Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is the most common urothelial malignancy. Sites of metastatic spread are usually predictable; typically the pelvic and para-aortic lymphatics, followed by extra-vesical tissues, i.e. liver, lung, bone and adrenal glands. There is currently little literature describing metastatic spread to the head and neck region, and none to the authors’ knowledge, of spread to the parotid salivary glands. This report describes a rare case of parotid metastasis of bladder TCC in a 75-year-old Caucasian woman.
Objectives: To review the potential challenges a urologist may encounter when embarking on simple/partial/radical nephrectomy in patients with long-term spinal cord injury and propose strategies to pre-empt and manage these. Materials and methods: Comprehensive literature review via PubMed, MEDLINE® and Google™ Scholar searching for relevant scientific articles published to date in English. Recommendations for strategies to safeguard surgical outcomes discussed with a panel of experienced upper-tract urologists. Results: Pre-operative considerations: - urethral assessment via flexible cystoscopy due to higher incidence of urethral pathology in spinal cord injury; - assessing for chronic constipation and distended bowel; and - considering glomerular filtration rate assessment by radio-isotope techniques, such as 51chromium-EDTA Peri-operative considerations: - adequate theatre staffing for safe patient transfer; and - planned choice of incision, due to higher incidence of previous abdominal surgery, stoma bags and/or foreign body devices. Post-operative considerations: - ensuring attending medical staff are trained to recognise autonomic dysreflexia; - early re-mobilisation with physiotherapists experienced in treating spinal cord injury; and - attentive antibiotic stewardship due to higher risk of hospital-acquired or urinary infections Conclusions: Patients with long-term spinal cord injury pose significant potential challenges in the pre-, peri- and post-operative stages of nephrectomy. Familiarisation and optimisation of such factors is recommended to safeguard outcomes. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicentre audit.
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