Influence of preoperative hydronephrosis on the outcome of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract after nephroureterectomy: the results from a multi-institutional French cohort

Objectives

Recent publications have assessed the prognostic significance of hydronephrosis in the outcome of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC). Our study sought to determine the prognostic impact of hydronephrosis on UUT-UC survival and its relationship to the clinicopathological features.

Materials and methods

A retrospective, multi-institutional French study was conducted on 401 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for non-metastatic UUT-UC. Hydronephrotic status was determined using preoperative imaging reports. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with survival.

Results

Preoperative hydronephrosis was present in 74 patients. Median follow-up was 26 months. Hydronephrosis was associated only with ureteral localisation (p < 0.001). No difference was observed in 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) between the hydronephrosis group (80.1 %) and the no hydronephrosis group (83.6 %) (p > 0.05). Only age (p = 0.02) and pT stage (p = 0.01) were independent predictors of CSS. Hydronephrosis was not a significant predictor of CSS in the univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.87 and p = 0.66). No significant difference was observed for 5-year metastasis-free survival (MFS) between the hydronephrosis group (69.8 % ± 6.6 %) and the no hydronephrosis group (80.5 % ± 3 %) (p = 0.052). Hydronephrosis was not a significant predictor of MFS in the univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.16 and p = 0.36). Multifocality (p = 0.02), pT stage (p < 0.001) and positive surgical margins (p = 0.02) were independent predictors of MFS. For the pelvic tumours subgroup, hydronephrosis was an independent predictor of MFS (p = 0.01) but not CSS (p = 0.86).

Conclusion

Preoperative hydronephrosis was not associated with survival. However, among tumours presenting with hydronephrosis, pelvicalyceal tumours appear to have a worse prognosis than ureteral tumours.     

Ureteral and multifocal tumours have worse prognosis than renal pelvic tumours in urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract treated by nephroureterectomy

Background

It is not known whether the primary tumour location of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) is associated with prognosis.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of initial primary tumour location on survival in patients who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Design, setting, and participants

Using a multi-institutional, retrospective database, we identified 609 patients with UUT-UC who had undergone RNU between 1995 and 2010. Tumour location was categorised as renal pelvis, ureter, or multifocal.

Intervention

All patients had undergone RNU.

Measurements

Tumour location was tested as a prognostic factor for survival through univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis.

Results and limitations

Tumour location was renal pelvis in 317 cases (52%), ureter in 185 cases (30%), and multifocal in 107 cases (18%). Compared to renal pelvic and ureteral tumours, multifocal tumours were more likely to be associated with advanced stages (pT3/pT4; 39%, 30%, and 54%, respectively; p < 0.001) and high-grade disease (53%, 56%, and 76%, respectively; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, tumour location was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific death, disease recurrence, and metastasis (p < 0.05). The 5-yr cancer-specific death–free survival probability was 86.8% for renal pelvic tumours, 68.9% for ureteral tumours, and 56.8% for multifocal tumours (p < 0.001). The retrospective design of this study was its main limitation.

Conclusions

Ureteral and multifocal tumours had a worse prognosis than renal pelvic tumours. These findings are not in line with recently published data and should be investigated in a prospective assessment to obtain a definitive statement regarding this matter.     

Peripelvic/periureteral fat invasion is independently associated with worse prognosis in pT3 upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Purpose

To elucidate the reasons for conflicting results regarding the prognostic significance of tumor location in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), we analyzed the stage-specific impact of tumor location on oncological outcomes following radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Methods

Data from 392 patients who underwent RNU with curative intent between 1991 and 2010 were reviewed. Prognostic impact of tumor location and various clinicopathological factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses at each pathological stage. Tumor location was classified as renal pelvis or ureter, and pT3 tumors were further stratified as invading the renal parenchyma or peripelvic or periureteral fat.

