Muhammad Bulbul

Periprostatic infiltration with local anesthesia during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is safe, simple, and effective:A pilot study

OBJECTIVE Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate needle biopsy is the standard procedure to diagnose prostate cancer. It can be associated with significant discomfort and pain. We evaluated if periprostatic infiltration with local anesthetic reduces this discomfort. MATERIAL AND METHODS 72 patients underwent TRUS-guided prostate needle biopsy. All patients had 12 cores, with four prostatic zones of biopsies. In 25 consecutive patients (G1) with a median prostate size of 47 cc, no anesthesia was given; while in 47 sequential patients (G2) with a median prostate size of 50 cc, 2 ml of 2% lidocaine was infiltrated in the periprostatic area around the neurovascular bundle using 20-cm-long, 22-gauge needle on both sides as guided by color Doppler. Biopsies were performed in standard fashion. Discomfort was graded on a scale from 0 to 10 with 0 meaning no discomfort, 1-3 mild, 4-6 moderate, and 7-10 severe. RESULTS 12/25 (48%) of G1 patients reported no discomfort compared to 70% in G2 (P=.025). Mild discomfort was reported in 5/25 (20%) patients of G1 and 9/47 (19%) patients of G2. Moderate or severe discomfort was reported in 8/25 (32%) patients and 5/47 (11%) patients in G2 (P=.039). Prostate size did not affect degree of discomfort within each group and between both subgroups. No adverse reactions were observed secondary to lidocaine infiltration. CONCLUSION Periprostatic infiltration with local anesthesia at the time of TRUS-guided prostate needle biopsy significantly reduces discomfort. It is easy to perform, safe, and should be considered in all patients irrespective of the prostate size.

Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord

In a 57-year-old man, a suspected incarcerated left inguinal hernia proved to be multifocal dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. Radical orchiectomy and wide excision were performed, but marginal biopsies were positive for tumour. Radiotherapy was given.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for treating erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A comprehensive review

Abstract Many men have coexistent erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are effective for treating both of these conditions independently. In this review we summarise the evidence supporting a link between ED and LUTS/BPH, and the results from key clinical studies related to the use of PDE5 inhibitors for treating both conditions. The results from these studies suggest that men who have both ED and LUTS/BPH, and are concerned about their sexual dysfunction, might benefit from single-agent, holistic treatment with a PDE5 inhibitor.

Bladder metastasis from primary breast cancer: a case report and literature review.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in woman. The urinary bladder is an unusual site for metastasis from primary tumors of the breast, especially when it is the only organ involved. We present the case of a female patient with known breast cancer stage T2N3M0 who developed isolated bladder metastasis five years after the primary diagnosis. We reviewed the literature for similar cases and discussed the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and prognosis of this entity.

Distribution and Role of N-acetyltransferase 2 Genetic Polymorphisms in Bladder Cancer Risk in a Lebanese Population

Background: In Lebanon, bladder cancer (BC) has an unusually high prevalence. Individuals who are exposed to aromatic amines from smoking or certain occupations and carrying the slow N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2) acetylator’ phenotype may be at a higher risk. Methods: Data and DNA from 115 Lebanese BC cases and 306 controls were examined. Ten NAT2 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped, seven of which were then included in haplotype and phenotype analysis. Results: BC patients were more likely to be males (87.8% vs. 54.9%) and current smokers (60.9% vs. 26.5%) when compared to controls. In both groups, most participants had the slow NAT2 acetylator phenotype (66.1% of BC cases vs 62.7% of controls; P=0.302) with the NAT2*5B and *6A haplotypes being the most common. The odds ratio (95%CI) of having BC among slow NAT2 acetylators was 1.157 (0.738-1.815) and remained non-significant after adjustment [1.097 (0.666-1.806)]. Sensitivity analysis with a subgroup of 113 cases and 84 controls for which occupational history was available revealed a statistically significant association between slow NAT2 acetylators and BC in females only. The sample size was however very small and the CI quite wide. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate the distribution of NAT2 haplotypes and their potential role in BC in a Lebanese population. The absence of any significant association may be due to the relatively small sample size, the unavailability of matching by gender, and the lack of evaluation of genetic interactions with extent of active and passive smoking, exposure to environmental pollutants, diet, and other genes. The potential association limited to females needs further evaluation.

