(Objectives) Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) is now a standard care for the treatment of renal tumors, but the limitation of LRN for large tumors remains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined the safety and efficacy of LRN for >7 cm renal tumors including tumors >10 cm.

(Patients and methods) From March 2001 to September 2014, 167 patients received laparoscopic surgery for renal tumors at our institution. Of these, 126 patients (≤4.0 cm: 64 cases, 4.1-7.0 cm: 40 cases, 7.1-10.0 cm: 12 cases, >10.0 cm: 10 cases) underwent LRN. Treatment outcomes including surgical and oncological outcomes among each stage were compared.

(Results) Operating time for 7.1-10.0 cm tumors were similar to that <7 cm tumors but that for >10 cm tumors was significantly longer than that <10 cm tumors. There was no significant difference among each stage in terms of complication rate. As expected, recurrence-free survival rate for >10 cm tumors were worse than <10 cm tumors.

(Conclusions) Our data suggests that LRN for large tumors >7 cm can be performed safely, but LRN for >10 cm tumors are technically demanding and require longer operation time.

(Objective) Bone metastasis symptoms are complications that greatly reduce the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients. We report a retrospective study on the efficacy of radiation therapy for patients with bone metastasis in urinary organ cancer.

(Subjects and methods) Subjects are comprised of 17 patients; total irradiated areas consist of 25 sites. There are 5 patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, 1 patient with bladder cancer and 11 patients with prostatic cancer. All of them have undergone radiation therapy for bone metastasis in urinary organ cancer between April 2007 and March 2014 in the Department of Urology, Kanazawa Medical University. The mean age of the patients was 66.7 years old. We looked at irradiated areas, exposure dose and changes of symptom in all patients.

(Results) Irradiated areas are thoracolumbar vertebrae (14 sites), cranial base (2 sites), pubic bone (1 site), ilium bone (2 sites), sacral bone (1 site), rib bone (1 site) and hip joint (1 site). The mean exposure dose of one area is 37.5 Gy (13.5-60). 19 irradiated sites which were previously reported to have sharp pain have gained improvement at 16 sites. These 16 sites have comparatively lesser pain or no pain. 8 cases in acknowledgment of walk difficulty, it was with 7 cases walking alone possibility again.

(Conclusion) This study showed that radiation therapy have significant improvement in terms of symptoms and QOL for the patients with bone metastasis in urinary organ cancer.

(Objective) We retrospectively investigated the applicability of the Japanese Association for the Surgery of Trauma (JAST) classification version 2008 for renal injuries as predictive factors of the initial treatment for 207 blunt renal injury cases.

(Materials and methods) We reviewed 207 patients between 1982 and 2013 who were admitted to our institution with blunt renal trauma. Patients were classified as conservative management group, immediate transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) group, and immediate nephrectomy group by initial treatment. We retrospectively assessed several parameters including JAST criteria version 2008 type of renal injury (type), severity of hematoma (H factor) and extravasation of urine (U factor), the shock on arrival, associated abdominal injuries, serum hemoglobin levels, and macrohematuria as predicting factors of initial treatment of blunt renal trauma.

(Result) TypeIII and PV injuries, H2 factor and associated non-renal abdominal injuries were predictive factors of immediate nephrectomy (p=0.001, p=0.000, p=0.003). TypeIII and PV injuries and H2 factor were predictive factors of immediate TAE. Both of H2 and U2 factors were significant predictors of immediate nephrectomy in patients with typeIII injury. H factor was a significantly predictive factor of immediate TAE in patients with typeI/II injuries (p=0.040). The rate of immediate TAE has been increasing but the rate of partial nephrectomy except for nephrectomy has been decreasing since the year 2007 when TAE was immediately available in our hospital.

(Conclusion) The type category and severity of hematoma of JAST classification version 2008 would be predictive factors of initial management of blunt renal injuries. Patients with typeIII injuries and both of H2 and U2 factors, can be adapted to immediate nephrectomy. Patients with typeI/II and H2 factors can be adapted to immediate TAE.

(Objectives) Because acute complicated pyelonephritis can easily cause sepsis and concomitant shock status, it is a potentially lethal disease. However, the predictors for the severity of pyelonephritis is not well analyzed. In this study, we aimed at clarifying the clinical characteristic risk factors associated with septic shock in patients with acute complicated pyelonephritis.

