Ji Yong Ha

Relationship Between Spontaneous Passage Rates of Ureteral Stones Less Than 8 mm and Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels and Neutrophil Percentages

Purpose A ureter obstruction caused by a ureteral stone results in inflammatory changes in the proximal submucosal layer and prevents the spontaneous passage of the ureteral stone. Accordingly, we analyzed the relationship between the spontaneous passage rates of ureteral stones less than 8 mm in size and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and neutrophil percentages. Materials and Methods A total of 187 patients who were diagnosed with ureteral stones less than 8 mm in size and were managed consecutively at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center from January 2001 to January 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Ureteral stone removal was defined as no ureteral stone shown in an imaging test without any treatment for 8 weeks after diagnosis. The patients were divided into three groups according to the levels of serum CRP and into two groups according to neutrophil percentage. The associations between these factors and ureteral stone passage rates were then examined. Results The ureteral stone passage rates of the low serum CRP level group, the medium serum CRP level group, and the high serum CRP level group were 94.1% (159/169), 70% (7/10), and 50.0% (4/8), respectively. The passage rates of ureteral stones in the group with a normal neutrophil percentage and in the group with a higher neutrophil percentage were 94.5% (121/128) and 83.1% (49/59), respectively (p=0.011). Conclusions Measuring serum CRP levels and neutrophil percentages in patients with small ureteral stones of less than 8 mm is useful in predicting whether the stone will be spontaneously passed. When the serum CRP level and neutrophil percentage of a patient are high, aggressive treatment such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy should be considered.

Early Experience With Active Surveillance in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Treated

Purpose This study was conducted to describe our early experience with active surveillance (AS). Materials and Methods Between January 2008 and December 2012, 35 patients were treated with AS. Selection criteria included the following: Gleason score ≤6 with single positive core, clinical stage ≤T1c, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤10 ng/mL, and unremarkable imaging results. On patient follow-up, we regularly measured PSA (every 3-6 months) and performed prostate biopsies (after 1 and 3 years). Results In the first year of follow-up, prostate biopsies were performed in 25 patients (13 patients, negative for cancer; 7 patients, Gleason score of 6 without progression; 5 patients, progression, treated with radical prostatectomy [RP]). In the third year of follow-up, prostate biopsies were performed in five patients (two patients, negative for cancer; one patient, Gleason score of 6 without progression; two patients, progression, treated with RP). Seven patients discontinued AS because of increased anxiety, and three patients were lost to follow-up. Overall, seven patients (28%) who experienced progression had a mean PSA doubling time (DT) of 7.54 years. Six patients had a PSA DT of more than 3 years, whereas one had a PSA DT of less than 3 years. This study was limited by its small sample size and short follow-up period. Conclusions PSA kinetics did not correlate with progression, which suggests that regular biopsies should still be performed. AS is an available treatment option for patients with a low risk of prostate cancer but should only be used in carefully selected patients.

MP09-11 MEASURING AND PREDICTING THE PATIENT-REPORTED GOAL ACHIEVEMENT AFTER TREATING MALE BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA WITH TAMSULOSIN MONOTHERAPY

METHODS: We conducted a Cochrane review based on an a priori, protocol that included published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in any language. We excluded trials of children or adults with primary or secondary enuresis or underlying medical disorders. Primary outcomes were the number of nocturnal voids, quality of life (QoL), and major adverse events (AEs); secondary outcomes were duration of first sleep episode, time to first void, minor AEs, and treatment withdrawal due to AEs. We performed meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 and rated the quality of evidence using GRADE. RESULTS: Of 271 studies identified through our search, we included 10 studies. Desmopressin was associated with a small decrease in the number of nocturnal voids (mean difference [MD] -1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.4 to -0.9; low quality evidence) and similar rates of major AEs (risk ratio [RR] 0.9, 95% CI 0.1 to 9.0; very low quality of evidence). We found no evidence for QoL. Compared to alpha-blockers, there was a similar reduction in the number of nocturnal voids (MD -0.2, 95% CI 01.2 to 0.7; very low quality evidence) and similar quality of life (MD -0.2, 95% CI -0.4 to 0.1; moderate quality of evidence). Rates of major AEs were similar (RR not estimable; low quality evidence). CONCLUSIONS: Current best evidence from RCTs in men with the chief complaint of nocturia suggests that desmopressin may result in a small reduction in the number of nocturnal voids with similar major AE rates compared to placebo. We are uncertain whether it reduces the number of nocturnal voids similarly to alpha-blockers. Additional welldesigned studies using active controls are needed.

Updated clinical results of active surveillance of very-low-risk prostate cancer in Korean men: 8 years of follow-up

Purpose Update and reanalysis of our experience of active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer (PCa) in Korea. Materials and Methods A prospective, single-arm, cohort study was initiated in January 2008. Patients were selected according to the following criteria: Gleason sum ≤6 with single positive core with ≤30% core involvement, clinical stage≤T1c, prostate-specific antigen (PSA)≤10 ng/mL, and negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. Follow-up was by PSA measurement every 6 months, prostate biopsies at 1 year and then every 2–3 years, and MRI every year. Results A total of 80 patients were treated with AS. Median follow-up was 52 months (range, 6–96 months). Of them, 39 patients (48.8%) discontinued AS for various reasons (17, disease progression; 9, patient preference; 10, watchful waiting due to old age; 3, follow-up loss; 2, death). The probability of progression was 14.0% and 42.9% at 1 and 3 years, respectively. Overall survival was 97.5%. PCa-specific survival was 100%. Progression occurred in 5 of 7 patients (71.4%) with a prostate volume less than 30 mL, 7 of 40 patients (17.5%) with a prostate volume of 30 to 50 mL, and 5 of 33 patients (15.2%) with a prostate volume of 50 mL or larger. There were 8 detectable positive lesions on follow-up MRI. Of them, 6 patients (75%) had actual progressed disease. Conclusions Small prostate volume was associated with a tendency for cancer progression. MRI was helpful and promising for managing AS. Nevertheless, regular biopsies should be performed. AS is a safe and feasible treatment option for very-low-risk PCa in Korea. However, AS should continue to be used in carefully selected patients.