Results

In stage-specific analysis, tumor location did not have prognostic significance in patients with ≤pT2 tumors, whereas RFS and CSS rates were significantly lower in patients with pT3 ureteral tumors than renal pelvic tumors. Subgroup analysis showed that RFS and CSS rates were significantly higher for pT3 tumors invading the renal parenchyma than the peripelvic or periureteral fat. On multivariate analysis in pT3 tumors adjusting other clinicopathological parameters, tumor location remained significant predictors for both RFS and CSS. Compared with tumors invading renal parenchyma, tumors invading peripelvic fat or periureteral fat were associated with about 3.5 times higher risk for cancer-specific mortality (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Location-dependent survival difference exists only in patients with pT3 UTUC. Conflicting institutional results regarding tumor location in UTUC may be due to difference in the proportions of parenchymal versus peripelvic fat invasion in pT3 pelvic tumors.     

Comparison of post-operative intravesical recurrence and oncological outcomes after open versus laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

Object

To retrospectively evaluate intravesical recurrence and oncological outcomes after open or laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for the upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC).

Patients and methods

This study comprised 122 patients diagnosed UUT-UC and subsequently nephroureterectomy was performed on. Several clinical and pathological parameters were emphasized for comparison of clinical outcomes.

Results

Among 122 patients with UUT-UC, 101 (82.8 %) and 21 (17.2 %) underwent open or laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (ONU or LNU), respectively. In univariable and multivariable Cox regression models, the surgical procedure exerted an impact neither on post-operative intravesical recurrence rate (p = 0.179 and 0.213, respectively) nor on cancer-specific mortality rate (p = 0.561 and 0.159, respectively). The 1-, 2- and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates of patients undergoing ONU or LNU were 92.1 versus 95.2 %, 87.1 versus 90.5 %, 79.2 versus 85.7 %, respectively, and the Kaplan–Meier plot illustrated that patients from two groups enjoyed an equivalent survival rate (p = 0.559). Moreover, we added that previous history of bladder tumor and pre-operative hydronephrosis was associated with intravesical recurrence, whereas three prognostic factors, including pathological tumor stage, grade, and lymphovascular invasion, showed possibility to be predictors of cancer-specific mortality.

Conclusion

There existed no significant difference of intravesical recurrence and CSS between patients after ONU and LNU. Conclusively, laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy did not present superiority to open management for patients with UUT-UC.     

The oncologic impact of a delay between diagnosis and radical nephroureterectomy due to diagnostic ureteroscopy in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas: results from a large collaborative database

Objectives

According to the current upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) guidelines, ureteroscopic evaluation (URS) is recommended to improve diagnostic accuracy and obtain a grade (by biopsy or cytology). However, URS may delay radical surgery [e.g., nephroureterectomy (RNU)]. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of URS implementation before RNU on patient survival.

Methods

A French multicentre retrospective study including 512 patients with nonmetastatic UTUC was conducted between 1995 and 2011. Achievement of ureteroscopy (URS), treatment time (time between imaging diagnosis and RNU), tumour location, pT–pN stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and the presence of invaded surgical margins (R+) were evaluated as prognostic factors for survival using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Cancer-specific survival (CSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

A total of 170 patients underwent ureteroscopy prior to RNU (URS+ group), and 342 did not undergo URS (URS?). The median treatment time was significantly longer in the URS+ group (79.5 vs. 44.5 days, p = 0.04). Ureteroscopic evaluation was correlated with ureteral location and lower stage and tumour grade (p = 0.022, 0.005, 0.03, respectively). Tumour stage, LVI+ and R+ status were independently associated with CSS (p = 0.024, 0.049 and 0.006, respectively). The 5-year CSS, RFS and MFS did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.23, 0.89 and 0.35, respectively). These results were confirmed for muscle-invasive (MI) UTUC (p = 0.21, 0.44 and 0.67 for CSS, RFS and MFS, respectively).

Conclusions

Despite the increased time to radical surgery, diagnostic ureteroscopy can be systematically performed for the appraisal of UTUC to refine the therapeutic strategy without significantly affecting oncological outcomes, even for MI lesions.     

Risk Group Stratification Based on Preoperative Factors to Predict Survival after Nephroureterectomy in Patients with Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Background

After radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), substantial numbers of patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) are ineligible for adjuvant chemotherapy owing to diminished renal function. Accurate preoperative prediction of survival is considered important because neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be as effective for high-risk UUT-UC as for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We performed risk group stratification to predict survival based on specific preoperative factors.

Methods

We enrolled 536 UUT-UC patients treated with RNU in this retrospective cohort study and assessed preoperative clinical and laboratory variables influencing disease-specific survival.

