remote video visits compared to office visits for outpatient consultation with a urologist. Video visits were associated with equivalent efficiency, similar satisfaction, and significantly lower patient costs when compared to office visits. We conclude that video visits may have a future role in health care delivery models.

Primary Gleason Grade 4 at the Positive Margin Is Associated with Metastasis and Death Among Patients with Gleason 7 Prostate Cancer Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

In the present report we aimed to analyze the incremental value of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in addition to clinical variables and clinically-derived nomograms, in predicting outcomes radical prostatectomy (RP). All Mayo Clinic RP patients who underwent preoperative 1.5-Tesla MRI with endo-rectal coil from 2003 to 2013 were identified. Clinical and histopathological variables were used to calculate Partin estimates and Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score. MRI results in terms of extracapsular extension (ECE), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), and lymph-node invasion (N+) were recorded. Using RP pathology as gold standard, we developed multivariate logistic regression models based on clinical variables, Partin Tables, and CAPRA score, and assessed their predictive accuracy before and after the addition of MRI results. Five hundred and one patients were included. MRI + clinical models outperformed clinical-based models alone for all outcomes. Comparing Partin and Partin + MRI predictive models, the areas under the curve were 0.61 versus 0.73 for ECE, 0.75 versus 0.82 for SVI, and 0.82 versus 0.85 for N+. Comparing CAPRA and CAPRA + MRI models, the areas under the curve were 0.69 versus 0.77 for ECE, 0.75 versus 0.83 for SVI, and 0.82 versus 0.85 for N+. Our data show that MRI can improve clinical-based models in prediction of nonorgan confined disease, particularly for ECE and SVI. PATIENT SUMMARY Magnetic resonance imaging, together with clinical information, can be useful in preoperative assessment before radical prostatectomy.

Long-Term Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes among Primary and Secondary Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantations in Men with Stress Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVES The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an indicator of the systemic inflammatory response. An increased pretreatment NLR has been associated with adverse outcomes in other malignancies, but its role in localized (M0) clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. As such, we evaluated the ability of preoperative NLR to predict oncologic outcomes in patients with M0 ccRCC undergoing radical nephrectomy (RN). METHODS AND MATERIALS From 1995 to 2008, 952 patients underwent RN for M0 ccRCC. Of these, 827 (87%) had pretreatment NLR collected within 90 days before RN. Metastasis-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate models were used to analyze the association of NLR with clinicopathologic outcomes. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 9.3 years, 302, 233, and 436 patients had distant metastasis, death from ccRCC, and all-cause mortality, respectively. Higher NLR was associated with larger tumor size, higher nuclear grade, histologic tumor necrosis, and sarcomatoid differentiation (all, P < 0.001). A NLR ≥ 4.0 was significantly associated with worse 5-year cancer-specific (66% vs. 85%) and overall survival (66% vs. 85%). Finally, after controlling for clinicopathologic features, NLR remained independently associated with risks of death from ccRCC and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for 1-unit increase: 1.02, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that NLR is independently associated with increased risks of cancer-specific and all-cause mortality among patients with M0 ccRCC undergoing RN. Accordingly, NLR, an easily obtained marker of biologically aggressive ccRCC, may be useful in preoperative patient risk stratification.

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate and Perioperative Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: An Outcomes Analysis

BACKGROUND The presence of a positive surgical margin (PSM) at radical prostatectomy (RP) has been linked to an increased risk of biochemical recurrence and receipt of secondary therapy; however, its association with other oncologic end points remains controversial. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of primary Gleason grade (GG) at the site of PSM with subsequent clinical progression and mortality among patients with Gleason score (GS) 7 prostate cancer (PCa). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We identified 1036 patients who underwent RP between 1996 and 2002. A single uropathologist re-reviewed all specimens noted to have a PSM to record GG at the margin. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox models were used to analyze the association of margin primary GG with outcome. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Overall, 338 men (33%) had a PSM; of those, 242 had PSM GG3 and 96 had PSM GG4. Median postoperative follow-up was 13 yr. Compared with men with PSM GG3 or a negative SM, we noted that men with PSM GG4 had significantly worse 15-yr systemic progression-free survival (74% vs. 90% vs. 93%, respectively; p<0.001) and cancer-specific survival (86% vs. 96% vs. 97%, respectively; p=0.002). On multivariable analysis, the presence of PSM GG4 was associated with increased risks of systemic progression (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.77; p=0.003) and death from PCa (HR: 3.93; p=0.02) among men with a PSM. Limitations include the relatively small rate of disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS PSM primary GG4 was independently associated with adverse oncologic outcomes among men with GS7 PCa. Pending external validation, GG at the PSM may be considered for inclusion in pathologic reports and risk stratification following RP. PATIENT SUMMARY Among patients with Gleason grade 7 prostate cancer and a positive surgical margin at the time of prostatectomy, we found that higher Gleason grade at the margin was associated with worse oncologic outcomes.

Outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter placement in octogenarians

PURPOSE There remains a paucity of data regarding subjective and functional outcomes after artificial urinary sphincter implantation. Therefore, we evaluated long-term differences in quality of life after primary and secondary artificial urinary sphincter surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Men were invited to participate in a mail-in survey assessing artificial urinary sphincter status, patient satisfaction and urinary control. Patients with primary (467) and secondary (122) artificial urinary sphincter devices without an event were included in the study. Differences between the cohorts including quality of life (10-point scale, maximum 100) and functional outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS Overall 229 (49%) patients with primary and 49 (40%) with secondary artificial urinary sphincters completed the survey at a median of 8.3 years. Patients with primary and secondary artificial urinary sphincter devices reported similar artificial urinary sphincter quality of life (score 74 vs 74). There were no significant differences in urinary continence outcomes including use of 1 pad or less daily (56% vs 55%), frequency of leakage 1 time or more per day (81% vs 71%) or degree of minimal leakage related bother (64% vs 55%). At less than 5 vs 10 or more years there was a significant reduction in artificial urinary sphincter quality of life (86 vs 73, p=0.007). Urinary continence also declined with time, including perceived urinary control (85% vs 53%, p=0.004), minimal leakage related bother (76% vs 59%, p=0.05) and use of 1 pad or less daily (67% vs 55%, p=0.07). On univariate analysis no clinical variables, including secondary revision, were associated with satisfaction or continence outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We noted a high level of artificial urinary sphincter quality of life, acceptable urinary control and no difference in functional outcomes between men undergoing primary or secondary artificial urinary sphincter surgery. However, the time related decline in satisfaction and continence highlights the need for patient counseling regarding long-term artificial urinary sphincter functional outcomes.

Pre- and Postoperative Predictors of Infection-Related Complications in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

OBJECTIVE Our objective is to assess the outcomes of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) diagnoses undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). METHODS From 2009 to 2012, 450 patients underwent HoLEP at our institution. We performed a retrospective review of these patients to identify those with PCa. RESULTS PCa was diagnosed in 57 (12.7%) HoLEP patients: 11 (19.2%) preoperatively, 43 (75.4%) in the operative specimen, and 3 (5.4%) during follow-up. Mean time to PCa development in the postoperative group was 16 months (9-23). There was no difference in patient characteristics for those diagnosed with PCa at the time of HoLEP or in the postoperative period. There were 5 patients with a Gleason score (GS)>8 and 52 with GS<8 PCa. In the operative group, 39 (91%) elected for active surveillance and 4 (9%) elected to have cancer treatment. In subgroup analysis, men diagnosed with GS>8 intraoperatively or postoperatively had significantly elevated preoperative, postoperative, and percent change prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels when compared to patients diagnosed GS ≤ 7 (P=0.01, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). There were no complications, all voided spontaneously, and one patient had persistent incontinence. CONCLUSION HoLEP for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in selectively chosen men with known PCa can safely improve urination. Furthermore, PCa is diagnosed at the time of or post HoLEP in nearly 12% of patients. Those patients with persistently elevated post HoLEP PSA levels or low percent change PSA levels should raise suspicion for high GS PCa. Finally, HoLEP does not preclude active surveillance or treatment for PCa when appropriate.

The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity on Artificial Urinary Sphincter Outcomes in Men

To evaluate the impact of patient age on device outcomes among patients undergoing primary artificial urinary sphincter.