Paolo Scarpone

Long-term follow-up of G3T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin: 18-year experience

OBJECTIVES Immunotherapy with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been proposed in the past decade as first-line treatment for high-grade superficial bladder cancer (G3T1). We report our 18-year experience in the treatment of patients with G3T1 bladder cancer. METHODS From January 1989 to July 1997, 670 patients underwent transurethral resection for superficial bladder cancer. Eighty-one patients (12%) had G3T1 tumors. All of these patients were treated with an innovative schedule of Pasteur strain BCG followed by maintenance BCG therapy. Treatment consisted of four cycles of 6 instillations per cycle of BCG. The first cycle was administered weekly x 6, the second was given every 2 weeks x 6, the third cycle was given monthly x 6, and the fourth was given every 3 months x 6 instillations. RESULTS Sixty-nine patients (84%) completed at least the first two cycles. At a median follow-up of 76 months (range 30 to 197), the overall recurrence rate was 33% (27 of 81). The median time to recurrence was 20 months (range 5 to 128). Of these patients, 12 (15%) had progression at a median follow-up of 16 months (range 8 to 58). Cystectomy was required in 7 patients (8%). Death from disease occurred in 5 (6%) of 81 patients. One patient died of adenocarcinoma at the ureterosigmoidostomy site. Sixty patients (74%) were alive at a median follow-up of 79+ months (range 15 to 182). Of these, 56 (69%) were alive with a functioning bladder. CONCLUSIONS Conservative treatment with BCG is a reasonable approach for patients with primary G3T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The long-term results of BCG therapy are good. Cystectomy may not be justified as the therapy of choice in first-line treatment of high-grade superficial carcinoma of the bladder.

THE VALUE OF A SINGLE BIOPSY WITH 12 TRANSPERINEAL CORES FOR DETECTING PROSTATE CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH ELEVATED PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN

PURPOSE Prostate cancer detection on standard sextant biopsy is considered inadequate. Various biopsy protocols have been introduced to improve cancer diagnosis. We report our experience with transperineal 12-core prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a prospective study 650 patients underwent prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurement during a 15-month period, of whom 141 with PSA greater than 4 ng./ml. also underwent transperineal 12-core prostate biopsy using the fan technique. Median PSA was 8 ng./ml. (range 4.1 to 5,000). RESULTS Prostate cancer was detected in 72 of the 141 patients (51%), including 44 of the 97 (45%) with PSA between 4.1 and 10 ng./ml. This incidence is higher than previously reported in the literature using other biopsy techniques. Disease was low grade Gleason 2 to 4 in 4 cases (5%), intermediate grade Gleason 5 to 6 in 26 (35%) and high grade Gleason 7 to 10 in the remaining 42 (60%). CONCLUSIONS A high cancer detection rate is achieved by 12-core transperineal prostate biopsy. Most tumors represent clinically significant cancer. Further randomized trials are required to confirm these data.

Treatment of a recurrent penobulbar urethral stricture after wallstent implantation with a second inner wallstent

The wallstent has been proved to be effective for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures. Only a few failures are reported in the literature. We present a case of a patient with a recurrent stricture after wallstent implantation. The recurrence has been managed successfully with gradual dilation and with the insertion of an inner stent inside the first one, with a twenty-nine-month follow-up.

Long-term follow-up of g3t1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with intravesical bacille calmette-guérin: 18-year experience.: Urology 2002;59:227–231.

Abstract Objectives: Immunotherapy with bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG) has been proposed in the past decade as first-line treatment for high-grade superficial bladder cancer (G 3 T 1 ). We report our 18-year experience in the treatment of patients with G 3 T 1 bladder cancer. Methods: From January 1989 to July 1997, 670 patients underwent transurethral resection for superficial bladder cancer. Eighty-one patients (12%) had G 3 T 1 tumors. All of these patients were treated with an innovative schedule of Pasteur strain BCG followed by maintenance BCG therapy. Treatment consisted of four cycles of 6 instillations per cycle of BCG. The first cycle was administered weekly × 6, the second was given every 2 weeks × 6, the third cycle was given monthly × 6, and the fourth was given every 3 months × 6 instillations. Results: Sixty-nine patients (84%) completed at least the first two cycles. At a median follow-up of 76 months (range 30 to 197), the overall recurrence rate was 33% (27 of 81). The median time to recurrence was 20 months (range 5 to 128). Of these patients, 12 (15%) had progression at a median follow-up of 16 months (range 8 to 58). Cystectomy was required in seven patients (8%). Death from disease occurred in five (6%) of 81 patients. One patient died of adenocarcinoma at the ureterosigmoidostomy site. Sixty patients (74%) were alive at a median follow-up of 79+ months (range 15 to 182). Of these, 56 (69%) were alive with a functioning bladder. Conclusions: Conservative treatment with BCG is a reasonable approach for patients with primary G 3 T 1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The long-term results of BCG therapy are good. Cystectomy may not be justified as the therapy of choice in first- line treatment of high-grade superficial carcinoma of the bladder.

Monopolar Transurethral Enucleation of Prostatic Adenoma: Preliminary Report

OBJECTIVE To describe preliminary results of our monopolar transurethral enucleation of prostatic adenoma (mTUEPA). MATERIALS AND METHODS A consecutive series of male patients treated with mTUEPA, a retrograde enucleation of the prostatic adenoma performed by means of a standard monopolar resectoscope, were prospectively enrolled. Symptoms, uroflowmetry parameters, and post-voiding residual were assessed at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Prostate volume was evaluated at baseline by means of transrectal ultrasound. Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs were stopped at least 1 week before the operation. RESULTS Forty-seven patients were enrolled. Mean preoperative prostate volume was 64.9 ± 28.5 g. When assessed at baseline, the mean total International Prostatic Symptoms Score was 15.2 ± 3.9, peak flow rate (Qmax) was 8.4 ± 2.9 mL/s and the post-voiding residual was 103.2 ± 90.6 mL. Four weeks after surgery, patients reported a mean International Prostatic Symptoms Score of 5.3 ± 3. This lower urinary tract symptoms relief was further maintained at 6 and 12 months after surgery. A significant postoperative improvement in uroflowmetry parameters was described, being the 6 and 12 months mean Qmax of 23.4 ± 10.6 mL/s and 18.8 ± 9.2 mL/s, respectively (P < .001). Overall, 14 postoperative complications were reported by 13 of 47 (27.6%) patients: most of them were minor complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade I-II), whereas 1 patient reported capsule perforation during surgery, requiring interruption of the procedure and its further completion (Clavien-Dindo IIIb). CONCLUSION mTUEPA is a safe and effective technique, merging the principles of laser enucleation and the advantages of mechanical enucleation with standard monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate equipment.