Uttam Mete

Comparison of 18F fluoride PET/CT and 99mTc-MDP bone scan in the detection of skeletal metastases in urinary bladder carcinoma.

Aim The aim of this study was to compare 18F-fluoride PET/CT and 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy in the detection of skeletal metastases in urinary bladder carcinoma. Patients and Methods In this prospective study, 48 patients with urinary bladder carcinoma (44 male and 4 female patients, aged 35–80 years) underwent 99mTc-MDP planar and SPECT/CT bone scan (BS) followed by 18F-fluoride PET/CT within 48 hours. Skeletal metastasis diagnosed on each of these techniques was compared against a final diagnosis based on contrast-enhanced CT, MRI, skeletal survey, clinical follow-up, and histological correlation. Results 18F-fluoride PET/CT identified bony metastases and changed the management in 17 of 48 patients (35%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 99mTc-MDP planar BS were 82.35%, 64.51%, 56%, 86.95%, and 70.83%; of 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT were 88.23%, 74.19%, 65.21%, 92%, and 79.16%; and of 18F-fluoride PET/CT were 100%, 87.09%, 80.95%, 100%, and 91.66%, respectively. Fair agreement between 99mTc-MDP planar BS and 18F-fluoride PET/CT (&kgr; = 0.42) and excellent agreement between SPECT/CT and 18F-fluoride PET/CT (&kgr; = 0.74) were found. Conclusions 18F-fluoride PET/CT has higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in detecting bone metastases in urinary bladder carcinoma than conventional 99mTc-MDP planar BS. SPECT/CT improves all these parameters compared with planar BS and may serve as a cost-effective screening procedure for the detection of skeletal metastases in high-risk patients.

Is There an Adjunctive Role of Tamsulosin to Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy for Upper Ureteric Stones: Results of an Open Label Randomized Nonplacebo Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES To investigate the role of tamsulosin as an adjunct to management of upper ureteric stones (UUS) with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). METHODS In this prospective, randomized, open label study, patients with single UUS (for SWL) were randomly assigned into 2 groups based on whether they received 0.4 mg tamsulosin (group A and B, respectively) during treatment. Repeat SWL was performed at week 1, 3, and 5 after first session. Primary outcome variables were success rate and pain intensity. RESULTS A total of 40 patients (20 each group) completed the requisite follow-up. Success rate was higher in group A after 1 SWL-session (55% vs 25%, respectively; P = .05). There was an insignificant trend of decreased number of days (30.7 +/- 19.7 vs 39.0 +/- 19.9; P = .19), number of SWL sessions (1.6 vs 2.0; P = .10), and pain experienced (score on visual analog scale, 25.3 +/- 17.9 vs 38.3 +/- 28.0, respectively; P = .41) in group A. Three in group A and 6 in B developed steinstrasse (P = .69). Overall, 1 in group A required auxiliary procedures as compared with 3 in control group (P = .60). CONCLUSIONS Tamsulosin improves clearance rate of UUS after single SWL. However, it does not provide significant advantage in terms of decreasing pain associated with this treatment.

A Comparative Randomized Prospective Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Combination of Tamsulosin and Tadalafil vs. Tamsulosin or Tadalafil Alone in Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

INTRODUCTION Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction are common disorders of advancing age. AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin and tadalafil in patients with LUTS due to BPH. METHODS In this prospective randomized study, 133 men complaining of LUTS due to BPH were included. Forty-five patients received tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day alone (Group A), 44 patients received tadalafil 10 mg/day (Group B), and combination therapy (tamsulosin and tadalafil both) was instituted in 44 patients (Group C). After a 2-week medication free run-in period, they were evaluated for International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function score (IIEF5), quality of life (IPSS QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urine (PVR) volume, and safety parameters before and at 3 months of treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES There were primary (IPSS, IPSS QoL index, Qmax, and PVR) and secondary (erectile function [EF] domain scores from IIEF5) efficacy end points. Safety assessment included laboratory tests and patients reporting of adverse event. RESULTS A significant improvement in IPSS score was observed in all the 3 groups A, B, and C (-50.90%, P < 0.05; -33.50%, P < 0.05; and -53.90%, P < 0.05, respectively). IIEF5 score increased significantly in these three groups (+39.28%, P < 0.05; +45.96%, P < 0.05; and +60.23%, P < 0.05, respectively). A significant increase in Qmax and decrease in PVR were also observed (33.99%, P < 0.05; 29.78%, P < 0.05; and 37.04%, P < 0.05) and (-60.90%, P < 0.05; -49.45%, P < 0.05; and -62.97%, P < 0.05, respectively). The QoL scores improved significantly (-73.35%, P < 0.05; -70.26%, P < 0.05; and -79.65%, P < 0.05, respectively). Side effects were dyspepsia, heartburn, headache, flushing, myalgia, and backache. Adverse effect dropout was 3.7%. No participant experienced any severe or serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS In patients with LUTS due to BPH, tamsulosin and tadalafil alone or in combination cause a significant improvement in patients with LUTS. Their EF also improves with these medications. The improvement is better with combination therapy compared with single agent alone.

