Tomasz Szopiński

Enterovesical fistulae: aetiology, imaging, and management.

Background and Study Objectives. Enterovesical fistula (EVF) is a devastating complication of a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Radiological imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis of EVF and is indispensable to gastroenterologists and surgeons for choosing the correct therapeutic option. This paper provides an overview of the diagnosis of enterovesical fistulae. The treatment of fistulae is also briefly discussed. Material and Methods. We performed a literature review by searching the Medline database for articles published from its inception until September 2013 based on clinical relevance. Electronic searches were limited to the keywords: “enterovesical fistula,” “colovesical fistula” (CVF), “pelvic fistula”, and “urinary fistula”. Results. EVF is a rare pathology. Diverticulitis is the commonest aetiology. Over two-thirds of affected patients describe pathognomonic features of pneumaturia, fecaluria, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Computed tomography is the modality of choice for the diagnosis of enterovesical fistulae as not only does it detect a fistula, but it also provides information about the surrounding anatomical structures. Conclusions. In the vast majority of cases, this condition is diagnosed because of unremitting urinary symptoms after gastroenterologist follow-up procedures for a diverticulitis or bowel inflammatory disease. Computed tomography is the most sensitive test for enterovesical fistula.

Comparison of contrast-enhanced with non-contrast endosonography in the diagnostics of anal fistulas

The objective of this paper is to compare the accuracy of standard, non-contrast endosonography (EAS) with contrast-enhanced endosonography (CE-EAS) in the diagnosis of anal fistulas. The group consisted of 126 patients (mean age: 43.1 years) with the clinical diagnosis of anal fistula. For anal endosonography, a Bruel & Kjaer unit with a 7.0-MHz transducer was used with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide as the contrast agent (1, 2, 3). In each case, EAS and CE-EAS diagnoses of the type and complexity of anal fistula, as well as the location of the internal opening, were determined. Results showed that CE-EAS was significantly more accurate in diagnosing the type of anal fistulas than NC-EAS (97 vs. 94%, respectively; P=02275), and in differentiating simple from complex tracks (92 vs. 75%, respectively; P<0.00001). CE-EAS was much more accurate in patients with recurrent fistulas (57 vs. 92%, respectively; P<0.00006), whereas in a subgroup of primary tracks, both methods were of comparable accuracy. Sensitivities of CE-EAS and EAS for internal opening were 89 and 65%, respectively. The conclusion of this paper is that CE-EAS significantly increases the accuracy of standard non-contrast EAS and is especially beneficial for the differentiation between simple and complex tracks.

Prevalence of Chronic Venous Disorders Among Employees Working in Prolonged Sitting and Standing Postures

Research was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of chronic venous disorders (CVD) among people working in prolonged sitting or static standing postures. Clinical examination and duplex Doppler sonography were performed on 126 employees working in a sitting (96 individuals) or a standing posture (30 individuals). Evidence of CVD was found in 59.4% of individuals working in a sitting posture and in 83.4% of those working in a standing posture, and was significantly higher in employees working in a standing posture (p = .015). Incompetent perforating veins and vena saphena magna valves, and bilateral changes were the more frequent signs of CVD. The investigation showed that prolonged standing and sitting at work increases risk of developing CVD. Further, people working in a standing posture are at a significantly greater risk for CVD than those working in a prolonged sitting posture. They should thus be the subject of specific prophylaxis interventions.

Ectopic Decidual Reaction in the Urinary Bladder Presenting as a Vesical Tumor

A urinary bladder tumor in young pregnant women is a very rare finding. It may bring diagnostic problems despite use of advanced imaging techniques. We report on a case of an exceedingly rare occurrence of a decidual reaction in the urinary bladder of a pregnant young woman. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first such case reported in published medical data. The final diagnosis was possible only after histopathologic assessment of a specimen obtained during diagnostic cystoscopy, which showed typical decidual changes within detrusor muscle, without ectopic endometrium, which could suggest more frequent vesical endometriosis.

