John E. Garnett

The Accuracy of Diagnostic Biopsy Specimens in Predicting Tumor Grades by Gleason’s Classification of Radical Prostatectomy Specimens

We reviewed the tissue histology of 115 patients with clinically localized carcinoma to determine the correlation between tumor grades in the biopsy and the prostatectomy specimen. Gleasons primary and secondary pattern score systems were used, and each specimen was graded on a scale of 2 to 10 by a referee pathologist in a blind fashion. If the difference in the summed primary and secondary grades in the 2 specimens was no more than 1 grade, the discrepancy was regarded as insignificant. In all but 32 cases initial diagnostic biopsy specimens predicted accurately the final prostatectomy specimen score. The discrepancy was 3 grades in 7 cases and 2 grades in 25 cases. As a result, the lesions in 19 cases were changed from a well differentiated (2 to 4), a moderately differentiated (5 to 7) or a poorly differentiated (8 to 10) lesion to another of these categories. The lesions were upgraded from a well differentiated to a moderately differentiated category in 9 cases and from a moderately to a poorly differentiated category in 4 cases. The lesions were downgraded from a moderately differentiated to a well differentiated category in 6 cases. In 13 other cases the discrepancy was 2 but the lesion remained within the moderately differentiated group. Although in 19 cases the cancerous tissue occupied less than 10 per cent of the biopsy specimen, accurate prediction could be made in 16. The results indicate that diagnostic biopsy specimens will predict the grade of the primary tumor in a majority (72 per cent) but not all of the cases.

Ureteroscopic Results and Complications: Experience with 130 Cases

Since its introduction for general use, the role of rigid ureteroscopy in the diagnosis and therapy of urological disease has been in evolution. We evaluated retrospectively the experience at our institution with rigid ureteroscopy from January 1983 to July 1986 in an attempt to identify clinical situations or techniques that tended to increase the incidence of either success or complications. We determined that ureteroscopic complications were rare in procedures performed for diagnosis compared to those performed for calculi (2 of 33 or 6 per cent versus 27 of 99 or 27 per cent, p less than 0.025). The likelihood of failure or complication was greater for stones above than for those below the pelvic brim (15 of 25 or 60 per cent versus 26 of 75 or 35 per cent, p less than 0.05). Major complications were more common early in our experience (9 of 63 or 14 per cent versus 2 of 69 or 3 per cent for the combined years 1983 and 1984 compared to 1985 and 1986, p less than 0.05). Our success rates in the treatment of calculous disease were similar to those reported previously, and they were somewhat better for stones located below (62 of 75 or 83 per cent) than for those above (17 of 25 or 68 per cent) the pelvic brim. Based on our findings we conclude that carefully performed diagnostic ureteroscopy has little potential for major complications, ureteroscopy for stones above the pelvic brim should be avoided when possible, and an increased rate of complications and failures is expected early in any series owing at least partly to the learning curve effect.

Radiographic Assessment of the Vesicourethral Anastomosis Directing Early Decatheterization Following Nerve-Sparing Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Early decatheterization directed by postoperative gravity cystography in 55 consecutive radical prostatectomy patients is described. The catheter-free status was 22 per cent by postoperative day 8, 62 per cent by postoperative day 11 and 80 per cent by postoperative day 14. Cystograms performed beginning on postoperative day 7 identified 3 groups of patients and dictated their management: 1) no extravasation resulting in immediate catheter removal (36 patients), 2) moderate extravasation requiring repeat cystography leading to decatheterization by postoperative day 15 (9 patients) and 3) severe extravasation necessitating prolonged catheter drainage (8 patients). A decatheterization protocol is presented.

Cytological atypia in the prostate gland: frequency, distribution and possible relevance to carcinoma.

Frequency and distribution of atypical prostatic hyperplasia were assessed in 51 total prostatectomy specimens for cancer and the data were compared to similar data obtained from analysis of 51 autopsy specimens. Enlargement of columnar cell nuclei in conjunction with preservation of basal cells was chosen as the only criterion for atypia. Depending on the degree of nuclear enlargement, atypia was divided into mild and severe degrees. The evaluation of nuclear atypia was applied to areas of carcinoma as well as to atypical prostatic hyperplasia. There were 3 major findings. 1) Atypical prostatic hyperplasia was found more frequently in prostatectomy specimens (48 of 51 cases) than in autopsy specimens (14 of 37 cases after exclusion of cancer-associated cases) and the difference was significant (p less than 0.001). In addition, atypical prostatic hyperplasia found in prostatectomy specimens was more frequently of severe degree than that in the autopsy specimens (42 of 48 versus 3 of 14 cases, p less than 0.001). 2) The distribution of atypical prostatic hyperplasia and carcinoma in prostatectomy specimens was similar. 3) In a majority of prostatectomy specimens atypical prostatic hyperplasia, when found, was located at sites separate from carcinoma as well as in contiguous areas. Based on these data it is suggested that the presence of a severe degree of nuclear atypia in specimens removed for benign conditions or in prostatic needle biopsies may signify an increased incidence of coexisting carcinoma elsewhere in the prostate or of carcinoma developing in the future. Close followup of these patients may be indicated.