Genital elephantiasis and sexually transmitted infections – revisited

Genital elephantiasis is an important medical problem in the tropics. It usually affects young and productive age group, and is associated with physical disability and extreme mental anguish. The majority of cases are due to filariasis; however, a small but significant proportion of patients develop genital elephantiasis due to bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mainly lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and donovanosis. STI-related genital elephantiasis should be differentiated from elephantiasis due to other causes, including filariasis, tuberculosis, haematological malignancies, iatrogenic, or dermatological diseases. Laboratory investigations like microscopy of tissue smear and nucleic acid amplification test for donovanosis, and serology and polymerase chain reaction for LGV may help in the diagnosis, but in endemic areas, in the absence of laboratory facilities, diagnosis largely depends on clinical characteristics. The causative agent of LGV, Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1–L3, is a lymphotropic organism which leads to the development of thrombolymphangitis and perilymphangitis, and lymphadenitis. Long-standing oedema, fibrosis and lymphogranulomatous infiltration result in the final picture of elephantiasis. Elephantiasis in donovanosis is mainly due to constriction of the lymphatics which are trapped in the chronic granulomatous inflammatory response generated by the causative agent, Calymmatobacterium (Klebsiella) granulomatis. The LGV-associated genital elephantiasis should be treated with a prolonged course of doxycycline given orally, while donovanosis should be treated with azithromycin or trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole combination given for a minimum of three weeks. Genital elephantiasis is not completely reversible with medical therapy alone and often needs to be reduced surgically.

Reninoma treated with nephron-sparing surgery

A 14-year-old hypertensive boy was evaluated in our clinic. The physical examination was essentially normal except for his high blood pressure. Laboratory findings showed increased plasma renin activity. Abdominal ultrasonography detected a hypoechoic, 2-cm mass in right kidney. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a well-circumscribed, solid, hypoenhancing cortical lesion in the middle of the right kidney. Magnetic resonance angiography documented bilateral normal renal arteries. With a preoperative diagnosis of reninoma, the patient underwent nephron-sparing surgery. Intraoperative frozen section analysis revealed a benign lesion. Subsequently, histopathologic examination and electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of juxtaglomerular cell tumor. The patient remained normotensive in the postoperative period. Follow-up intravenous urography showed bilateral normally functioning kidneys.

Ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy versus ballistic lithotripsy for treatment of ureteric stones: a prospective comparative study.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare the results of laser (Ho:YAG) and pneumatic (ballistic) intracorporeal lithotripsy for ureteric calculi in terms of efficacy, safety and complications. Methods: 55 patients having ureteric calculus were randomly allocated into pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) and laser lithotripsy (LL) groups. Swiss lithoclast was used for PL (3 atm pressure and 12 Hz frequency) and the VersaPulse PowerSuite was used for LL. Appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: 30 patients (34 stones) were treated with LL and 25 patients (25 stones) with PL. Both groups were comparable in profile. Mean lithotripsy time was 24.03 ± 9.51 min in the LL group and 19.80 ± 4.44 min in the PL group (p = 0.027). The immediate stone clearance rate was higher in the LL group (p = 0.001), but it was comparable at 4 weeks (p = 0.097). Stone migration occurred in 16% of cases in the PL group. No major complication was observed in either group. Conclusions: We conclude that both laser and pneumatic energies are effective and safe for intracorporeal lithotripsy. Laser lithotripsy takes more time but provides earlier stone-free status.

Efficacy of holmium laser urethrotomy in combination with intralesional triamcinolone in the treatment of anterior urethral stricture.

Purpose To evaluate the outcome of visual internal urethrotomy with a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser along with intralesional triamcinolone injection. Materials and Methods Patients with an anterior urethral stricture less than 3 cm in length were evaluated by clinical history, physical examination, uroflowmetry, and retrograde urethrogram preoperatively. All patients were treated with holmium laser urethrotomy and intralesional triamcinolone (80 mg) injection under general or regional anesthesia. An 18 F urethral catheter was placed for 5 days. All patients were followed up for 12 months postoperatively by history, uroflowmetry, and if required, retrograde urethrogram or urethroscopy every 3 months. Results The mean age of the patients was 42.9 years (range, 14 to 70 years). The overall recurrence rate was 24%. The success rate in patients with strictures less than 1 cm in length was 95.8%, whereas that in patients with strictures of 1 to 3 cm in length was 57.7% (p=0.002). The outcome did not depend on age, duration of symptoms, etiology, or location of stricture. Conclusions Holmium laser urethrotomy with intralesional triamcinolone is a safe and effective minimally invasive therapeutic modality for urethral strictures. This procedure has an encouraging success rate, especially in those with stricture segments of less than 1 cm in length.