The accuracy of a postprocessing technique--volume render mode--in three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography of anal abscesses and fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a 3-dimensional volume render mode endoanal ultrasonography in the assessment of anal abscesses and fistulas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography was performed preoperatively in 62 patients with clinical diagnoses of an anal abscess and/or an anal fistula. The accuracy of a volume render mode endoanal ultrasonography was evaluated blindly by 2 observers through a retrospective analysis of all the stored images of anal abscesses and fistulas. Differences in classification of the type of anal abscesses and in determination of the type and location of internal openings of anal fistulas were assessed. RESULTS: In classification of the primary tract, the agreement between the volume render mode endoanal ultrasonography and surgery was much higher than that for the 3-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (marginal homogeneity test P > .1, &kgr; = 0.96, and marginal homogeneity test P = .0048, &kgr; = 0.28, respectively). In localizing the internal openings and in classifying anal abscesses, the agreement for both methods with surgery was identical. The interobserver agreement showed complete agreement (100%) with regard to luminance and thickness parameters and very high accuracy for the opacity and filter parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that volume render mode endoanal ultrasonography is a useful adjunct method to the 3-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography, showing better classification results of the types of anal fistulas.

Obesity and renal cancer incidence and mortality – a systematic review of prospective cohort studies

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE There have been many studies published recently on obesity and the risk of renal cancer; however, the epidemiological evidence for such an association has not been consistent. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted of the prospective cohort studies to assess the association between obesity and the risk of renal cancer incidence and death. MATERIALS AND METHODS A search was conducted of the PubMed database and references to published studies from inception until May 2013. Guidelines for Assessing Quality in Prognostic Studies on the Basis of Framework for Potential Biases were followed for quality assessment of studies included in the systematic review. RESULTS Twenty eligible studies were identified and included in the systematic review. Among the 20 selected studies, overall study quality was high. Although the evidence from the prospective cohort studies, linking obesity with renal cancer incidence, has not been entirely consistent, there is a convincing body of data for a positive relationship. Moreover, cumulative data is compelling for a strong positive association between obesity and fatal renal cancer. CONCLUSIONS There is a relatively consistent amount of evidence that obesity increases the risk of renal cancer and fatal renal cancer. Further research is needed as better understanding of mechanisms by which obesity may influence renal cancer development and progression will aid the fostering of strategies for prevention and treatment of one of the most lethal human malignancies.

Postpartum endoanal ultrasound findings in primiparous women after vaginal delivery

Background: Natural childbirth is regarded as the most frequent cause of anal sphincter defects. The majority of obstetric injuries are detectable only by anal endosonography (AES), in from 6.8% to 35% of women after vaginal delivery. Purpose: To evaluate prospectively anal sphincters in primiparous women in the first days after delivery to estimate the prevalence of anal sphincter defects and to correlate selected risk factors with the recognized injuries. Material and Methods: A total of 112 consecutive primiparous women aged 19–40 years (mean 29.3 years) underwent three-dimensional (3D) AES with the use of a BK Medical scanner Profocus 2202 in the first weeks after delivery. Results: Twelve tears (10.7%) in the perineum, including three extending to anal sphincters (2.6%) were found on AES. As many as 86 (76.8%) women had medio-lateral episiotomies due to the practice pattern in our hospital or as a consequence of obstetric factors. The statistical analysis did not prove a significant association between diagnosed injuries and episiotomy (P=0.73), nor a traumatic effect of epidural anesthesia, fetus head circumference ≥34 cm, or birth weight ≥3525 g. Conclusion: Anal sphincter tears following childbirth were found in only 2.6% of primiparous women, suggesting that vaginal delivery might not imply high risk of pelvic floor damage as has previously been assumed. The results do not confirm that medio-lateral episiotomy is conducive to obstetric anal sphincter defects.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with bladder neck preservation: positive surgical margin and urinary continence status