Results

The median follow-up was 40.9 months. Using univariate analysis, tumor location; number of tumors; hydronephrosis; clinical T stage; clinical N category; voided urine cytology; neoadjuvant chemotherapy; hemoglobin; white blood cell (WBC) counts; and C-reactive protein had a significant influence on disease-specific survival (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that clinical T stage, voided urine cytology, and WBC were independent predictors (P = 0.041, P = 0.020, and P = 0.017, respectively). We divided patients into three risk groups based on the number of the three independent predictors: 0, low risk; 1, intermediate risk; 2 and 3, high risk. Significant differences in disease-specific survival were found among these risk groups (P ≤ 0.0047).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that risk group stratification based on preoperative clinical T stage, voided urine cytology, and WBC counts may be useful for selection of UUT-UC patients for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Prospective studies with larger numbers of patients and a longer follow-up period are needed to confirm our results.     

Can ureteral stones cause pain without causing hydronephrosis?

Introduction

While computerized tomography (CT) is the gold standard for diagnosis of ureterolithiasis, ultrasound is a less costly and radiation-free alternative which is commonly used to evaluate patients with ureteral colic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency with which patients with ureteral stones and renal colic demonstrate hydronephrosis in order to better understand the evaluation of these patients.

Methods

Two hundred and forty-eight consecutive patients presenting with ureteral colic and diagnosed with a single unilateral ureteral stone on CT scan in an urban tertiary care emergency department were retrospectively reviewed. Radiology reports were reviewed for stone size, diagnosis, and degree of hydronephrosis.

Results

Of the 248 patients evaluated for suspected ureteral stone, 221 (89.1 %) demonstrated any hydronephrosis, while 27 (10.9 %) did not. Hydronephrosis grade, available in 194 patients, was as follows: mild—70.6 %, moderate—27.8 %, and severe—1.5 %. Mean patient age was 47.0 years (SD 15.5), gender distribution was 35.9 % female and 64.1 % male, and mean stone axial diameter was 4.1 mm (SD 2.4). Stone location was as follows: ureteropelvic junction—4.1 %, proximal ureter—21 %, distal ureter—24.9 %, and ureterovesical junction—47.1 %. Axial stone diameter and coronal length (craniocaudal) were both significant predictors of degree of hydronephrosis (ANOVA, p < 0.001 for both). Age (ANOVA, p = NS), stone location (Chi square, p = NS), and gender (Chi square, p = NS) were not associated with degree of hydronephrosis.

Conclusions

In patients with ureteral stones and colic, nearly 11 % do not demonstrate any hydronephrosis and a majority (nearly 71 %) will demonstrate only mild hydronephrosis. Stone diameter appears to be related to degree of hydronephrosis, whereas age, gender, and stone location are not. The lower incidence of hydronephrosis for small stones causing renal colic may explain the lower diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound when compared to CT for detecting ureteral stones.

     

The Effect of Tumor Location on Prognosis in Patients Treated with Radical Nephroureterectomy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Background

The prognostic impact of primary tumor location on outcomes for patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is still contentious.

Objective

To test the association between tumor location and disease recurrence and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for UTUC.

Design, setting, and participants

Prospectively collected data were retrospectively reviewed from 324 consecutive patients treated with RNU between 1995 and 2008 at a single tertiary referral center. Patients who had previous radical cystectomy, preoperative chemotherapy, previous contralateral UTUC, or metastatic disease at presentation were excluded. This left 253 patients for analysis. Tumor location was categorized as renal pelvis or ureter based on the location of the dominant tumor. Recurrences in the bladder only, in nonbladder sites, and in any site were analyzed.

Intervention

All patients were treated with RNU.

Measurements

Recurrence-free survival and CSS probabilities were estimated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.

Results and limitations

Median follow-up for survivors was 48 mo. The 5-yr recurrence-free probability (including bladder recurrence) and CSS estimates were 32% and 78%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, pathologic stage was the only predictor for disease recurrence (p = 0.01). Tumor location was not an independent predictor for recurrence (hazard ratio: 1.19; p = 0.3), and there was no difference in the probability of disease recurrence between ureteral and renal pelvic tumors (p = 0.18). On survival analysis, we also found no differences between ureteral and renal pelvic tumors on probability of CSS (p = 0.2). On multivariate analysis, pathologic stage (p < 0.0001) and nodal status (p = 0.01) were associated with worse CSS. This study is limited by its retrospective nature.