Status of Oxidative Stress in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE Although oxidative stress is implicated in renal cell carcinoma pathogenesis, to our knowledge changes in oxidative stress parameters in patients who undergo surgery for renal cell carcinoma have not been studied previously. We investigated the status of oxidative stress in patients with renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide and glutathione were measured in the blood of 68 patients with renal tumor and in 30 age matched normal controls. Levels were measured again 1 week, and 1 and 2 months postoperatively in patients who underwent surgery for renal cell carcinoma. Levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation were measured in tumor tissue and in normal renal parenchyma in 51 patients with renal tumor. RESULTS Significantly increased reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and decreased glutathione were observed in patients with renal cell carcinoma compared to normal subjects and in patients with benign tumors. Superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation were increased and catalase was decreased in tumor tissue compared to normal renal tissue. Oxidative stress correlated with renal cell carcinoma grade and stage but decreased after curative resection. Patients with metastatic disease had persistently increased oxidative stress parameters. Antioxidant enzyme levels in benign tumor tissue were significantly higher than in renal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Patients with renal cell carcinoma have increased oxidative stress, which is effectively alleviated by curative resection. In patients with benign tumors antioxidant defense mechanisms maintain normal redox status.

Plasma chromogranin A: Clinical implications in patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer receiving docetaxel chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE Development of castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) indicates progressive disease with poor survival. Docetaxel has variable response with a good proportion of nonresponders. Neuroendocrine differentiation, hypothesised as one of the mechanisms behind development of CRPC, can be assessed by plasma Chromogranin A (CgA). We evaluated the clinical importance of circulating CgA in CRPC patients receiving Docetaxel. METHODS Plasma CgA was assessed by ELISA in 14 patients with CRPC receiving 3-weekly docetaxel. Baseline PSA, baseline CgA, PSA response, CgA response and clinical response to chemotherapy were evaluated and analysed. RESULTS Increased plasma CgA was observed in 64.3% of patients. There was no correlation between baseline CgA and PSA. Two patients with PSA < 10 ng/ml had elevated CgA. Baseline CgA was not influenced by variables such as site of metastasis and time to develop CRPC status. Seven patients (50%) had PSA-response and 5 (36%) CgA-response. In 4 patients PSA response and CgA response were discordant. Compared to men with normal baseline CgA, a higher proportion of those with elevated baseline CgA had PSA response (55% vs 40%), symptomatic response (66% vs 40%) and radiological response (55% vs 20%). Two patients with symptomatic response had only CgA response. Three patients having disease progression despite PSA response had increasing CgA. CONCLUSIONS CgA and PSA are complementary tumour markers in CRPC. CgA may help in predicting the response of docetaxel therapy. Rising CgA during therapy may be associated with bad prognosis whereas CgA response is likely to be associated with clinical response.

Utility of early dynamic and delayed post-diuretic 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax in predicting tumour grade and T-stage of urinary bladder carcinoma: results from a prospective single centre study

OBJECTIVE Accurate pre-treatment grading and staging of bladder cancer are vital for better therapeutic decision and prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) calculated during early dynamic and post-diuretic fluorine-18 fludeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT studies with grade and pT-stage of bladder cancer. METHODS 39 patients with suspected/proven bladder carcinoma underwent 10-min early dynamic pelvic imaging and delayed post-diuretic whole-body FDG PET/CT imaging. SUVmax of the lesions derived from both studies was compared with grade and pT-stage. Relationship of SUVmax with grade and pT-stage was analyzed using independent sample t-test and analysis of variance. RESULTS SUVmax of the early dynamic imaging showing tumour perfusion was independent from the SUVmax of delayed imaging. High-grade tumours showed higher SUVmax than low-grade tumours in the early dynamic imaging (5.4 ± 1.4 vs 4.7 ± 1.6; p-value 0.144) with statistically significant higher value in Stage pT1 tumours (6.8 ± 0.8 vs 5.5 ± 1.2; p-value 0.04). Non-invasive pTa tumours had significantly less SUVmax than higher stage tumours during early dynamic imaging [F(4,29) = 6.860, p 0.001]. CONCLUSION Early dynamic imaging may have a role in predicting the grade and aggressiveness of the bladder tumours and thus can help in treatment planning and prognostication. Advances in knowledge: Dynamic PET/CT is a limitedly explored imaging technique. This prospective pilot study demonstrates the utility of this modality as a potential adjunct to standard FDG PET/CT imaging in predicting the grade and aggressiveness of the bladder tumours and thus can impact the patient management.