Sentinel node biopsy in uro-oncology: A history of the development of a promising concept

Lymph node staging is important in many urologic malignancies. The lack of a sufficiently accurate noninvasive lymph node staging modality has proven to be challenging as most urologic malignancies rely on surgical lymph node removal for regional staging. Penile cancer has been a model disease for the development of the sentinel node concept, which has subsequently been successfully adapted to breast cancer and melanoma studies. Currently, the sentinel node technique is standardized in many centers and under development for new indications. The introduction of near-infrared cameras and fluorescence techniques has paved the way for robot-assisted laparoscopic sentinel node biopsies in prostate cancer, urinary bladder cancer, and renal cancer. Fluorescence techniques have increased visual guidance towards lymph nodes during surgery and have challenged previously established templates for surgical lymph node removal. This review discusses the history of our understanding of the lymphatic system and the development of the sentinel node concept and highlights the importance of early and minimally invasive regional lymph node staging. Contemporary data on sentinel node biopsy in each of the urologic malignancies are assessed. Current trends towards robot-assisted sentinel lymph node removal are discussed, and the diagnostic accuracy and oncologic safety of sentinel node procedures are addressed. In an era of several new sentinel node indications, the importance of proper case selection, protocolled regimen, consequent follow-up, and back-up strategies in the case of radiotracer-silent or nonvisualized regions is stressed.     

The value of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of penile fracture

Purpose

We studied the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of penile fracture.

Materials and Methods

Between 1997 and 2012, fifteen patients (age range 17-48 years, mean age 37 years) with suspected penile fracture underwent MRI examinations. Ten patients were injured during sexual intercourse, whereas four patients were traumatized by non-physiological bending of the penis during self manupilation, one patient was traumatized falling from the bed. Investigations were performed with 1.5T MR unit. With the patient in the supine position, the penis was taped against the abdominal wall and surface coil was placed on the penis. All patients were studied with axial, coronal, sagittal precontrast and postcontrast T1-weighted TSE(TR/TE:538/13 msn) and T2-weighted TSE(5290/110 msn) sequences. All patient underwent surgical exploration. The follow-up ranged from 3 months to 72 months. Clinically all patients showed normal healing process without complications. In 11 patients a shortening and thickening of tunica albuginea was observed. Three patients have post traumatic erectil disfunction.

Results

In all patient corpus cavernosum fractures were clearly depicted on a discontinuity of the low signal intensity of tunica albuginea. These findings were most evident on T1WI and also depicted on T2W sequences. Images obtained shortly after contrast medium administration showed considerable enhancement only in rupture site. Subcutaneous extratunical haematoma in all patients were also recognizable on T2 WI. MRI findings were confirmed at surgery.

Conclusions

Magnetic resonance imaging is of great value for the diagnosis of penile fracture. Furthermore this method is well suited for visualising the post-operative healing process     

An Unusual Presentation of Stafne Bone Cyst

Stafne bone cyst is a rare mandibular defect. It is a developmental abnormality that commonly presents as a small, well demarcated, and asymptomatic radiolucency seen at the angle of the mandible below the mandibular canal. There are usually no clinical signs nor symptoms. Diagnosis is commonly by plain X-ray, but use of more accurate imaging such as MRI is required in atypical cases. This case study reports an unusual presentation of Stafne bone cyst in the ramus of the mandible in a young man and reviews the relevant literature.     

Does the etiology affect the outcome and satisfaction rates of penile prosthesis implantation surgery?

Our aim was to compare the outcomes and satisfaction rates of men undergoing penile prostheses implantation (PPI) secondary to radical prostatectomy (RP) and other causes of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). A total of 142 patients, of whom 60 underwent PPI due to ED following RP (Group 1) and 82 underwent PPI due to ED with other vasculogenic causes (Group 2) were included in this study. The preoperative erectile status was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The satisfaction of patients and partners were evaluated by a telephone interview using Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction Partner Survey. Preoperative mean IIEF scores were significantly lower in Group 1 (17.5 ± 6.4 vs. 24.2 ± 5.1, p = 0.01). For Groups 1 and 2, the mean EDITS scores of the patients were 58 ± 10 and 71 ± 8, respectively, and that for the partners were 46 ± 8 and 65 ± 7, respectively. Group 1 had significantly lower scores both for the EDITS and the EDITS Partner Survey (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, respectively). Patients who had undergone RP and their partners were found to have lower satisfaction rates compared to patients with other causes of vasculogenic ED who had penile implant surgery. From this point of view, it is important to know the patient's expectations about the treatment outcomes and a preoperative psychological and sexual counseling should be managed for possible treatment alternatives after RP.     

