The development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age

In this study we report the prevalence and growth rate of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age by combining and analyzing data from 10 independent studies containing more than 1,000 prostates. The normal prostate reaches 20 plus or minus 6 gm. in men between 21 and 30 years old, and this weight remains essentially constant with increasing age unless benign prostatic hyperplasia develops. The prevalence of pathological benign prostatic hyperplasia is only 8 per cent at the fourth decade; however, 50 per cent of the male population has pathological benign prostatic hyperplasia when they are 51 to 60 years old. The average weight of a prostate that is recognized at autopsy to contain benign prostatic hyperplasia is 33 plus or minus 16 gm. Only 4 per cent of the prostates in men more than 70 years old reach sizes greater than 100 gm. An analysis of a logistic growth curve of benign prostatic hyperplasia lesions removed at prostatectomy indicates that the growth of benign prostatic hyperplasia is initiated probably before the patient is 30 years old. The early phase of benign prostatic hyperplasia growth (men between 31 and 50 years old) is characterized by a doubling time for the tumor weight of 4.5 years. In the mid phase of benign prostatic hyperplasia growth (men between 51 and 70 years old) the doubling time is 10 years, and increases to more than 100 years in patients beyond 70 years old.     

Benign diagnosis by image-guided core-needle breast biopsy

Image-guided core-needle breast biopsy (IGCNBB) is widely used to evaluate patients with abnormal mammograms; however, information is limited regarding the reliability of a benign diagnosis. The goal of this study was to demonstrate that a benign diagnosis obtained by IGCNBB is accurate and amenable to mammographic surveillance. Records of all patients evaluated by IGCNBB from July 1993 through July 1996 were reviewed. Biopsies were classified as malignant, atypical, or benign. All benign cases were followed by surveillance mammography beginning 6 months after IGCNBB. Of the 1110 patients evaluated by IGCNBB during the study period, 855 revealed benign pathology. A total of 728 of the 855 patients (85%) complied with the recommendation for surveillance mammography. A total of 196 IGCNBBs were classified as malignant; 59 cases were classified as atypical. The atypical cases were excluded from the statistical analysis. Only two patients have demonstrated carcinoma after a benign IGCNBB during the 2-year minimum follow-up period. The sensitivity and specificity of a benign result were 100.0 and 98.9 per cent, respectively. A benign diagnosis obtained by IGCNBB is accurate and therefore amenable to mammographic surveillance. The results of this study support IGCNBB as the preferred method of evaluating women with abnormal mammograms.     

Benign pancreatic tumors

The goal of this article is to describe the different types of benign pancreatic neoplasms, methods to distinguish between them, and treatment options. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with specific neoplastic lesions that are similar in radiographic appearance to some benign lesions. The correct differentiation of these malignant and premalignant lesions from their benign counterpart is paramount to their proper management.     

Benign osteoblastoma of the maxillary sinus

The benign osteoblastoma is an uncommon bone tumor. It is a benign but actively growing neoplasm that must be differentiated from more aggressive bony lesions. A review of the literature indicates that 14% of benign osteoblastomas are located in the head. The clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features and treatment of the benign osteoblastoma are discussed. In addition, the third case of a benign osteoblastoma of the paranasal sinuses, and the first of the maxillary sinus, is described.     

Lower urinary tract symptoms,benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction: Are these conditions related to vascular dysfunction?

Although the pathogenesis of lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction is poorly understood and thought to be multifactorial, it has been traditionally recognized that these conditions increase with age. There is increasing evidence that there is an association between cardiovascular disease and lower urinary tract symptoms as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction in elderly patients. Age might activate systemic vascular risk factors, resulting in disturbed blood flow. Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis are also linked to the etiology of lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction. In the present review, we discuss the relationship between decreased pelvic blood flow and lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, we suggest possible common mechanisms underlining these urological conditions.     

Long-term outcomes of stereotactic breast biopsies

Stereotactic core needle biopsies (SCNBs) are accurate and relatively convenient for the patient; however, the long-term follow-up of benign results has not been reported. All patients between 1993 and 1998 undergoing SCNB at a community-based hospital were entered into a registry. Follow-up was obtained by a retrospective analysis of the charts. Biopsies were performed on 865 lesions. One hundred thirty-one (15%) were malignant, 42 (5%) were suspicious for malignancy, 687 (79%) were benign, and five (1%) were lobular carcinoma in situ. Of the 42 patients with suspicious findings 38 underwent biopsy. Ten were malignant and 28 benign. Of the 687 patients with benign pathology, 377 had follow-up available with a mean length of 1.7 years. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of SCNB for benign lesions in our study are all 100 per cent. Eight lesions were worrisome and await final analysis. Of 687 patients with benign lesions 310 were lost to follow-up. This study suggests that patients with a benign diagnosis should be returned to routine mammography. These data also extend the reported follow-up to 1.7 years and establish an acceptable level of accuracy for SCNB. The lost patients remind us that follow-up is essential despite a benign diagnosis.     

