Selahattin Bedir

Clinical Significance of Platelet Count in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma

Introduction: During the last decades numerous prognostic factors have been studied for predicting survival of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Platelet count has previously been reported to correlate with prognosis in RCC. The aim of the this study was to evaluate the significance of thrombocytosis in determining prognosis in patients with localized RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy. Patients and Methods: The study included 118 consecutive patients. Patients were divided into a normal platelet count group (group 1) and a thrombocytosis group (group 2) according to the preoperative platelet count. Thrombocytosis was defined as a platelet count greater than 400,000/µl. The data about stage distribution, grade, tumor size, histological subtype, hemoglobin level, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, ECOG score, gender, and survival rate of tumors between these two groups were compared. Survival estimates were compared with the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox model. Results: The mean age of the patients was 61.4 years (range 30–78), and the mean follow-up period was 52.7 ± 19.6 months (range 9–96). Thrombocytosis was present in 23 patients (19.49%). Fourteen (60.86%) of 23 patients with thrombocytosis died of disease progression. Patients with thrombocytosis had a worse prognosis than patients without thrombocytosis (p = 0.001). Thrombocytosis was noted in 8 (10.81%) of 74 patients with stage pT1-pT2 disease and in 15 (34.09%) of 44 patients with stage pT3-pT4 disease (p = 0.004). In univariate analysis, platelet count was correlated with T stage, hemoglobin level, lymph node positivity, ECOG score, and tumor size. Controlling for established prognostic indicators of pathologic stage, tumor size, platelet count, and lymph positivity using Cox’s regression test, the difference in survival between the groups remained significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The platelet count can be considered a useful prognostic factor in patients with RCC who undergo radical nephrectomy.

Endoscopic treatment of multiple prostatic calculi causing urinary retention

Abstract Although prostatic calculi are relatively common, the etiology of these stones is not clear. We report a case with multiple prostatic calculi causing urinary obstruction and a concomitant bladder stone. We treated these stones endoscopically. We found a lot of different sized stones endoscopically, some protruding into the urethra, some filling different cavities on the prostate. So these cavities suggest prostatic calculi may occur related to intraprostatic reflux in the congenital or acquired diverticulum of the prostatic tissue. In addition, the stone composition of the bladder and prostatic stones was the same. All of these results show that the origin of bladder and prostatic stones can be the same. This case also supports a theory of intraprostatic reflux and urine stasis.

Comparison of Ileal Conduit and Transureteroureterostomy with Ureterocutaneostomy Urinary Diversion

Introduction: We compare the postoperative early and late complications of patients who had undergone ileal conduit (IC) urinary diversion and transureteroureterostomy (TUU) with ureterocutaneostomy (UC) urinary diversion during the same interval and by the same surgeons. Materials and Methods: Between 1992 and 2004, we performed TUU with UC urinary diversion in 27 men and 7 women (group I) and ileal conduit urinary diversion in 57 men and 10 women (group II). The mean age of the TUU with UC diversion and the ileal conduit patients was 57 ± 11.2 (range 51–76) and 64 ± 12.6 (range 54–76) years, and the mean follow-up was 37 (range 14–52) and 56 (range 14–72) months, respectively. The 6F or 8F stents were used routinely. Results: Of 34 TUU with UC cases 8 (23.52%) had early postoperative complications and 2 (5.88%) had early reoperation rates, whereas 11 (16.42%) of 67 ileal conduit cases had early postoperative complications and 4 (5.97%) had early reoperation. The mean hospital stay was 7 (range 5–25 day) and 11 (range 7–34 day) days for each group, respectively. Of the TUU and UC cases, 6 (17.64%) had late complications and 3 had (8.82%) late reoperation, whereas 14 conduit cases (20.89%) had late complications and 6 had (8.9%) late reoperation. Early postoperative complications were defined as those that occurred before hospital discharge or within 30 days from the date of surgery and late complications were defined as those occurring greater than 30 days from the date of surgery as previously described. In group I, the mean operative time was 170 min (range 120–325) compared with 260 min (range 170–473) in group II. The mean blood loss in group I was 474 ml (range 250–1,400) and 589 ml (range 300–1,700) in group II (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients undergoing a TUU and UC diversion have no additional risk of reoperation and the TUU with UC urinary diversion is a safe procedure with postoperative early and late complications.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the clitoris: direct implantation or metastasis

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is the seventh most frequent cancer of women. The possible mechanisms of local tumor recurrence are seeding and multicentricity. Distant metastases are most frequently as a result of vascular or lymphatic spread and to a lesser extent by seeding of the tumor cells with urine or transurethral instrumentation. We report a clitoral metastasis of a TCC of the bladder, which is a very unexpected and extremely rare site for metatstasis and discuss whether the possible mechanism is vascular spreading or direct seeding. To our knowledge this is the third case in the literature.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatment in paraplegic patients with bladder stones

Background: Spinal cord injury patients are at increased risk of developing urolithiasis and many will require treatment, most commonly with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Effects of exposure to new inhalational anesthetics on spermatogenesis and sperm morphology in rabbits.

