Fabio Y. Tanno

The Use of Three-dimensional Printers for Partial Adrenalectomy: Estimating the Resection Limits

OBJECTIVE To avoid hormonal replacement after partial adrenalectomy (PA), establishing the precise limit of an adrenal gland resection is essential. Herein, we evaluated the use of three-dimensional (3D) adrenal gland printing and volumetry measurement before PA to improve the determination of the remnant gland volume. METHODS Concomitant total adrenalectomy and a contralateral PA were performed in a patient with primary macronodular adrenal hyperplasia that exhibited mild hypercortisolism, arterial hypertension, and diabetes. Before surgery, a 3D replica of the adrenal gland to be partially resected was printed and given to the surgeon. The volumetry of the gland was measured by computed tomography 3D image reconstruction. RESULTS No postoperative complications were noted. Immediately after the surgery, the patient initiated corticosteroid replacement, which was interrupted 52 days later. At the 6-month follow-up, the patient stopped using medications for diabetes and reduced the number of antihypertensive medications from 5 to 1. The pre- and postoperative serum cortisol levels were, respectively, 28 and 8.7 mcg/dl (n 5-25 mcg/dl). The pre- and postoperative adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were, respectively, <5 and 88 pg/ml (n 7.2-63 pg/ml). The postoperative adrenal volume was 12% of the total preoperative adrenal volume. CONCLUSION The use of 3D printing associated with adrenal volumetry might be a useful tool for the surgeon when performing PA, enabling an estimation of the remnant gland volume.

Early experience with targeted therapy and dendritic cell vaccine in metastatic renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy

PURPOSE Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most treatment-resistant malignancies and nephrectomy, isolated or combined with systemic chemotherapy typically has limited or no effectiveness. We report our initial results in patients treated with the association of molecular targeted therapy, nephrectomy, and hybrid dendritic-tumor cell (DC) vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two male patients diagnosed with metastatic RCC were selected for the study. They were treated with the triple strategy, in which sunitinib (50 mg per day) was given for 4 weeks, followed by radical nephrectomy after two weeks. DC vaccine was initiated immediately after surgery and repeated monthly. Sunitinib was restarted daily after 2 to 3 weeks of surgery with a 7-day interval every 4 weeks. RESULTS Both patients had complete adherence to the proposed treatment with DC vaccine therapy combined with sunitinib. Follow-up in these patients at 9 and 10 months demonstrated a stable disease in both, as shown by imaging and clinical findings, with no further treatment required. CONCLUSION The immune response obtained with DC vaccine combined with the antiangiogenic effect of sunitinib and the potential benefits of cytoreductive nephrectomy in advanced disease could represent a new option in the treatment of metastatic RCC. Further prospective trials are needed not only to elucidate the ideal dosing and schedule, but also to better define the proof-of-concept proposed in this report and its role in clinical practice.

The role of ARMC5 in human cell cultures from nodules of primary macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PMAH)

The participation of aberrant receptors and intra-adrenal ACTH in hyperplastic tissue are considered mechanisms that regulate hypercortisolism in PMAH. Additionally, germline ARMC5 mutations have been described as the most frequent genetic abnormality found in patients diagnosed with PMAH. Previous functional studies analyzed ARMC5 role using H295R cells. Therefore, we investigated the role of ARMC5 in cell cultures obtained from PMAH nodules containing steroidogenic cells, aberrant receptors and intra-adrenal ACTH. ARMC5 silencing in non-mutated PMAH cell cultures decreased steroidogenesis-related genes and increased CCNE1 mRNA expression and proliferative capacity without affecting cell viability. Additionally, ARMC5 overexpression induced cell death in PMAH mutated cell cultures, thereby decreasing cell viability. We confirmed the role of ARMC5 as an important pro-apoptotic protein involved in PMAH-related steroidogenesis. We also report for the first time the involvement of ARMC5 in controlling proliferation and regulating cell cycle in PMAH cell cultures; these effects need to be explored further.