Conclusions

Our study did not show any differences in recurrence and CSS rates between patients with ureteral and renal pelvic tumors treated with RNU.     

Significance of ADC value for detection and characterization of urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tract using diffusion-weighted MRI

Purpose

To evaluate utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) to detect and predict the histological characteristics of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs).

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated 20 suspicious lesions from 19 patients. MRI study included conventional sequences and DWI with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps calculated between b = 0 and b = 1,000. ADC values were measured within two different regions of interest (ROI): a small identical ROI placed in the most restrictive part of the tumour and a larger ROI covering two-thirds of the mass surface. The mean ADC values of the tumours were compared with that of normal renal parenchyma using an unpaired Student’s t test. Association between ADC values and histological features was tested using non-parametric tests.

Results

Overall, 18 tumours were confirmed histologically as UTUCs. DWI failed to detect two cases of UTUCs (one CIS and one small tumour of 5 mm). There was no statistically significant difference in ADC values measured with the small or large ROI (p = 0.134). The mean ADC value of UTUC was significantly lower than that of the normal renal parenchyma (p < 0.001). No statistical association was found between ADC values and pathological features (location, p = 0.35; grade, p = 0.98; muscle-invasive disease, p = 0.76 and locally advanced stage, p = 0.57).

Conclusion

DWI may be interesting tool for detecting UTUCs regarding the difference of ADC values between the tumours and surrounding healthy tissues. In regard to low frequency of UTUCs, the association of ADC values and histological characteristics need further investigations in a large prospective multi-institutional study.     

Perforation during TUR of bladder tumours influences the natural history of superficial bladder cancer

Objectives

Bladder perforation is the second most common complication during transurethral resection of bladder tumours. It is unknown whether perforation affects the natural history of the tumour through cell seeding. The aim of this study was to study the impact of perforation on the oncologic outcomes of bladder carcinoma.

Materials and methods

Between 2003 and 2007, 926 consecutive patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumours at our institution; 327 cases were staged ≥pT2 and were treated immediately with cystectomy and/or multimodal therapy and therefore excluded from the study. An additional 34 cases without urothelial carcinoma were excluded. Of the remaining 565 patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, 457 (80.8 %) were male and 108 (19.2 %) were female with a mean age of 69.5 years in men and 67.3 years in women. Thirty-seven patients (6.5 %) experienced bladder perforation at the time of tumour resection. This group of patients (Group 1) was compared to the remaining 528 patients (Group 2) who did not experience a bladder perforation.

Results

Patients with bladder wall perforation experienced a shorter disease-free survival in both univariate (p = 0.003) and multivariate analyses (p = 0.006). In addition, subsequent recurrences revealed stage progression of recurrent disease (p = 0.05) and trended to a higher number of cystectomies in the perforated group of patients (p = 0.06). Nevertheless, perforation did not appear to influence overall survival (p = 0.127) or cancer-specific survival (p = 0.141).

Conclusion

The results indicate that bladder perforation during resection of superficial bladder tumours is burdened by a shortened disease-free survival and T-stage progression.     

Prognostic significance of tumor location and superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma history in patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy

Purpose

To investigate the significance of tumor location and superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC) history on oncological outcomes in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for ureteral urothelial carcinoma (UC).

Methods

One hundred and thirty-two patients treated with RNU for ureteral UC between January 1999 and July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence probabilities and survival rates were analyzed, stratified by tumor location and superficial UBC history.

Results

Comparison of patients with proximal, middle, and distal ureteral UC showed that percentage of bladder recurrence was 13.3, 14.7, and 25.0 %, respectively (P = 0.285); retroperitoneal (tumor bed or lymph node) recurrence was 26.7, 14.7, and 27.9 % (P = 0.319); and contralateral recurrence was 0, 2.9, and 0 % (P = 0.234). Comparison of patients with and without history of superficial UBC revealed that percentage of bladder recurrence was 15.4 and 20.2 %, respectively (P = 0.681); retroperitoneal recurrence was 15.4 and 25.2 % (P = 0.433); and contralateral recurrence was 0 and 0.84 % (P = 0.740). Using multivariable Cox regression analyses, there were no significant differences of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) with regard to neither tumor location nor superficial UBC history (RFS: P = 0.282 and 0.762, CSS: P = 0.272 and 0.818, respectively).