Introduction Preservation of the bladder neck (BN) has been controversial, as limited excision of the bladder neck may result in incomplete resection of the disease. Moreover, the urinary continence rate may not be improved. Aim To evaluate the effect of bladder neck sparing on urinary continence, and surgical margins status in prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with laparoscopic radical extraperitoneal prostatectomy. Material and methods A retrospective analysis of 295 consecutive patients who had undergone laparoscopic radical extraperitoneal prostatectomy for clinically localised prostate cancer in a single institution was performed. Positive surgical margin (SM(+)) and urinary continence status at 3, 6, and 12 months were evaluated. Results The distribution of SM(+) for pT2, pT3, and pT4a was 15.3% (27/176), 49.1% (58/118), and 100% (1/1), respectively. Overall, there were 55.61%, 80.61%, and 84.69% of men continent at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. However, when limiting the analysis to those who did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy within 12 months following surgery, urinary continence rates were 59.23%, 85.86%, and 90.21% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and pathological T stage were identified as significant predictors of positive surgical margins. Conclusions Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical extraperitoneal prostatectomy with bladder neck preservation has been a safe procedure which has resulted in good functional outcome. We observed a relatively high incidence of positive surgical margins which could be attributed to a large number of extracapsular disease cases.

Usefulness of 3D transperineal ultrasound in severe stenosis of the anal canal: preliminary experience in four cases

BackgroundOrganic or functional anal canal stenoses are uncommon conditions that occur in the majority of cases as a consequence of anal diseases. A proper assessment is fundamental for decision making; however, proctological examination and endoanal ultrasound are often unfeasible or very difficult to perform even under local or general anesthesia. We therefore began to use 3D transperineal ultrasound to assess patients. The aim of this study was to compare the results of evacuation proctography and 3D transperineal ultrasound in patients with severe anal canal stenosis.MethodsFour consecutive patients with high-grade anal canal stenosis were evaluated using both proctography and 3D transperineal ultrasound with a micro-convex transducer between March and June 2011.ResultsIn all cases, 3D transperineal ultrasound provided detailed information on the length and level of stenosis and on the integrity of the anal sphincters.ConclusionsOur preliminary experience suggests that 3D transperineal ultrasound makes it possible to plan optimal surgical treatment.

Is determination of transition zone volume by transrectal ultrasound in patients with clinically benign prostatic enlargement sufficiently reliable in the clinical setting

Introduction Controversies exist regarding the accuracy of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) determination of transition zone volume (TZV) when compared with enucleated adenoma weight. Aim To determine the accuracy and reliability of measurements of the TZV by TRUS, by comparing preoperative radiological findings with the enucleated prostate adenoma volume, measured by fluid displacement volumetry (FDV), after retropubic prostatectomy performed by the Millin method, and, moreover, to evaluate changes in the surgical capsule size in the intermediate postoperative period. Material and methods We measured TZV preoperatively using TRUS and postoperatively with FDV in 112 patients who underwent retroperitoneal prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Results The TRUS volume correlated well with specimen volumes (r = 0.945, p < 0.0001). The median (quartile 1, quartile 3) absolute error was 7.35 ml (4.15 ml, 9.28 ml) and the median percent error was 9.12% (4.75%, 14.98%). Percent error, but not absolute error, was significantly related to TRUS TZV (p < 0.001 and 0.217, respectively). Adenomas > 80 cc were associated with lower percent error. The median volume of the residual prostate tissue measured 3.5 years after prostatectomy was 92.65 cc (65.75 cc, 109.58 cc), whereas the median volume of the surgical capsule, depending on the equation used for its calculation, was 24.80 cc (16.25 cc, 37.37 cc) and 31.43 cc (23.14 cc, 43.32 cc). Conclusions The TRUS TZV correlated well with values determined by FDV. It can be reliably used in clinical management of BPH.