Presentation and surgery outcomes in elderly with pheocromocytoma: a comparative analysis with young patients

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the presentation and early surgical outcomes of elderly patients undergoing adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma. Patients and Methods: A retrospective search was performed of our adrenal disorders database for patients who underwent surgery for phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma between 2009 and 2014. Patients >60 years old were classified as elderly. The clinical manifestations, intraoperative course, and early postoperative outcomes of elderly patients were compared to those of younger individuals (<60 years old). Results: The mean (±standard deviation) age in the older (n=10) and younger (n=36) groups was 69.6±5.3 years and 34.0±12.9 years. Germ-line mutations were more common in younger patients (50.0% versus 0%; p=0.004), whereas incidental lesions were more common in the elderly (40.0% versus 5.3%; p=0.003). In both groups, surgery was most commonly performed by videolaparoscopy (90% in the elderly and 82% in the younger group), with similar intraoperative anesthetic and surgical outcomes. Postoperatively, the older group more commonly received vasoactive drugs (60.0% versus 10.5%; p<0.001) and had a longer intensive care unit stay (3.1±2.8 versus 1.4±1.0 days; p=0.014), more clinical complications (60% versus 18.9%; p=0.01), and longer hospital stay (10.2±8.4 versus 5.7±4.9 days; p=0.028). Conclusions: Although all patients received the same preoperative preparation, the elderly group exhibited a slower and more complicated recovery after adrenalectomy. Meticulous perioperative care should be used in the elderly when treating phaeochromocytoma; nevertheless, adrenalectomy is a relatively safe procedure in this patient population.

MP37-08 A NEW INSIGHT FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRIMARY MACRONODULAR ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA: ADRENAL SPARING SURGERY EARLY OUTCOMES

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment planning for adrenal tumors depends on a variety of qualitative and quantitative data, including tumor nature and anatomy, as well as the experience of the operating surgeon. Here, we have developed and propose a scoring system for adrenal masses designated as the A.D.R.E.N.A.L Score, to quantify the nature and anatomical characteristics of adrenal masses based on endocrinological assessment, computerized tomography and patient habitus. METHODS: The A.D.R.E.N.A.L score consists of 7 components including (A)ldosterone/cortisol/catecholamine secretion or suspicion of malignancy based on endocrinological and radiological study, (D)imension (tumor size as the maximal diameter), (R)elationship to adjacent organs, (E)nhancement on computerized tomography, (N)earness of the tumor to major vessels, (A)dipose (patient habitus as body mass index), and a combination of two (L)ocation descriptors [anterior (a) or posterior (p), left (L) or right (R)]. The A.D.R.E.N.A.L score was applied to 345 cases, including 212 laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy cases and 105 robotic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy cases and 28 robotic transperitoneal adrenalectomy cases. RESULTS: For all three series, the A.D.R.E.N.A.L score accurately classified the complexity of cases in the above three series as evidenced by the positive correlation between the A.D.R.E.N.A.L score and surgical outcomes including the operative time and estimated blood loss, while BMI or tumor size did not as independent risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized evaluation of an adrenal tumor is essential for individualized patient preparation, surgical planning and postoperative care which translate to patient safety and cost-effectiveness. The A.D.R.E.N.A.L score is a reproducible classification system based on endocrinological, oncological and anatomical characteristics of adrenal masses. This novel scoring system of adrenal masses may provide a common reference for the decision making of both endocrinologist and urologist, assessment of the surgical risks, patient safetyguided designing of adrenalectomy training programs, and stratified analysis and comparisons of adrenal surgeries within a single or among multiple institutions.

Percutaneous puncture of renal calyxes guided by a novel device coupled with ultrasound

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the efficiency of a novel device coupled with ultrassound for renal percutaneous puncture. Materials and Methods: After establishing hydronephrosis, ten pigs had three calyxes of each kidney punctured by the same urology resident, with and without the new device (“Punctiometer”). Time for procedure completion, number of attempts to reach the calyx, puncture precision and puncture complications were recorded in both groups and compared. Results: Puncture success on the first attempt was achieved in 25 punctures (83%) with the Punctiometer and in 13 punctures (43%) without the Punctiometer (p=0.011). The mean time required to perform three punctures in each kidney was 14.5 minutes with the Punctiometer and 22.4 minutes without the Punctiometer (p=0.025). The only complications noted were renal hematomas. In the Punctiometer group, all kidneys had small hematomas. In the no Punctiometer group 80% had small hematomas, 10% had a medium hematoma and 10% had a big hematoma. There was no difference in complications between both groups. Conclusions: The Punctiometer is an effective device to increase the likelihood of an accurate renal calyx puncture during PCNL, with a shorter time required to perform the procedure.