Conclusions

Tumor location and history of superficial UBC could not be used to predict oncological outcomes of patients who underwent RNU for ureteral UC. Therefore, operative strategies or postoperative surveillance should not be affected by tumor location or history of superficial UBC.     

The short- and long-term outcomes for patients with splenic flexure tumours treated by left versus extended right colectomy are comparable: a retrospective analysis

Purpose

To compare the outcomes of colonic splenic flexure tumours treated by extended right colectomy versus left colectomy.

Methods

Stage I–III splenic flexure tumours, treated either by extended right colectomy or left colectomy between 1996 and 2011, were identified in a prospective database, and the short- and long-term outcomes compared. The survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and adjusted using a Cox-proportional hazard model.

Results

A total of 30 (44 %) splenic flexure tumours were resected by left colectomy and 38 (56 %) by right colectomy. Emergency operations were more common (74 versus 20 %, p < 0.001) in the right colectomy group. In the univariate analysis, the 5-year overall survival (55 % for right colectomy versus 60 % for left colectomy, p = 0.197) and 5-year recurrence-free survival (41 versus 54 %, p = 0.180, respectively) showed a trend towards a non-significant survival benefit for left colectomy. However, when adjusted for age, gender, ASA classification, tumour stage, urgency and year of surgery, this trend disappeared.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing extended right or left colectomy for splenic flexure tumours seemed to have comparable short- and long-term outcomes.     

Displaced inferior ramus fractures as a marker of posterior pelvic injury

Introduction

Injuries to the anterior or posterior pelvic ring rarely occur in isolation. Disruption to the anterior pelvic ring, indicated by a fracture of the superior or inferior pubic ramus, or injury to the pubic symphysis, may be indicative of additional pelvic ring disruption. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether displaced inferior pubic ramus fractures warrant a more detailed investigation of the posterior ring in an effort to predict unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries.

Materials and methods

All patients with a displaced inferior ramus fracture on AP pelvic radiograph were identified at a single level I trauma center over a 5-year period. Complete pelvic radiographs and computed tomography scans were then evaluated for additional pelvic ring injuries. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test to determine the association between inferior ramus fractures and posterior pelvic ring injury.

Results

Sixty-three of the 93 patients with a fracture of the inferior ramus (68 %) were found to have a posterior ring injury; 60 % of these injuries were unstable. Patients with concurrent superior ramus fractures were more likely to have a posterior ring injury (p < 0.001) and an unstable pelvis (p = 0.018). Of those with a displaced unilateral inferior ramus fracture, parasymphyseal involvement was associated with higher incidence of posterior ring injury (p = 0.047) and pelvic instability (p = 0.028).

Conclusion

The anterior pelvic ring can be used to help identify unstable injuries to the posterior pelvis. Patients with displaced inferior pubic ramus fractures warrant a detailed examination of their posterior ring to identify additional injuries and instability.     

Risk stratification of metastatic recurrence in invasive upper urinary tract carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy without lymphadenectomy

Purpose

To assess the risk factors of metastasis relapse in pT2-3 upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs) treated by radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) without lymphadenectomy (LN).

Methods

A multicentric retrospective study was performed for pT2-3 pNx UTUCs treated by RNU between 1995 and 2010. The following criteria were retrieved: age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status, surgical approach, preoperative hydronephrosis, stage, grade, tumor location, surgical margin, lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status and outcomes. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) was measured by Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test.

Results

Overall, 151 patients were included. The median follow-up was 18.5 months (IQR 9.5–37.9). The 2- and 5-year MFS were 69 % ± 4.5 and 54.1 % ± 5.8, respectively. In univariate analysis, ureteral location, pT3 stage, positive LVI status and positive surgical margin were significantly associated with worse MFS (p = 0.03; 0.02; 0.01 and 0.006, respectively). In the multivariate analysis of ureteral location and pT3 stage were independent prognostic factors (p = 0.03 and 0.03, respectively). Based on the results of the univariate analysis, we proposed a risk model predicting MFS, which classifies patients into 3 categories with different overall survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

In view of our data, tumor location, T stage, LVI and surgical margin status are mandatory to predict survival in case of RN without LN. Contingent upon external validation, our risk model based on these variables could be useful to provide relevant information concerning metastasis relapse probability and necessity of close follow-up for these patients.     