(Materials and methods) From May 2009 to March 2014, 267 patients with acute complicated pyelonephritis were treated at our institution. We investigated the characteristics of the patients associated with septic shock, and assessed risk factors in these patients. By using these risk factors, we established a novel scoring system to predict septic shock.

(Results) 267 patients included 145 patients with ureteral calculi and 75 patients with stent-related pyelonephritis. Septic shock occurred in 35 patients (13%), and the mortality rate was 0.75%. Multivariate analysis revealed that (P): Performance Status ≥3 (p=0.0014), (U): Presence of Ureteral calculi (p=0.043), (S): Sex of female (p=0.023), and (H): the presence of Hydronephrosis (p=0.039) were independent risk factors for septic shock. P.U.S.H. scoring system (range 0-4), which consists of these 4 factors, were positively correlated with the rate of septic shock (score 0: 0%, 1: 5.3%, 2: 3.4%, 3: 25.0%, 4: 42.3%). Importantly, patients with 3-4 P.U.S.H. scores were statistically more likely to become septic shock than those with 0-2 score (p=0.00014).

(Conclusions) These results suggest that P.U.S.H. scoring system using 4 clinical factors is useful to predict the status of septic shock in patients with acute complicated pyelonephritis.

(Objectives) Alpha1-blockers have been widely used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As improvement of symptoms occur relatively early after the administration of alpha-1 blockers, the blockers are considered to be extremely beneficial. However, some patients respond poorly to the blockers, providing additional treatment is difficult. Here we examined the efficacy of tadalafil that was additionally administered to patients receiving an oral alpha-1 blocker.

(Subjects and methods) The subjects were patients who had been diagnosed with BPH/LUTS, had received an oral alpha1-blocker for at least 1 month, and had responded poorly to the alpha-1 blocker treatment (International Prostate Symptom Score IPSS ≥8 and/or QOL index ≥3). Tadalafil 5 mg was administered on consecutive days to patients orally receiving an alpha-1 blocker. The following were measured before and at 4 and 8 weeks after the administration of tadalafil to evaluate the add-on effect of Tadalafil: IPSS, QOL index, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), maximal urinary flow rate, residual urine volume, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).

(Results) We studied 41 patients until 8 weeks after the drug administration. Tadalafil produced significant improvement in IPSS, QOL index, OABSS, and IIEF-5 at 4 weeks after the administration, as compared with before administration (P < 0.05). The improvement was even more significant at 8 weeks. However, the maximal urinary flow rate or residual urine volume did not differ significantly at any time point.

(Conclusions) The results of this study revealed that additional administration of tadalafil improves not only urinary conditions but also sexual function in patients with BPH/LUTS.

We report a 59-year-old male patient with metastatic small cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with systemic chemotherapy including an amrubicin. The patient was referred to our hospital complaining of macrohematuria. A cytoscopy revealed a non-papillary, broad-based tumor extending from the right to the posterior wall of the bladder. A computed tomography showed bilateral hydronephrosis caused by the bladder tumor and multiple metastases to the para-aortic and common iliac lymph nodes. The histopathological findings following a transurethral resection of the bladder tumor revealed a T2N3M1, LYM, stage IV small cell carcinoma. We administered two courses of systemic chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (CDDP) plus an etoposide (VP-16), a first-line treatment usually administered to patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. We then administered second-line chemotherapy consisting of CDDP plus an irinotecan. When the first and second-line therapies failed to halt progression of the disease, we decided to use amrubicin as the third-line therapy concomitant with radiotherapy for local control. Although the NSE (neuron-specific enolase) value decreased, the patient died 11 months after the initial examination. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which small cell carcinoma of the bladder was treated with amrubicin.

Rectourethral fistulais a relatively rare complication of radical prostatectomy but is extremely difficult to treat. We report a case with post-laparoscopic radical prostatectomy rectourethral fistula, treated with only endoscopic shielding.

A 75-year-old man had undergone laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, cT2cN0M0. Although there was no finding of rectal injury during the operation, pneumaturia, pyuria and diarrhea appeared at postoperative day 21 and diagnosed rectourethral fistula by colonoscopy and amidotrizoic acid enema. The fistula did not close spontaneously. Four months after the prostatectomy, we treated with endoscopic shielding by use of polyglycolic acid sheets and fibrin glue. The fistula have not recurred for 20 months after the endoscopic procedure.