Distribution of colorectal neoplasms. A left to right shift of polyps and cancer

A 20-year retrospective review was made of all patients undergoing operative procedures for both adenocarcinoma and benign polyps of the colorectum at the two teaching hospitals of the University of South Carolina. A total of 1,112 patients with adenocarcinoma and 429 patients with benign polypoid disease were identified. Classification of each adenocarcinoma according to location showed a 12 per cent increase in the number of right-sided lesions and a 44 per cent decrease in rectosigmoid lesions when compared with historical series. Despite this proximal shift, the rate of association of benign adenomatous polyps contained in cancer resections (13 per cent) is similar to previous series. Furthermore, evaluation of benign adenomatous polyps showed a similar increase of proximal colonic lesions and a decrease of rectosigmoid adenomas. The results of this retrospective study support the concept that adenocarcinoma is occurring with increasing frequency in the right colon. Despite this left to right shift, a constant association of benign polyps within cancer resections was found, supporting the concept of a polyp-cancer sequence. This study identified a similar shift in benign adenomatous polyps alone, supporting the concept that benign neoplasias are premalignant and are probably responsible for the increased incidence of proximally located colonic adenocarcinomas.     

Ultrasonic diagnosis of benign diseases of the gallbladder

The authors discuss experience in ultrasonic examination (USE) of the biliary tract in 1,068 patients with various benign diseases of the gallbladder; 536 of them were treated by surgery. It is shown that USE is a highly informative and authentic method in the diagnosis of benign diseases of the gallbladder. The article deals with the USE semeiotics of acute destructive cholecystitis, its complications, as well as chronic calculous cholecystitis and various benign acalculous diseases of the gallbladder. Among the existing methods of examination of the biliary tract, the authors claim USE to be most important and the main method in patients with benign diseases of the gallbladder of acalculous genesis.     

Pancreatic epithelial cyst in an adult treated by central pancreatectomy

The infrequent occurrence of benign epithelial cysts of the pancreas is the reason why little is known regarding their clinical relevance and surgical management. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with a benign epithelial cyst that was resected by the rarely performed central pancreatectomy. The presentation, evaluation, and differences between this and other cystic lesions of the pancreas are discussed. The benefits of central pancreatectomy for this benign lesion are reviewed.     

Cathepsins B and L are markers for clinically invasive types of meningiomas

OBJECTIVE: Meningiomas are benign neoplasms that derive from coverings of the brain. Approximately 10% of benign tumors progress into atypical, malignant tumors, thus constituting a subset of histopathologically benign tumors that are clinically invasive. The aim of this study was to evaluate cathepsins B and L and their inhibitors as new prognostic factors that could distinguish malignant from benign forms of meningiomas. METHODS: Using immunohistochemical analysis and specific monoclonal antibodies, we evaluated the levels of cathepsins B and L and the levels of the endogenous cysteine proteinase inhibitors stefin A and cystatin C in 88 meningiomas. Immunohistochemical scores were determined as the sum of the frequency (0-3) and intensity (0-3) of immunolabeling of the tumor cells. RESULTS: Of the 88 tumors studied, 67 were benign meningiomas and 21 were atypical meningiomas. Among the benign group, nine tumors had certain features of malignancy. These tumors were classified as border benign meningiomas, and the rest were classified as clear benign meningiomas. A high immunohistochemical score (4-6) for cathepsin B was more frequent in atypical tumors than in clear benign tumors (P < 0.001). Compared with clear benign tumors, higher cathepsin B immunohistochemical scores were found in atypical tumors (P < 0.001) and border benign tumors (P < 0.03). No statistical difference in immunohistochemical staining of cathepsin B was found between atypical meningiomas and border benign meningiomas. Higher expression of cathepsin L was found in atypical tumors as compared with clear benign tumors (P < 0.03), but it was not observed in border benign as compared with clear benign meningiomas. No immunostaining for stefin A and cystatin C was detected in any of the tumors. CONCLUSION: We show that the levels of cathepsin B and cathepsin L antigens are significantly higher in invasive types of benign meningioma. Specifically, cathepsin B may be used as a diagnostic marker to distinguish histomorphologically benign but invasive meningiomas from histomorphologically clear benign tumors.     