Clinical features and surgical outcomes of primary cauda equina tumours

Background

To identify clinical features, radiological findings and surgical outcomes of primary cauda equina tumours.

Methods

A consecutive series of 64 operations in 60 patients with primary cauda equina tumours from April 1999 to May 2009 at one institution comprised the study. The cases were divided into tumours of neural sheath origin (TNS, n?=?48) and tumours of non-neural sheath origin (TNNS, n?=?22). We analysed pain intensity, neurological abnormalities, MRI findings, surgical extent and functional outcome.

Results

The TNS group showed more leg pain (76 % vs. 44 %, p?=?0.019) with higher intensity (6.1?±?1.5 vs. 4.6?±?1.9, p?=?0.04). Motor weakness and bladder dysfunction were more common in the TNNS group (p?=?0.028 and p?=?0.00 in each). Flow voids of MRI were more frequently observed in TNNS (50 % vs. 4 %, p?=?0.01). The TNS group achieved total removal in all operations compared with total removal in 77 % in the TNNS group (p?=?0.001). The TNNS group showed higher recurrence rates (18 % vs. 0 %, p?=?0.009). The TNS group showed higher improvement of JOA scores postoperatively (p?=?0.049). Surgical complications were observed less frequently in the TNS group (19 % vs. 78 %, p?=?0.000).

Conclusions

TNS differs from TNNS by causing more frequent leg pain, higher pain intensity and more frequent flow voids. TNS has better surgical outcomes than TNNS in terms of higher rates of total removal, fewer surgical complications, better functional outcomes and less recurrence.     

Does preoperative platelet count and thrombocytosis play a prognostic role in patients undergoing nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma? Results of a comprehensive retrospective series

Purpose

To evaluate the still controversially discussed prognostic role of preoperative platelet level (PPL) and thrombocytosis (TC) in patients who undergo surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) based on the largest patient series reported to date.

Methods

A total of 3,139 patients, who underwent radical or nephron-sparing nephrectomy at four centres, were subdivided based on a threshold for preoperative platelets of 400 × 10⁹ cells/L. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were applied to determine the prognostic influence of PPL and TC on cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with localized and metastatic disease at presentation.

Results

Group 1 (PPL ≤ 400/nl) and Group 2 (PPL > 400/nl) included 2,862 (91 %) and 277 patients (9 %), respectively. With a median follow-up (FU) of 69.5 months (IQR: 35–105), CSS of all patients after 5 years was 84.6 % in Group 1 versus 53.4 % in Group 2 (p < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, TC (HR:1.337; p = 0.007) and continuous PPL (HR:1.001; p = 0.002) independently predicted a decreased survival. However, integration of these parameters into multivariable models for the entire study group and for patients with localized tumours did only result in marginal improvement of the model quality (0.66 and 1.04 %, respectively). Interestingly, neither TC (p = 0.257) nor PPL (p = 0.132) significantly influenced survival in M1 patients.

Conclusions

Preoperative TC turned out an independent predictor for decreased CSS in patients undergoing surgery for localized RCC. However, significant improvement of multivariable models comprising standard clinical and pathological parameters by the inclusion of TC is not achieved. In metastatic disease, TC did not reveal an independent influence on CSS.     

Oncologic outcomes obtained after laparoscopic, robotic and/or single port nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract tumours

Introduction

Open surgery (ONU) is still considered to be the gold standard approach for nephroureterectomy (NU); however, with the introduction of laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive techniques have been applied to surgical therapy of upper urinary tract tumours (UUT-UC) and they are gaining adepts. However, several concerns still exist about the safety of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) in the treatment of UUT-UC, and different authors suggest that, although it could be equivalent to open surgery, this equivalence is not accomplished in all UUT-UC, suggesting that more advanced disease should undergo open surgery. More controversial still is the application of robotic surgery (RALNU) or really novel minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESSNU), for the treatment of UUT-UC. Although all these techniques seem feasible, their influence on oncologic results is still a matter of concern.