Bladder Cancer Screening in Lebanese Population: There is Nothing more Unequal than the Equal Treatment of Unequal People

Bladder cancer screening has been perplexing the uro-oncological community for the last decade. In this commentary, we ruminate on the feasibility of bladder cancer screening in our population based on epidemiological proponents.

Image-guided ureteral reconstruction using rendezvous technique for complex ureteric transection after gunshot injuries

Management of complex ureteric transection poses a significant clinical challenge, particularly after gunshot injuries due to marked distortion of anatomy and associated tissue loss. We report two cases of total ureteric transection due to gunshot injury successfully repaired using fluoroscopy-guided rendezvous procedure and double J stent placement. This minimally invasive approach may offer a safe and effective technique to repair complete ureteral transection and obviate the need for complex surgical procedures.

Metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer: Current strategies of management in the Middle East

Although most patients with prostate cancer respond to initial androgen-deprivation therapy, progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is almost inevitable. In 2004, the docetaxel/prednisone regimen was approved for the management of patients with metastatic CRPC, becoming the standard first-line therapy. Recent advances have also led to an unprecedented number of approved new drugs; thus, providing several treatment options for patients with metastatic CRPC. Five new drugs have received US Food and Drug Administration-approval between 2010 and 2012: sipuleucel-T, an immunotherapeutic agent; cabazitaxel, a novel microtubule inhibitor; abiraterone acetate, a new androgen biosynthesis inhibitor; enzalutamide, a novel androgen receptor inhibitor; and denosumab, a bone-targeting agent. Such drugs are either already marketed or about to be marketed in the Middle East. Data supporting the approval of each of these agents are described in this review, as are recent approaches to the treatment of metastatic CRPC.

Testis-Sparing Surgery: Balancing Cancer Control with Fertility Preservation

Testicular cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in young men of reproductive age, with a peak incidence between the ages of 25 and 29. In patients with testicular cancer, the presence of the disease as well as the treatment itself may lead to significant morbidity, resulting in profound psychological, reproductive, and endocrinological damage to patients. Unfortunately, the incidence of testicular cancer has been steadily increasing in the Western world, bringing to the forefront the concept of testis-sparing surgery. Following the dogma of never-compromising cancer control, testis-sparing surgery (TSS) has the potential of reducing morbidity while preserving functionality. In this chapter, we discuss the evolving concept of TSS and its various indications and applications. Given the emerging evidence of the benign nature of most small, non-palpable testicular masses and the obvious benefits of organ preservation, the indications for TSS continue to expand. Initial evaluation includes history, physical examination, as well as review of pertinent imaging. Tumor markers and hormonal assessment are relevant, while baseline semen analysis is essential in patients who still desire fertility. TSS follows the same classic oncological principles of radical orchiectomy, including inguinal exploration and cord control. While various techniques can be utilized for tumor excision, frozen section examination is crucial for optimal treatment. When applied to select patients, TSS is a reality that must not be denied.

Ki-67 expression predicts biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in the setting of positive surgical margins

BackgroundPositive surgical margin (PSM) is a predictor of biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP). Attempts to stratify PSM based on linear length, Gleason score, location and number have failed to add to predictive models using margin status alone. We evaluated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 expression in this setting.MethodsImmunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 was done on prostatectomy specimens from 117 patients who had a PSM. Ki67 expression was measured at the margin and in the index lesion. Patients were dichotomized based on Ki-67 expression into three groups. Group 1 with no Ki-67 expression, Group 2 with Ki-67 ≤ 2%, and Group 3 with Ki-67 ≥ 3%.To eliminate the impact of the adjuvant treatment (AT) on the outcome, data were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards in which AT was Considered as a time-dependent covariate.ResultsThe discordance rate of Ki-67 expression between matched index lesion and margin specimens was 44/117 (37.6%). There was a trend for higher risk of BCR (HR:2.06, (0.97–4.43), P = 0.06) in patients expressing high Ki67 at the surgical margin although this was not statistically significant. However High Ki-67 expression in the index lesion was an independent predictive factor for BCR in this subset of patients. (HR:4, (1.64–9.80), P = 0.002).ConclusionHigh Ki67 expression in the index prostate cancer lesion is an independent predictor of BCR in patients with positive surgical margin following radical prostatectomy. Our findings need to be validated in a larger cohort.