前列地尔注射液对室间隔缺损介入治疗后血浆氨基末端脑利钠肽前体水平及心功能的影响

目的 观察先天性心脏病室间隔缺损（VSD）患儿介入封堵术后联合应用前列地尔注射液对术后血浆氨基末端脑利钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）水平及心功能的影响。方法 选择本院2011年1月至2013年1月住院行介入封堵治疗的VSD患儿120例,男51例,女69例,年龄5～8,平均6.1±2.3岁。随机分为前列地尔组60例,对照组60例,前列地尔组在封堵术后即刻注射前列地尔注射液连续7天,分别在术前、术后第3天、术后6个月采用双向侧流免疫法测定其血浆NT-proBNP水平,所有患儿在术前、术后第7天和术后6个月分别进行超声心动图检查,测定左心室舒张期末内径（LVEDD）、左心室收缩期末内径（LVESD）、左心室收缩期末容量（LVESV）、左心室舒张期末容量（LVEDV）、左心室射血分数（LVEF）,并比较两组临床特征、血浆NT-proBNP水平及心功能参数的变化。结果 两组患儿LVEDD、LVESD、LVEDV、LVESV在介入术后第7天及术后6个月均明显小于术前（P<0.05）,且封堵术后6个月前列地尔组LVEDD、LVESD、LVEDV、LVESV较对照组减小更明显（P<0.05）。两组患儿术前血浆NT-proBNP水平无统计学差异（P>0.05）;两组患儿血浆NT-proBNP水平术前与术后第3天、术后第3天与术后6个月比较差异均有统计学意义（P<0.01）,且前列地尔组封堵术后3天、术后6个月较对照组下降更明显（P<0.01）。结论 VSD患儿介入封堵术联合前列地尔治疗可进一步降低血浆NT-proBNP水平并改善患儿心功能。     

Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects in Patients with an Aberrant Retroaortic Coronary Artery: Is It Safe?

Coexistence of an ostium secundum type atrial septal defect and a coronary artery anomaly with an aberrant retroaortic course is a rare congenital anomaly that may potentially complicate percutaneous atrial septal defects (ASD) closure. If the anterosuperior rim of the defect is deficient, the abnormally located coronary artery may be compressed or distorted by the implanted device causing myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and eventually sudden cardiac death. Due to the potential occurrence of these fatal cardiac events, diagnosis of an aberrant coronary artery with a retroaortic course must be established before percutaneous ASD closure. In this report, two patients with this rare association are described in whom percutaneous closure of the defect was feasible and uneventful. The importance of a careful periprocedural, noninvasive echocardiographic coronary artery imaging is emphasized, and the rational for percutaneous atrial septal defect closure in this unusual anatomic arrangement is proposed.     

Linfadenectomía inguinal izquierda endoscópica modificada

IntroductionEndoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy is an evolution of laparoscopic surgery thanks to background in these techniques. This is a new technique and the indications in the field of penile tumors today are expanding. The technique aims at reducing the morbidity of the procedure without compromising the cancer control or reducing the template of the dissection.Material and methodsWe present the modified endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy in a 70 years-old male patient with penile melanoma and positive sentinel lymph node in left inguinal limb. Intraoperative data, pathology, post operatory evolution and oncological follow-up is describedResultsOperative time was 120 minutes. Nine lymph nodes were retrieved and none of then showed positivity at pathology. There were no complications. The drain was kept for five days. After 12 months of follow up, no signs of disease progression were noted.ConclusionThe endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy is feasible in clinical practice. New studies with a greater number of patients and long-term follow-up may confirm the oncological efficacy and possible lower morbidity of these new approach.     

大鼠阴茎海绵体肌源性干细胞向内皮细胞分化的研究

目的 观察大鼠阴茎海绵体肌源性干细胞(MDSCs)在血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)共同作用下向内皮细胞分化的潜能.方法 采用Preplate差速贴壁法结合密度梯度离心法分离、纯化大鼠阴茎海绵体MDSCs,获得差速贴壁细胞(PP1-PP6),免疫荧光细胞化学法检测PP6细胞干细胞抗原-l(Sca-1)和结蛋白(Desmin)的表达,并传代培养.取PP6第3代细胞在VEGF和bFGF共同诱导21 d后,免疫荧光细胞化学法鉴定内皮细胞标志物[CD31、胎肝激酶-l(Flk-1)]的表达;分别在诱导0、5、10、15、21 d,通过逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测干细胞标志物(Oct-4)和内皮细胞标志物[CD31、内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)、Flk-1] mRNA的表达量;通过Dil-Ac-LDL摄取实验检测细胞吞噬低密度脂蛋白的能力;划痕24h后观察划痕空白处的距离,评估细胞的迁移能力.结果 PP6细胞表达肌源性干细胞标志物Sca-1和Desmin;PP6诱导21 d后表达内皮细胞标志物(CD31和Flk-1),诱导21 d后与诱导0d比较,干细胞标志物Oct-4的mRNA表达量下降(下降倍数为0.445±0.025),而内皮细胞标志物mRNA表达量升高(CD31、eNOS、Flk-1升高倍数分别为2.541±0.146、2.364±0.175、2.538±0.100),差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Dil-Ac-LDL摄取实验提示诱导后的细胞具有吞噬低密度脂蛋白的能力;划痕实验观察到诱导组空白处距离为282.01±3.84,未诱导组空白处距离为450.35±1.86,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 大鼠阴茎海绵体MDSCs在VEGF和bFGF的共同诱导下可分化为内皮细胞,且具有成熟内皮细胞的功能.