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??Application and assessment of total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodules ZHANG Hao. Department of General Surgery??the First Hospital of China Medical University??Shenyang 110001??China
Abstract Thyroid nodule is a common disease in clinical practice. Although the majority of thyroid nodules have been found to be benign. Some of them need to be surgically excised when meeting the indications. The thyroid operations include lobectomy??subtotal thyroidectomy and total/near total thyroidectomy??etc. The preferred operation for benign thyroid nodules remains controversial. Less extensive resection may be related to a higher risk of recurrence. While more extensive resection may be associated with a higher risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or hypoparathyroidism. Total thyroidectomy has been used to treat benign thyroid nodules for a long history. It is an operation that can be safely performed nowadays??with low incidence of permanent complications. It has been the optimal surgery that can prevent recurrence and avoid reoperation in cases of benign thyroid nodules such as multiple nodular goiter in foreign countries since a long time ago. It is also suggested to perform the operation in case of bilateral benign thyroid nodules with surgical indications given the different technical levels of surgeons and different situation of individual patient in China.     

The Mount Sinai experience with orthotopic liver transplantation for benign tumors: brief report and literature review: case reports

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is performed for benign hepatic lesions that are symptomatic, too large to be resected, have a malignant transformation potential, cause debilitating/life-threatening manifestations, or in patients experiencing posthepatectomy acute liver failure. Among benign tumors, polycystic liver disease (PLD) is the most common indication for OLT alone, or combined liver-kidney transplantation. Our 10-year experience with OLT for benign tumors includes two patients with PLD and one with a benign giant fibrous tumor. In this report, we present our experience with OLT for benign liver tumors, commenting on relevant published studies.     

Patients Spend More Time With the Physician for Excision of a Malignant Skin Lesion Than for Excision of a Benign Skin Lesion

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is a difference in reimbursement between excision of malignant and benign lesions. There is concern that there is not sufficient rationale for differential reimbursement for these two procedures. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is a difference in physician work involved with excision of benign versus malignant skin tumors. METHOD: We searched National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data for visits at which excision of benign and malignant skin lesions was performed. We compared the time spent with the physician at these two types of visits. To exclude confounding issues unrelated to the excision that would affect the time of visit, we excluded visits at which multiple diagnoses were addressed. RESULTS: The mean time spent with the physician at visits for excision of benign lesions was 22.9 +/- 1.0 minutes. The mean time spent with the physician at visits for excision of malignant lesions was 30.0 +/- 1.7, 30% longer (p<0.001). The longer time for excision of malignant lesions remained significant after controlling for age, gender, and race. CONCLUSION: Excision of malignant lesions involves more physician work than does excision of benign lesions. Elimination of differential compensation for benign versus malignant skin lesion procedures would not enhance the accuracy of reimbursement. In the absence of any compelling rationale to change the existing differential reimbursement, the proposals to do so are not warranted.     

Nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) in hyperplastic and neoplastic prostate disease

Nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) are DNA loops encoding ribosomal RNA production. Detectable by the argyrophilia (AgNOR) of associated proteins, AgNOR numbers correlate with growth fraction and may have diagnostic and prognostic utility in human tumors. Because nucleolar size is important in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma, we compared AgNOR counts in benign, atypical, and malignant prostate lesions and correlated them with nucleolar diameter. We counted AgNOR in benign prostatic hyperplasia, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, intraductal dysplasias, and carcinomas of various Gleason grades. The mean AgNOR count per nucleus for benign prostatic hyperplasia nuclei was 4.51; for atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, 5.64; for intraductal dysplasias, 7.35; for carcinoma of Gleason grades 2 + 3, 8.87; and for carcinoma Gleason grades 4 + 5, 10.42. Counts in the carcinomas and intraductal dysplasias were significantly different from those of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Mean AgNOR counts of the carcinomas and intraductal dysplasias did not overlap with those of benign prostatic hyperplasia, suggesting that intraductal dysplasia shares more with carcinoma than benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nucleolar diameters increased from benign prostatic hyperplasia to atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, intraductal dysplasias, and the carcinomas, correlating with increasing AgNOR counts. Nucleolar diameters in the carcinomas were significantly different than those of benign prostatic hyperplasia; those in intraductal dysplasias were not. Our findings suggest that AgNOR counts are superior to nucleolar diameters alone in separating intraductal dysplasias from benign prostatic hyperplasia but provide no additional information in diagnosing carcinoma.     