This method is simple and less-invasive for patients. We think it is worth trying this method before surgical management for narrow rectourethral fistula following radical prostatectomy.

We report here a case of malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. A 93-year-old man with no history of asbestos exposure complained of increase of right scrotum size with pain. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right hydrocele testis. A cytologic examination of the hydrocele fluid demonstrated mesothelial cells but show less atypicality and lack of obvious malignant features (class IIIa). We performed right hydrocelectomy for hydrocele testis. The pathological diagnosis was epithelial type of malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis, therefore we performed radical orchidectomy with wide excision of hemi-scrotal wall. There is no evidence of recurrence after 6 months of follow up. Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis is rare, and accurate preoperative diagnosis is difficult. When a rapid increasing hemorrhagic hydrocele testis or nodular masses of the tunica vaginalis was observed, malignant mesothelioma should be considered. Malignant mesothelioma is highly fatal disease. Even two stage operation, radical orchidectomy should be performed.

We report a 33-year-old male with a left advanced non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumor (NSGCT) accompanied panic disorder. He had experienced palpitation and hyperpnea in crowds in his twenties. He was admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology with the chief complaint of left neck swelling. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) demonstrated left neck, left supraclavicular, left axillary, and paraaortic lymph node (LN) swelling and left testicular swelling. He was referred to our department. The left testis had enlarged to the size of a fist. He rejected admission at that time, but next day, he was taken to our hospital by an ambulance because he lost consciousness at home. No abnormalities were found in the brain CT and electrocardiogram. He was admitted and left high orchiectomy was performed. The human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level had elevated to 9,717 IU/L and alpha fetoprotein level (AFP) had elevated to 427 ng/ml. The histopathological diagnosis was tumors of more than one histological type, mixed forms: seminoma and embryonal carcinoma.

He had palpitation and hyperpnea after admission and was diagnosed with panic disorder by a psychiatrist. Psychotropic drugs (fluvoxamine maleate 50 mg/day, alprazolam 0.8 mg/day) were prescribed and the panic attacks disappeared afterwards. The psychiatric social worker supported his mind side. Bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) therapy was performed for 4 courses. He put on a blanket to his face and came to avoid a conversation with other people during the chemotherapy. He was diagnosed with depression and psychotropic drugs were increased (fluvoxamine maleate 50→75 mg/day, alprazolam 0.8→1.2 mg/day) in quantity.

Lymphadenectomies for LN metastases were performed and their histopathological examination revealed the existence of viable embryonal carcinoma in the supraclavicular LN. Etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP) therapy was performed for 2 courses.

The pateint has remained alive without tumor recurrence. Psychotropic drugs were reduced and the recent drug is fluvoxamine maleate 25 mg/day.

We report a 43-year-old TSC man with repeated hemorrhage of bilateral renal AML. He was diagnosed with TSC based on the findings of facial angiofibroma, mental retardation and epilepsy in childhood. In 2011, he experienced three times in AML-associated hemorrhage from the left kidney and received selective transarterial embolotherapy (TAE). In 2013, he also experienced AML-associated hemorrhage from the right kidney and received selective TAE. To control his AML, treatments with Everolimus was started and well tolerated. So far, his renal AML remarkably shrunk without retroperitoneal hemorrhage for 24 months, while he had some episode of side effect.

In patients with Fournier's gangrene, massive debridement is necessary. The debrided region is usually near the anus, which means that management of evacuation becomes difficult and a colostomy is often created for diversion of stool. Our two patients were a 72-year-old man with scrotal swelling and disturbance of consciousness and a 65-year-old man with scrotal swelling and fever. In both patients, CT scanning revealed air in the scrotal sac. We diagnosed Fournier's gangrene and operated on both patients immediately. After debridement, we used a fecal incontinence catheter, a Flexi-Seal^® to keep the wound clean of stools without creating a colostomy. Both patients recovered without developing wound infection. These cases demonstrate the usefulness of the Flexi-Seal^® for management of evacuation in Fournier's gangrene patients after debridement.