(Purpose) We compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with radical prostatectomy specimens to evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for prostate cancer localization. (Materials and methods) We performed a retrospective study of 44 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. We compared MRI with pathological specimens (74 tumors) to evaluate their diagnostic performance of cancer localization. The ADC value was measured in cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissues. (Results) Of 74 tumors, digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), DWI, T2WI and DWI detected 9 (12.2%), 9 (12.2%), 26 (35.1%), 30 (40.5%), and 48 (64.9%) tumors, respectively. The mean ADC value was lower in cancerous tissues than in non-cancerous tissues (0.86±0.15 versus 1.24±0.16×10^-3 mm²/s). The mean ADC values of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues were: 0.85±0.15 versus 1.28±0.17×10^-3 mm²/s in the peripheral zone; and 0.87±0.15 versus 1.19±0.14×10^-3 mm²/s in the transition zone. The mean ADC value in patients with a Gleason score of 8 or 9 (0.76±0.12×10^-3 mm²/s) was lower than that in patients with a Gleason score of 6 or 7 (0.86±0.15×10^-3 mm²/s). (Conclusion) DWI and ADC value were considered to be useful for the diagnosis of prostate cancer localization.

View full abstract

(Purpose) We assessed the outcome after radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with untreated high-risk clinically localized prostate cancer, retrospectively. (Materials and methods) Between 2001 and 2010, 89 patients for untreated high-risk clinically localized prostate cancer on the risk classification as defined by D'Amico, underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy. Boundaries of the pelvic lymph node dissection field divided into external iliac vessels, obturator fossa, and internal iliac vessels. We investigated mainly the postoperative outcome of 84 patients without any adjuvant therapies. PSA recurrence-free survival among the pretreatment variables was estimated using Kaplan-Meier plots, and the statistical significance was determined by log rank test. (Results) In 89 high-risk patients, 32.7% had pT3-pT4 tumors, 16.9% positive surgical margin, 6.7% positive lymph node metastases and 30.3% Gleason score 8-10 at the pathological examination. A median of 13 nodes (mean 14.0, range 9-25 nodes) were removed per patient. In 96.6% cases, postoperative PSA values decreased less than 0.2 ng/ml. The median observation period after operation was 1,819 days. Median PSA recurrence-free survival rates, overall survival and cancer cause-specific survival rates at 5 year, in 84 high-risk patients without any adjuvant therapies, were 73.8%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Median PSA recurrence-free survival rates according to pathological T stage and surgical margin status were statistically significant, but that according to preoperative 3 factors (clinical T stage, Gleason score at biopsy, preoperative PSA values) were statistically insignificant. Moreover, that according to both the number of positive preoperative 3 factors (1 vs. 2 positive factors) and the number of removed lymph nodes (≤13 vs. ≥14), were statistically insignificant. The median PSA recurrence-free survival rates at 5 year for positive margin cases were 0%. (Conclusion) Radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy is feasible in patients with high-risk clinically localized prostate cancer. We suggest that both wide resection and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy may improve the postoperative outcome for high-risk clinically localized prostate cancer.

View full abstract

(Objective) The "Japanese guidelines for prevention of perioperative infections in urological field" was edited by the Japanese Urological Association in 2007. They are the first Japanese guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis specifically to prevent perioperative infections in the urological field. We report here the results of a multicenter prospective study conducted to examine the validity and usefulness of these guidelines. (Patients and methods) The subjects were 513 patients who had undergone urological surgeries between July and September 2008 at 10 nationwide university institutions in the Japanese Society of UTI Cooperative Study Group. These surgeries were transurethral resection of bladder (TURBT), transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), adrenalectomy, nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, radical prostatectomy and total cystectomy. Analysis was performed on patient information, surgical procedures, types and durations of administration of prophylactic antibiotic agents, and the presence of surgical site infections (SSI) and remote infections (RI). (Results) Of 513 patients, 387 (75.4%) were administered prophylactic antibiotic agents according to the guidelines. In these patients, the incidences of SSI and RI were 5.9% and 4.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that significant factors for SSI were the surgical risk (according to the ASA physical status classification system), diabetes, and operation time, and that the only significant factor for RI was the operation time. (Conclusions) More large-scale study and evidences are necessary in order to demonstrate the validity and usefulness of these guidelines.

View full abstract

(Objective) We retrospectively compared the clinical outcomes of Lithoclast^® assisted lithotripsy (L group) with those of Holmium YAG laser assisted lithotripsy (H group). (Patients and methods) We analyzed records for operation time, duration of ureteral stenting, complication and stone-free rates in the L group (388 patients) and the H group (368 patients) for the primary procedure. (Results) The stone locations (L group/H group) were U1 in 141/181, U2 in 69/57, and U3 in 178/130. Respective median stone sizes (L group/H group) were: U1,: 10.0/10.0 mm; U2,: 7.0/10.0 mm;, and U3,: 6.0/7.0 mm. Secondary procedures were performed in 79 L group patients and 35 H group patients. The median operation times (L group/H group) were 29.5/25.0 minutes. The median durations of ureteral stenting (L group/H group) were 4.0/4.0 days. The stone-free rates (L group/H group) according to the locations of the stones were 69.3/82.0% in U1, 85.5/87.0% in U2, and 92.0/98.4% in U3. Complications (L group/H group) were ureter perforation in 8/5 cases, pyelonephritis in 7/2 cases, ureteral stricture in 2/6 cases, and stone push up in 27/13 cases. (Conclusion) The operation time for holmium YAG laser assisted lithotripsy was significantly shorter than that of the Litoclast^® assisted procedure, and the stone-free rate with holmium YAG laser assisted lithotripsy was better than that with Lithoclast^® assisted lithotripsy for U1 and U3 stones.