The effects of chronic exposure to new inhalation anesthetics (sevoflurane and isoflurane) on spermatogenesis and sperm morphology were examined in 23 rabbits, randomly divided in 3 groups. Rabbits received 20 exposure hours (four hours/day × 5 days), as follows: group I: 2.3% (1.2 MAC) sevoflurane + 2L/min oxygen, group II: 1.3% (1.2 MAC) isoflurane + 2L/min oxygen, and group III (control): 2L/min oxygen. Semen was collected on the 12th, 19th, 26th, 33rd, and 41st days of exposure. Sperm concentration, motility and morphological changes were evaluated. On the 41st day, testicular biopsies were taken and observed with light microscopy. Sperm concentration and motility significantly decreased in the sevoflurane and the isoflurane groups, compared to control. There were no significant changes in the control group. It is concluded that chronic exposure to the new inhalational anesthetics had negative effects on spermatogenesis and sperm morphology.

Pain Scores and Early Complications of Transrectal Ultrasonography-Guided Prostate Biopsy: Effect of Patient Position

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the pain scores and complications of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy and to compare lithotomy position (LP) versus left lateral decubitis position (LLDP). Methods: A total of 340 patients were referred for TRUS-guided biopsy. In group 1 (n = 170), biopsies were performed in LP (n = 170), and in group 2 (n = 170) biopsies were performed in LLDP (n = 170). In 68 patients, biopsies were repeated. We constituted two additional groups: in group 3 (n = 33) patients underwent biopsies in LP and LLDP, respectively, and in group 4 (n = 35) patients underwent biopsies in LLDP and LP, respectively. Pain score, infection rates, hematospermia, hematuria, rectal bleeding, and serious complications were compared between group 1 and group 2. Pain scores were compared between the four groups. Results: There were no differences between group 1 and group 2 for age, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen level, biopsy time, hematuria, infection, hematospermia, and rectal bleeding. Pain scores were lower in group 2 than in group 1. Also, for LLDP, pain scores were lower in group 3 and group 4. Conclusion: The effect of position on pain scores in TRUS biopsy patients has not been previously described. Our study indicates that pain scale values are lower in LLDP than in LP.

In vivo Porcine Model for Practicing Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in a porcine model. Materials and Methods: Female pigs (n = 3) were placed in a dorsal lithotomy position under general anesthesia, and stone material was inserted into the renal pelvis of the pigs. The bladder was entered with a cystoscope, and a 0.038-inch hydrophilic guidewire was passed into the renal pelvis. Following successful placement of the guidewire, a ureteral access sheath (9.5/11.5 Fr) was placed to allow for optimal visualization. A 7.5-Fr flexible ureteroscope (Karl Storz Flex-X2) and a 200-μm laser fiber were used for lithotripsy. When basketing was deemed necessary, zero-tipped nitinol stone baskets were used. Trainees then practiced all these manipulations on the model. Results: Urologists with moderate experience in advanced endourologic surgery were trained using this model. However, there were some surgical difficulties due to the urinary system anatomy of the pig. Intravaginal location of the urethra, bladder neck location of the ureters, tight ureteric orifices, tortuous ureters, longitudinally elongated renal pelvis, narrow infundibulopelvic angle and shallow calices made the passage of the instruments and maneuverability of the flexible ureteroscope more difficult than in a human model. Conclusions: Despite some difficulties, our porcine model was very effective, because all the trainees successfully practiced the RIRS manipulations on this model.

Evaluation of Urinary Inverted Papillomas: A Report of 13 Cases and Literature Review

Inverted papilloma (IP) of the urothelium accounts for 2.2% of urothelial neoplasms. The aim of this study was to report the results of 13 patients with urinary IP, pointing out the clinical features, presentations, treatment options and outcomes. The mean age and mean follow‐up periods of the patients were 60.23+3.25 (range, 44‐81) years and 30 (range, 6‐42) months, respectively. There was no coexistence of urothelial carcinoma with IP at presentation. Cystoscopy showed a solitary papillary tumor in the bladders of 11 patients and solid pedunculated tumors in the remaining two patients. The site of development was the bladder in 12 cases (92%) and ureter in one (8%) case. Transurethral bladder tumor resection was performed in 12 cases. For the case with IP in the ureter, nephroureterectomy was performed. Pathologic examination demonstrated that seven of the 13 cases were of the trabecular type and six were of the glandular type. Of the 13 cases, two (7%) had recurrence, at 1 year and 1 month and 1 year and 5 months from initial resection. The male to female ratio was 5.5:1. Initial symptoms included macroscopic hematuria in five cases, microscopic hematuria in four, and dysuria and microscopic hematuria in three; one case was asymptomatic. IPs of the urinary bladder are benign tumors that can be treated successfully by transurethral resection and fulguration of the tumor bed. In addition, these lesions must be followed up closely for recurrence and malignant transformation.

Intraurethral prostatic cyst: a rare cause of infravesical obstruction.

A case is reported here of symptomatic intraurethral anterior midline prostatic cyst in a 52-year-old man whom transurethral resection of the cyst was performed successfully establishing the resolution of voidingsymptoms.