Background : Management of fornix rupture (FR) by obstructive stone is comprised of extravasation control and the elimination of the obstruction. For all patients, management initially remains conservative under close follow up. Endoscopic management of FR involved with an obstructive stone of the ureter or the pelviureteric junction (UPJ) consists mainly of stenting the ureter. Our endoscopic approach to this pathological entity comprises of the sole stenting of the ureter, as well as primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy followed by ureter stenting. Patients and methods : In the Department of Urology at the General Hospital of Rhodos Island, Rhodos, Greece, over the last 15 years, 51 of 86 patients with FR due to an obstructive stone, were treated endoscopically. Twenty-two patients underwent sole stenting of the ureter (option A) and 29 patients underwent primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy and stenting (option B). Results : The overall primary 'successful outcome' was achieved in nine of the 22 patients (40.9%) in the group treated with sole stenting, while the remaining 59.1% required secondary interventions. However, 27 of the 29 patients (93.1%) treated with primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy and stenting required no auxiliary treatment.The primary successful outcome results for obstructive middle and lower ureteral stones with FR were eight out of 12 (66.6%) and 26 out of 27 (96.3%) for therapeutic options A and B, respectively. Upper obstructive ureteral stones with FR required secondary intervention in most cases, regardless of the therapeutic option chosen. (In nine out of 10 and one out of two cases for options A and B, respectively).The mean duration of hospitalization for options A and B were 7.6 and 5.3 days, respectively. The mean duration that the ureter stent remained in situ for A and B treatment options was 30.9 and 10.2 days, respectively. Conclusions : Sole stenting of the ureter is reserved for infected FR or for stones of the upper ureter or the UPJ. Ureteroscopic lithotripsy followed by double-J stenting of the ureter may offer a quick and safe therapeutic alternative for distal and middle obstructive ureteral stones with FR.

Unlike histological features, the clinical--endoscopic characteristics of NA are non-specific. Even if it is not definitely considered like a premalignant condition, NA has to be followed up frequently and long lasting, because of its high recurrence rate. The combination of Cytology, Flow cytometry, DNA image analysis and Fluorescence in situ hybridisation of bladder washings or voided urine, are of high value in monitoring NA of the urothelium.

Unlike histological features, the clinical - endoscopic characteristics of NA are non-specific. Even if it is not definitely considered like a premalignant condition, NA has to be followed up frequently and long lasting, because of its high recurrence rate. The combination of Cytology, Flow cytometry, DNA image analysis and Fluorescence in situ hybridization of bladder washings or voided urine, are of high value in monitoring NA of the urothelium.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to present a method for identifying a ureteral obstruction in unilateral orthotopic ureterocele by means of conventional sonography and color Doppler duplex sonography. We focus on the measurement of the ureterocele dimensions, the degree of dilation it causes to the ipsilateral upper urinary tract, the registration of urine out-flow from the ureteral orifice into the bladder and its spectral analysis. Material and Method: Over 2 years at our institutions, 8 adult patients (7 women, 1 man) were diagnosed as having a single system orthotopic ureterocele. Four of them presented with lumbar pain, dysuria and recurrent urinary tract infections, while the remainder were asymptomatic and diagnosed accidentally. The diagnosis was based on serial sonography of the upper and lower urinary tract confirmed by intravenous pyelography and cystoscopy. We also performed color Doppler duplex sonographic evaluation of the urine jets ejected from both ureteral orifices into the bladder. Using the flow spectral study we analyzed the waveforms and measured their duration and flow rate. The study was completed with a comparative analysis of the data obtained from both ureteral orifices. Results: Cystic dilation of the lower ureteric extremity into the bladder was presented in all cases. Upper urinary tract dilation, of various grades, was present in 4 of 8 patients. Differences in urine jets between those derived from the ureterocele and those from the healthy contralateral ureteral orifice were significant in those patients with dilation of the upper urinary tract. The differences concerned mainly the frequency and symmetry of the jets as well as the pattern, duration and velocity of their waves. The 4 above-mentioned patients, with dilated upper urinary tracts and waveforms differentiated from the contralateral ones, were characterized as obstructive. On the other hand, the remaining 4 patients with subclinical ureterocele showed insignificant differences in urine jets and waveforms, and were found to be non-obstructive. Conclusion: Conventional sonography of the urinary tract in combination with color Doppler duplex sonography of the ureteral jets can be used in an attempt to diagnose and evaluate a unilateral orthotopic (single system) ureterocele and assess the necessity of intervention to identify the obstruction.

No abstract