View full abstract

A 59-year-old woman who identified as a Jehovah's Witness was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma in the left adrenal gland, measuring 11 cm in diameter, during treatment for hypertension. Given her desire to undergo transfusion-less surgery for religious reasons, we obtained fully informed consent and had the patient sign both a transfusion refusal and exemption-from-responsibility certificate and received consent to instead use plasma derivatives, preoperative diluted autologous transfusion and intraoperative salvaged autologous transfusion. To manage anemia and maintain total blood volume, we preoperatively administered erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and alpha 1 blocker, respectively. During the left adrenalectomy, the patient underwent a transfusion of 400 mL of preoperative diluted autologous blood, ultimately receiving no intraoperative salvaged autologous blood. The operation took 4 hours 42 minutes, and the total volume of blood lost was 335 mL. In conclusion, to complete transfusion-less surgery for pheochromocytoma, it is necessary to have the patient sign a generic refusal form for transfusion and exemption-from-responsibility certificate as well as outline via another consent form exactly what sort of transfusion is permitted on a more specific basis. And doctors should become skilled in perioperative management and operative technique for pheochromocytoma and make the best effort by all alternative medical treatment in order to build trust confidence with a patient.

View full abstract

A 69-year-old man complaining of left abdominal pain was referred from a private clinic for retroperitoneal masses that were discovered on abdominal ultrasound in November 2010. CT scan showed retroperitoneal masses, located above the left kidney, measuring 10 cm. Para-aortic lymph nodes were swelling. We performed open biopsy to make the diagnosis in December 2010. The diagnosis was primary retroperitoneal GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor). We started imatinib 400 mg/day according to the Japan GIST guideline in January 2011. However the tumor pogressed rapidly, after 1 month the patient died.

View full abstract

The case pertains to a 47-year-old male. He consulted our institute regarding a tumor in his right kidney. Endoscopic retroperitoneal nephrectomy of the right kidney was conducted to remove the tumor. The postoperative pathology was Renal Cell Carcinoma (Clear cell carcinoma, pT1b, pNx, V (+), Fuhrman grade 4). Multiple lung metastases were observed upon CT scan the following year. Sunitinib was administered following Interferon α (IFN-α) therapy; however, the lung metastases became larger, so administration of everolimus at 10 mg/day was commenced. The lung metastatic lesion became smaller upon CT scan from 6 weeks following administration, and it was determined that the therapeutic effect was PR. The PR was still maintained upon CT scan 31 weeks following administration but the lung metastatic lesion still remained; therefore, right lower lobe resection and lymph node biopsy were conducted upon obtaining informed consent. The administration of everolimus at 10 mg/day is still subsequently being continued due to viable tumor cells being observed in the lung metastatic lesion and the lymph node. At present, 43 weeks have past since the start of everolimus administration, but no new metastatic lesions have been observed.

View full abstract

A 56-year-old woman with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) presented with high fever and left back pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple renal cysts, left hydronephrosis and a left ureteral stone. Her condition could not be managed with antibiotic therapy and indwelling left ureteral stent. Infected of left renal cysts was suspected, we performed diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diffusion-weighted MRI showed higher signal intensity in one renal cyst than in other renal cysts. CT-guided percutaneous puncture of an infected cyst was performed. Her symptoms and fever resolved following the procedure. Identification of an infected renal cyst in PKD is often difficult on either ultrasonography or CT. Diffusion-weighted MRI allowed exact localization of the infected cyst among many cysts in PKD.

View full abstract

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of lymphatic edema of left arm. He had a past history of transurethral resection of the bladder tumor 5 years ago, and pathological diagnosis was urothelial carcinoma with micropapillary variant, G3=G2, pT1. CT scan revealed bladder tumor with invasion of the rectum, and multiple lymph nodes swelling in the axilla, retroperitoneum and pelvis (cT4bN3M1). The patient underwent biopsies of the bladder wall and the left axillary lymph nodes, and pathologic examination revealed micropapillary carcinoma. Five courses of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC therapy) were perfomed, and bladder tumor and lymph node metastases reduced remarkably, with serum CA19-9 level decreasing from 172,000 U/ml to 106 U/ml. However, the patient died from recurrence 23 months after the start of GC therapy.

View full abstract

A 66-year-old woman was referred to our department for thickening bladder wall incidentally found during postoperative follow-up of transverse colon cancer. Cystoscopy showed edematous tumor with a diameter of 5 cm on the right wall. Deep portion of the tumor showed high intensity on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). Transurethral resection and transvaginal needle biopsy was performed, and pathological examination revealed granulation tissues mainly consisted of inflammatory cells and fibrosis. DW-MRI is a functional imaging constructed by quantifying the diffusion of water molecules. Recently, the feasibility of this imaging in the diagnosis of bladder cancer has been reported. However, we should keep in mind that granulation tissues consisted of inflammatory cells and fibrosis is also possible to be positive for DW-MRI.

View full abstract

We report a case of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the female urethra. A 57-year-old woman presented with complaint of gross hematuria. Abdominal ultrasonography, cystourethroscopy, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the urethral tumor was invasive to bladder neck. Clinical stage was determined as cT3N1M0, then anterior pelvic exenteration and ileal conduit formation were performed. The pathological diagnosis was clear cell adenocarcinoma of urethra and the stage was pT3N1. The patient received TS-1 and cisplatin for postoperative recurrence, but she died from multiple lung metastasis 54 months after the operation. Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the female urethra is rare case in the Japanese literatures. Pathogenesis and management of this rare condition are discussed.

View full abstract