No abstract

Background Tumor characteristics affect surgical complexity and outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN). Objective To develop an Arterial Based Complexity (ABC) scoring system to predict morbidity of PN. Design, Setting, and Participants Four readers independently scored contrast-enhanced computed tomography images of 179 patients who underwent PN. Intervention Renal cortical masses were categorized by the order of vessels needed to be transected/dissected during PN. Scores of 1, 2, 3S, or 3H were assigned to tumors requiring transection of interlobular and arcuate arteries, interlobar arteries, segmental arteries, or in close proximity of the renal hilum, respectively during PN. Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis Interobserver variability was assessed with kappa values and percentage of exact matches between each pairwise combination of readers. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between reference scores and ischemia time, estimated blood loss, and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) at 6 wk and 6 mo after surgery adjusted for baseline eGFR. Fisher’s exact test was used to test for differences in risk of urinary fistula formation by reference category assignment. Results and Limitations Pairwise comparisons of readers’ score assignments were significantly correlated (all p <0.0001); average kappa = 0.545 across all reader pairs. The average proportion of exact matches was 69%. Linear regression between the complexity score system and surgical outcomes showed significant associations between reference category assignments and ischemia time (p <0.0001) and estimated blood loss (p = 0.049). Fisher’s exact test showed a significant difference in risk of urinary fistula formation with higher reference category assignments (p = 0.028). Limitations include use of a single institutional cohort to evaluate our system. Conclusions The ABC scoring system for PN is intuitive, easy to use, and demonstrated good correlation with perioperative morbidity. Patient Summary The ABC scoring system is novel anatomy-reproducible tool developed to help patients and doctors understand the complexity of renal masses and predict the outcomes of kidney surgery.

Purpose To assess interobserver variability of R.E.N.A.L., PADUA, and C-Index systems among observers with varying degrees of clinical experience and each system's subscale correlation with surgical outcome metrics. Methods Computed tomography images of 90 patients who underwent open, laparoscopic, or robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy were scored by 1 radiology fellow, 2 urology fellows, 1 radiology resident, and 1 secondary school student. Agreement among readers was determined calculating intraclass correlation coefficients. Associations between radiology fellow scores (reference standard as reader with greatest clinical experience), ischemia time, and percent change in postoperative eGFR were evaluated using Spearman correlation. Results Agreement using C-Index method (ICC = 0.773) was higher than with PADUA (ICC = 0.677) or R.E.N.A.L (ICC = 0.660). Agreement between reference and secondary school student was lower than with other physicians, although the differences were not statistically significant. The reference's scores were significantly (p <0.05) associated with ischemia time on all three scoring systems and with percent change in eGFR at 6 weeks using C-index (p = 0.016). Tumor size, nearness to sinus, location relative to polar lines (R.E.N.A.L.) and tumor size, renal sinus involvement and collecting system involvement (PADUA) correlated with ischemia time (all p ≤0.001). No R.E.N.A.L. or PADUA subscales significantly correlated with percent change in postoperative eGFR. Conclusions Clinical experience reduces interobserver variability of existing nephrometry systems though not significantly and less so when using directly measureable anatomic variables. Consistently, only measures of tumor size and distance to intrarenal structures were useful in predicting clinically relevant outcomes.

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with survival after palliative urinary diversion (UD) for patients with malignant ureteric obstruction (MUO) and create a risk-stratification model for treatment decisions. Patients and MethodsWe prospectively collected clinical and laboratory data for patients who underwent palliative UD by ureteric stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) between 1 January 2009 and 1 November 2011 in two tertiary care university hospitals, with a minimum 6-month follow-up. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years and MUO confirmed by computed tomography, ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging. Factors related to poor prognosis were identified by Cox univariable and multivariable regression analyses, and a risk stratification model was created by Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 1, 6 and 12 months, and log-rank tests. ResultsThe median (range) survival was 144 (0-1084) days for the 208 patients included after UD (58 ureteric stenting, 150 PCN); 164 patients died, 44 (21.2%) during hospitalisation. Overall survival did not differ by UD type (P = 0.216). The number of events related to malignancy (≥4) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) index (≥2) were associated with short survival on multivariable analysis. These two risk factors were used to divide patients into three groups by survival type: favourable (no factors), intermediate (one factor) and unfavourable (two factors). The median survival at 1, 6, and 12 months was 94.4%, 57.3% and 44.9% in the favourable group; 78.0%, 36.3%, and 15.5% in the intermediate group; and 46.4%, 14.3%, and 7.1% in the unfavourable group (P < 0.001). ConclusionsOur stratification model may be useful to determine whether UD is indicated for patients with MUO.

No abstract

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging is a significant tool for predicting cancer severity reclassification on CBx among AS candidates. The reclassification rate on CBx is particularly high in the group of patients who have PI-RADS grades 4 or 5 lesions. Despite the usefulness of visual-guided biopsy, it still remains highly recommended to retrieve standard fragments during CBx in order to avoid missing significant tumours.

PurposeEarly surgical management is the standard of care for penile fracture. Conservative treatment is an option with recent reports revealing lower success rates. We reviewed the data and long-term outcomes of patients with penile injury submitted to surgical or conservative treatment.Materials and MethodsBetween January 2004 and February 2012, 42 patients with penile blunt trauma on an erect penis were admitted to our center. We analyzed the following variables: age, etiology, symptoms and signs, diagnostic tests, treatment used, complications and erectile function during the follow-up. One patient was excluded due to missing information. Thirty-five patients underwent surgical repair and 6 patients were submitted to conservative management.ResultsMean follow-up was 19.2 months (range, 7 days to 72 months). The mean elapsed time from trauma to surgery was 21.3±12.5 hours. Trauma during sexual relationship was the main cause (80.9%) of penile fracture. Urethral injury was present in five patients submitted to surgery. Dorsal vein injury occurred in three patients with false penile fracture and concomitant spongious corpus lesion was present in three patients. During follow-up, 31 cases (88.6%) of the surgical group and four cases (66.7%) of the conservative group reported sufficient erections for intercourse, with no voiding dysfunction and no penile curvature. However, the remaining two patients (33.3%) from the conservative group developed erectile dysfunction and three patients (50%) developed penile deviation.ConclusionsSurgical approach provides excellent functional outcomes and lower complications. Early surgical management of penile fracture provides superior results and conservative approach should be avoided.

Statin users were at higher risk for disease recurrence and cancer specific mortality on univariable but not multivariable analysis. These data do not support modification of statin use in patients with high risk urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who will be treated with radical cystectomy.