Methodology

We present a review on the oncologic outcomes of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of UUT-UC. We focus our analysis on oncologic outcomes and we also analyze the different techniques proposed for the treatment of the distal ureter during minimally invasive surgery for UUT-UC. In the absence of prospective randomized studies with large patient samples, we must base our conclusions on retrospective studies and longer follow-up.

Conclusion

Given the evidence accumulated so far, LNU has proven to be equivalent or non-inferior, in terms of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) to ONU. Nevertheless, comparative studies are needed with longer follow-up before determining the equivalence of LNU in advanced tumours.     

Characteristics of modern Gleason 9/10 prostate adenocarcinoma: a single tertiary centre experience within the Republic of Ireland

Introduction

The 2005 international society of urological pathology consensus statement on Gleason grading in prostate cancer revised Gleason scoring in clinical practice. The potential for grade migration with this refinement poses difficulties in interpreting historical series. We report the characteristics of a recent cohort of consecutive Gleason score 9 or 10 prostate cancers in our institution. The purpose of this study was to define the clinicopathologic variables and staging information for this high-risk population, and to identify whether traditional prostate staging techniques are adequate for this subcohort of men.

Materials and methods

A computational review of our pathology database was performed. Between May 2010 and September 2012, 1,295 consecutive biopsies were undertaken, 168 of which were high-grade tumours (12.97 %). This group were divided into two cohorts of which 84 (12.05 %) had a highest reported Gleason score of 9 (N = 79) or 10 (N = 5) and 84 were reported as Gleason 8. All biopsies were double-reported by pathologists with a special interest in uropathology.

Results

Men diagnosed with a Gleason pattern 5 tumour were statistically far more likely to have advanced disease on direct rectal examination of the prostate compared with Gleason sum 8 tumours (p < 0.001) and a positive first-degree family history of prostate cancer (p < 0.001). Overall, Gleason sum 9/10 prostate cancers were also found to be statistically more aggressive than Gleason sum 8 tumours on TRUS core biopsy analysis with significantly higher levels of perineural invasion (p < 0.0001) and extracapsular extension (p = 0.001) as well as a higher levels of tumour found within the core biopsy sample. Those men diagnosed with Gleason pattern 5 prostate cancer also had radiological indicators of increased tumour aggressiveness compared with Gleason sum 8 cancer with respect to bone (p = 0.0002) and visceral (p = 0.044) metastases at presentation.

Conclusions

This series of Gleason score 9/10 prostate cancers serves to highlight the large disease burden, adverse pathologic features, and locally advanced nature of this aggressive subtype, which has previously been under-described in the literature, and differs from historical series in having a large high-grade cohort demonstrating high rates of metastatic disease. A history of prostate cancer amongst first-degree relatives was particularly prevalent in this population raising the issue of screening in a high-risk population. The high incidence of visceral metastatic disease at presentation supports upfront staging with CT thorax, abdomen, and pelvis in patients with Gleason 9 or 10 prostate cancers.     

Influence of Positive Surgical Margin Status After Radical Nephroureterectomy on Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Survival

Background

The influence of a positive surgical margin (PSM) on survival outcome of post radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) is unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine the significance of PSM on cancer-specific survival (CSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) post RNU.

Methods

From a multicenter collaborative database, data on SM status, stage, grade, lymph node status, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), tumor location, follow-up, and survival was retrieved for 472 patients. Patients underwent open RNU with bladder cuff excision. Clinicopathological features were compared using ??² or Fisher exact test and unpaired t test for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan?CMeier method, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were calculated.

Results

Median follow-up was 27.5?months (12.1?C49.3?months). PSM was identified in 44 patients (9.3?%) and correlated with pT stage (p?=?0.002), grade (p?p?p?p?=?0.003, 0.04, and <0.001, respectively). The 5-yr CSS and MFS for PSM was 59.1 and 51.6?%, respectively, compared with 83.3 and 79.3?% for patients with negative SM. Multivariate analyses revealed that SM status was an independent predictor of MFS [hazard ratio 2.7; p?=?0.001).

Conclusions

PSM after RNU is an important prognostic factor for developing UUT-UC metastases. The status of the surgical margin should be systematically reported on the pathological report and may be a useful variable to include in nomogram risk prediction tools.