Simultaneous diversion of the urinary and fecal streams utilizing a single abdominal stoma: the double-barreled wet colostomy.

A new technique to achieve simultaneous diversion of the urinary and fecal streams using a single abdominal stoma is described. The procedure consists of the construction of a diverting loop colostomy with division of the colon approximately 10 to 15 cm. distal to the stoma. The segment of colon distal to the stoma, the urine limb, acts as a urinary conduit. To date 3 patients have undergone the procedure with followup of 3, 13 and 18 months. Neither upper tract infection nor upper tract deterioration has occurred. The potential role of this procedure to treat a difficult group of patients is discussed.

Granulosa cell tumor of the adult testis: Ultrastructural and ultrasonographic characteristics

We report a case of a granulosa cell tumor of the testis. The ultrastructural characteristics of this rare tumor were compared to its homologue in the ovary and they were similar.

Adjuvant radiation therapy in stages C and D1 prostatic adenocarcinoma: preliminary results.

Twenty patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate underwent postradical prostatectomy adjuvant external beam megavoltage radiation therapy because of periprostatic disease in histologic evaluation of the resected specimen. Fourteen of these patients had pathologic Stage C and 6 pathologic Stage D1 disease. Treatment in most patients consisted of 5,000 rad delivered to the true pelvis. The five-year recurrence-free survival was 75 per cent for pathologic Stage C and 41 per cent for Stage D1 disease. The median time to first evidence of treatment failure was fifty months for D1 patients and has not been reached by the C group. Minor complications occurred in 85 per cent of patients and major complications in 5 per cent. In 1 patient with mild, postoperative stress incontinence total urinary incontinence developed after radiation therapy. These preliminary observations suggest a prolonged disease-free interval with an acceptable morbidity is obtained utilizing this regimen.

Simultaneous abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and nephrectomy for neoplasm

BACKGROUND Abdominal aortic aneurysm and renal neoplasm are occasionally discovered concurrently. Simultaneous operative therapy may be an effective alternate management strategy to a staged procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records of 10 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and nephrectomy for renal neoplasm were reviewed. Data collected included mode of presentation, preoperative evaluation, renal pathology, and in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Long-term follow-up was obtained through office records and telephone contact. RESULTS In 7 patients, the renal mass was identified during evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm was identified during evaluation of hematuria in 2 patients. One patient was discovered to have both conditions simultaneously. All patients underwent successful aneurysm repair and nephrectomy. Pathology revealed 6 renal cell carcinomas, 2 complex cysts, 1 hemangiopericytoma, and 1 oncocytoma. Four patients have died in the follow-up period: 1 of metastatic cancer and 3 of unrelated causes. There have been no cases of graft infection. CONCLUSION Simultaneous abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and nephrectomy for neoplasm is an appropriate management strategy for selected patients.

Metastatic renal tumor presenting as ovarian clear cell carcinoma

Patients with clear cell adenocarcinoma of the kidney often present with metastatic disease, in some cases involving organs in which primary clear cell tumors occur. Under these circumstances, diagnosis of the renal primary tumor may be delayed. Herein we present a case of renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the ovaries initially treated as primary ovarian disease, until the appearance of other metastases prompted the discovery of its true origin. A high index of suspicion and the histologic characteristics of these tumors may allow earlier diagnosis and treatment of a renal primary tumor.

Intra-operative pubic arch interference during prostate seed brachytherapy in patients with CT-based pubic arch interference of ≤1 cm

PURPOSE There are only a few reports on the frequency of intra-operative pubic arch interference (I-PAI) during prostate seed brachytherapy (PB). MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred and forty-three patients with a CT-based pubic arch interference (PAI) of < or =1 cm and a prostate volume of < or =50-60 cc underwent PB. Those patients requiring needle repositioning by > or =0.5 cm on the template were scored as having I-PAI. The incidence of I-PAI and its impact on biochemical control were analyzed. RESULTS Intra-operative PAI was encountered in 47 (19.3%) patients. Forty two patients (17.3%) had I-PAI in 1-2 needles, two (0.8%) had I-PAI in four needles and three patients (1.2%) had I-PAI in six needles. Overall, 1.4% of needles required repositioning due to I-PAI. BMI>27 kg/m(2) and wider (>75 mm) pubic bone separation at mid ramus (PS-ML) were associated with a lower incidence of I-PAI. At a median follow-up of 50.1 months, the 3- and 5-year bPFS was 97.3% and 95.2%, respectively. The 5-year bPFS rates for patients with and without I-PAI were 95.6% and 95%, respectively (p=0.28). CONCLUSIONS The use of CT-based PAI of < or =1cm as a selection criterion for PB is a simple and reliable method for minimizing the incidence of I-PAI and maintaining excellent biochemical control rates.