Cutaneous metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is believed to be rare. We present our experience with 10 (3.3%) cases seen in the last 12 years among 306 cases of renal adenocarcinoma treated at our center. There were 9 males and 1 female. Age ranged from 30 to 65 years (average 45 years). 5 patients had skin metastases at the time of presentation (stage IV). In one of them the skin nodule, rather than urologic symptoms, was the presenting complaint. 5 patients presented with skin metastasis during follow-up after nephrectomy. The average time to skin metastasis was 51 months for patients in stage I and 13 months in stage IIIb. The scalp was the most common site of metastasis followed by chest and abdomen. 90% of patients had secondaries in at least one other site, most commonly in lungs (4 cases) and bones (5 cases). 4 patients were treated with interferon-α 6 MIU, subcutaneously, three times a week for varying periods from 3 to 4 months but there was no response. In conclusion, cutaneous secondaries from RCC, though uncommon, are not very rare. A few patients may present with a skin mass before detection of the renal tumor. Patients with low-stage disease at presentation may also develop cutaneous secondaries, therefore a prolonged follow-up is required. The commonest site for cutaneous metastasis from RCC is the scalp and face. Most patients had at least one other site of systemic metastasis, hence they were not candidates for curative therapy. Interferon therapy was not helpful. Mean survival after detection of cutaneous metastasis was 7 months.

Corneal endothelial alteration is present in patients with chronic renal failure, more marked in patients undergoing hemodialysis and with raised blood urea level.

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In the mini‐review section of this issue, the use of buccal mucosal grafts in urethroplasty is described and the authors raise the point that it may now be the ‘reference’ standard. In this section, authors from New Dehli describe these technique of anterior urethral reconstruction for long strictures using buccal mucosal grafts. Their rather novel approach is of interest, and they report good results with up to 16 months of follow‐up. OBJECTIVE To present the technique of dorsal buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty through a ventral sagittal urethrotomy and minimal access perineal approach for anterior urethral stricture. PATIENTS AND METHODS From July 2001 to December 2002, 12 patients with a long anterior urethral stricture had the anterior urethra reconstructed, using a one‐stage urethroplasty with a dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft through a ventral sagittal urethrotomy. The urethra was approached via a small perineal incision irrespective of the site and length of the stricture. The penis was everted through the perineal wound. No urethral dissection was used on laterally or dorsally, so as not to jeopardize the blood supply. RESULTS The mean (range) length of the stricture was 5 (3–16) cm and the follow‐up 12 (10–16) months. The results were good in 11 of the 12 patients. One patient developed a stricture at the proximal anastomotic site and required optical internal urethrotomy. CONCLUSION Dorsal buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty via a minimal access perineal approach is a simple technique with a good surgical outcome; it does not require urethral dissection and mobilization and hence preserves the blood supply.

We herein report a renal allograft recipient five years post transplant who had bilateral lung abscesses. The abscess grew Candida tropicalis on bronchoalveolar lavage. The patient was administered amphotericin B, but succumbed to massive hemoptysis. The case highlights a fungal complication in renal transplant and need for early suspicion and prompt therapy.

Surgical minilaparotomy technique of Tenckhoff catheter placement is rarely practiced by nephrologists. There is a scarcity of data comparing technique and outcomes of surgically inserted peritoneal dialysis catheters by surgeon and nephrologist. We retrospectively analyzed 105 Tenckhoff catheters inserted by surgical minilaparotomy (”S” [surgeon], n = 43 and “N” [nephrologist], n = 62) in end-stage renal disease. Comparative analysis of surgical technique, survivals, and complications between both groups was done. “N” group observed two major advantages; shorter break-in (P < 001) and early continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis rehabilitation. Cumulative catheter experience was 1749 catheter-months: 745 and 1004 catheter-months in “S” and “N” groups, respectively. “N” group had a better overall catheter and patient survival, and a statistically insignificant mechanical complications, seen mostly in obese and post-abdominal surgery patients, without fatality or catheter loss. Peritonitis rates (P = 0.21) and catheter removal due to refractory peritonitis (P = 0.81) were comparable. The technique used is practical and aids early break-in, yields better results, and later on, helps in easy and uncomplicated PDC removal as and when indicated. Mechanical complications, mostly bleeding, were managed conservatively without any catheter or patient loss. This method should be encouraged among nephrologists and nephrology residents.

A 55-year-old male with carcinoma in situ of urinary bladder was treated with weekly intravesical injections of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine. Three days after the sixth injection, he developed low grade fever and multiple grouped punched out, 2-3 mm ulcers around meatus and corona glandis. In addition, multiple, firm, indurated, nontender papules and few deeper nodules were present on the proximal part of glans penis, along with bilateral enlarged, matted and nontender inguinal lymph nodes. There was no history suggestive of sexually transmitted diseases and high risk behavior. Chest X-ray was within normal limits, and Mantoux, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and HIV antibody tests were negative. The biopsy from the penile ulcer revealed epithelioid cell granuloma with Langhans giant cells. Fine needle aspiration cytology from the lymph node also revealed epithelioid cell granuloma and acid fast bacilli on Ziehl Neelsen's stain. The tissue biopsy grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The BCG immunotherapy was stopped and patient was treated with four drug antitubercular therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide in standard daily doses along with pyridoxine. The edema resolved and the ulcers started healing within 2 weeks, and at 6 weeks after starting antitubercular therapy almost complete healing occurred. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the first case of an Indian patient with BCG induced primary tuberculosis of penis after immunotherapy for carcinoma urinary bladder and review the previously described cases to increase awareness of this condition in dermatologists and venereologists.

Congenital absence of uterus and vagina, Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, is mullerian agenesis and is the second most frequent cause of primary amenorrhea. Only atypical form of MRKH (type B) is associated with renal skeletal and ovarian abnormalities. We report the management of an unusual case of atypical MRKH, unilateral gonadal agenesis, and solitary ectopic pelvic kidney with pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO). After doing thorough Medline search, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported with this combination.