睾丸畸胎瘤核仁组成区嗜银蛋白定量研究

为进一步探讨睾丸良恶性畸胎瘤的鉴别方法,作者应用核仁组成区银染技术,对１０例睾丸正常组织、６例睾丸畸胎瘤、７例睾丸畸胎癌进行了研究。结果显示：正常睾丸及畸胎瘤的ＡｇＮＯＲｓ颗粒呈圆形、规则、边界清楚、大小均匀,位于胞核偏中或边缘部位;畸胎癌的颗粒呈圆形或卵圆形、欠规则、边界欠清、大小较不一致,偏中或散在分布于核内。ＡｇＮＯＲｓ计数：正常组为１．５６±０．１７,畸胎瘤为２．４０±０．２６,畸胎癌为５．２４±０．３６,各组间有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）,ＡｇＮＯＲｓ计数在良恶性畸胎瘤间有分离。作者认为该技术对睾丸良恶性畸胎瘤的鉴别是有意义的。     

扩张后胸三角皮瓣修复面部良性肿瘤切除后创面

目的 探讨面部良性肿瘤切除后创面的修复方法.方法 根据患者面部良性肿瘤的面积,采用单侧或双侧胸三角皮瓣预扩张,在胸三角皮瓣下靠近肩部置入1个扩张器,切口选择在锁骨下.扩张完成后,先将面部良性肿瘤部分或全部切除,据缺损大小设计皮瓣.皮瓣应大于缺损面积10％～15％,蒂部可制成管状或应用良性肿瘤翻转与胸三角皮瓣蒂部形成铰链而封闭蒂部创面.3周后将皮瓣延迟,再1周后断蒂.结果 20例患者应用扩张后胸三角皮瓣带蒂转移修复面部良性肿瘤切除后创面,效果均满意.结论 扩张后胸三角皮瓣是修复较大面积面部良性肿瘤切除后创面的较好方法.     

The overlapping lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To investigate the relationship, diagnosis and treatment of the overlapping lower urinary tract symptoms experienced by men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have clearly shown that men can suffer from both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. Approximately 5-20% of men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia suffer from prostatitis-like symptoms, while over one third of men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia have had a diagnosis of prostatitis in the past. Differentiation between these two symptom-based medical conditions can be difficult because of overlapping symptoms, but pain clearly identifies those patients with chronic prostatitis. Treatment for men with co-occurring benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis may include alpha-blockers, 5alpha-reductase inhibitors and phytotherapies (saw palmetto and bee pollen extract), with evidence clearly showing the benefits of alpha-blocker therapy. SUMMARY: Benign prostatic hyperplasia and chronic prostatitis are a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms and frequently co-occur in older men. The best treatment for men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis is alpha-blockers.     

The incidence of carcinoma in cytologically benign thyroid cysts.

BACKGROUND: The management of cytologically benign thyroid cysts is controversial. Treatment options include observation, chemical sclerosis, and surgery. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of carcinoma in cytologically benign thyroid cysts that recur after complete aspiration and to determine the indications for surgery in these patients. METHODS: The medical records of 1189 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid surgery between July 1995 and November 2000 were reviewed. In 34 patients the indication for surgery was a thyroid cyst with benign cytologic findings that refilled at least once after complete aspiration. These patients were selected for further study. RESULTS: The 26 women and 8 men had a median age of 42 years. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was consistent with a benign cyst in all these cases. Final pathologic findings revealed the nodule to be a papillary carcinoma in 4 patients (12%). In another 4 patients (12%) an incidental microscopic papillary carcinoma, separate from the cyst, was identified on final pathologic findings. In all 4 patients with papillary carcinoma the cyst size was greater than 3 cm (range, 3.4 to 5.0 cm). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of malignancy in cytologically benign thyroid cysts that recur after aspiration is high enough to warrant surgical excision, especially if the cyst is greater than 3 cm in size.     

Primary duodenal tumors: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

The case records of ten patients with benign, three with endocrine, and 19 with malignant duodenal tumors were reviewed. Patients with benign tumors had episodes of bleeding that were recurrent in a number of cases. The endocrine tumors were all gastrinomas; patients had ulcer diathesis associated with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. All malignant tumors were symptomatic, with chronic gastrointestinal blood loss or duodenal obstruction. All benign tumors were demonstrated preoperatively, but only ten of 19 malignant tumors were confirmed preoperatively. The data suggest that duodenal tumors masquerade as more common diseases and as a result, their diagnosis and treatment are delayed inordinately. Awareness of this problem is encouraged, and a more aggressive diagnostic effort in selected patients, including fiberoptic endoscopy, is suggested.     

全甲状腺切除在甲状腺良性结节治疗中应用及评价

甲状腺结节临床常见,尽管大部分为良性,但有手术指征时应行手术治疗,手术方式主要包括腺叶切除、甲状腺次全切除和全（近全）甲状腺切除等。甲状腺良性结节的手术方式目前尚存争议,若切除范围过小,结节复发风险增加,可能须再次手术;切除范围过大,则可能增加喉返神经损伤及甲状旁腺功能减退等并发症发生风险。全甲状腺切除因其能彻底切除病变,降低复发风险,避免再次手术,且并发症无明显增加,已成为国外治疗结节性甲状腺肿等良性甲状腺结节的首选术式。在我国,应综合考虑医生的技术水平、病人的个体情况及意愿等因素,可以考虑对具有手术指征的双叶甲状腺良性结节采用全甲状腺切除术。