Lessons learned from lower urinary tract complications of anorectoplasty for imperforate anus with rectourethral/rectovesical fistula: Laparoscopy-assisted versus posterior sagittal approaches

PurposeTo report the sequelae of and preventive strategies for selected lower urinary tract (LUT) complications, i.e., posterior urethral diverticulum (PUD), intraoperative LUT injuries, postoperative dysuria, and fistula recurrence in male imperforate anus (IA) with rectourethral/rectovesical (RU/RV) fistula after laparoscopy-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP) or posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP).Methods153 boys with IA and RU/RV fistula treated 1986–2019 by LAARP (n = 56) or PSARP (n = 97) at two unrelated institutes were studied retrospectively.ResultsAfter mean follow-up of 17.0 years (range: 36.5 days-32.0 years), the overall incidences of LUT complications were: LAARP (6/56; 10.7%); PSARP (7/97; 7.2%); p = 0.55, comprising PUD: LAARP (n = 5), PSARP (n = 0); p = 0.006; injuries: LAARP (n = 0), PSARP (n = 5); p = 0.16; dysuria: LAARP (n = 1), PSARP (n = 1); p>0.999; and recurrence: LAARP (n = 0), PSARP (n = 1); p>0.999. Mean onset of PUD was 5.1 years (range: 1.0–15.1 years). Treatment: PUD: surgery (n = 2/5), conservative (n = 3/5); injuries: intraoperative repair (n = 5/5); dysuria: conservative (n = 2/2), and recurrence: redo PSARP (n = 1/1).ConclusionsStrategies devised to improve dissection accuracy resolved the specific technical issues causing LUT complications (remnant RU fistula dissection in LAARP and blind posterior access in PSARP). Currently, the incidence of new cases of PUD and LUT injuries is zero.Level of Evidence: Level III     

Results of definitive radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy for maxillary sinus carcinomas with neck lymph node metastasis

The purpose of this study was to describe the results of definitive radiotherapy (RT) with concurrent chemotherapy for maxillary sinus carcinomas (MSCs) with neck lymph node metastasis to clarify its limitation. Local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and were compared between subgroups using the log rank test. Toxicity was classified using common terminology criteria of adverse events version 5.0. Eighteen patients with inoperable MSC with neck lymph node metastasis including 12 men and 6 women with a median age of 67 years were analyzed. The histologic diagnoses were as follows: 16 patients had squamous cell carcinomas and 2 had other histology. Four patients had stage T3 MSC, 6 had T4a and 8 had T4b. Among 18 patients, 7 received concurrent systemic chemotherapy and 11 received selective arterial chemo-infusion. The median follow-up period was 17 months. The 2-year LC, PFS and OS rates for the entire cohort were 34, 31 and 46%, respectively. No significant differences were observed for LC, PFS and OS rates between systemic chemotherapy and selective arterial chemo-infusion cohorts. Grade 3 or higher acute toxicity, including both non-hematological and hematological, was observed in nine patients (50%), while no grade 3 or higher late toxicity was observed. In conclusion, we described the results of definitive RT for MSCs with neck lymph node metastasis. Local recurrence of primary tumor was a frequent pattern of failure and it should be addressed in future study.     

Radiation tolerance of partially irradiated liver in a multidisciplinary treatment for hepatoma

Radiation tolerance of the partially irradiated liver was studied in eight patients with primary hepatoma treated by a multimodal approach. Seven patients were treated by transarterial embolization therapy (TAE) with Lipiodol-MMC, and two patients were treated by operation, combined with radiotherapy. Six patients had liver cirrhosis and the other one had renal dysfunction. Respiration-gated irradiation was employed to reduce a treatment volume for seven patients. Radiation portals were carefully tailored using the embolized Lipiodol or a metal clip inserted into the tumor as references. Two or three portals were used for each patient. The treatment volume ranged from 64 to 1400 cm3. The target dose ranged from 50.4 Gy to 81.0 Gy, from 73.5 to 108.6 in TDF. Liver function tests (GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP, ChE and total Bilirubin) were examined for 30 weeks after initiation of irradiation. Three patients showed abnormal value in more than 5 tests. Of these three patients, the hepatic hilum was included in the treatment volume in two, and the tumor progressed during the observation period in two. Leukopenia and thrombopenia were observed, but these values were not below 2000 and 40000/mm3, respectively, although the thrombocyte count before irradiation was below 100000/mm3 in 7 patients. AFP titers decreased after the treatment in six out of seven patients with abnormally elevated pretreatment titer. The survival period after staring irradiation was 6.5 to 25 months. "The volume dose" did not correlate well with the degree of the liver function aggravation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption

As both tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 have been reported to inhibit bone resorption, we examined whether TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 in fetal calf serum (FCS), with which culture media were supplemented, affected osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro. Contrary to our expectation, almost complete suppression of osteoclastic bone resorption was observed when both TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were removed from the FCS. Bone resorption was, however, almost fully restored by the addition of recombinant TIMPs. TIMPs stimulate bone resorption at significantly lower concentrations (∼ng/ml) than those (∼μg/ml) required to inhibit bone resorption. To understand the mechanism of TIMP-dependent bone resorption, we counted and compared the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-(TRAP-) positive and multinuclear cells in cultures containing either 10% FCS or TIMP-1-free and/or TIMP-2-free FCS. There was essentially no difference in number among these, suggesting that the TIMP role seems to be related to the functional expression of osteoclasts. Metallo-proteinase inhibitors, either BE16627B[l-N-(N-hydroxy-2-isobutylsuccinynamoyl)-seryl-l-valine] or R94138 {N-methyl-(3S)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxycarbamoylmethylundecanoyl] hexahydropyridazine-3-carboxamide}, could not replace TIMPs, suggesting that the osteoclast-stimulating activity of TIMPs cannot be ascribed to merely their inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinases. Received: Oct. 15, 1998 / Accepted: April 5, 1999     

Endosalpingiosis of nonmetastatic lymph nodes along the stomach in a patient with early gastric cancer: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 32-year-old woman who underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach with lymph node metastases, and endosalpingiosis in the normal lymph nodes. There was no evidence of malignancy in the peritoneal cavity. To our knowledge, no other case of endosalpingiosis in the lymph nodes along the stomach has ever been reported. The possible significance of endosalpingiosis is discussed following this case report.     

Nocturnal eating/drinking syndrome and neuroleptic-induced restless legs syndrome

Nocturnal eating/drinking syndrome secondary to neuroleptic-induced restless legs syndrome (RLS) occurred under treatment with low-dose haloperidol in a 51-year-old female schizophrenic patient. Polysomnographic investigation showed a low level of sleep efficacy, periodic leg movements, and a strict relationship between nocturnal eating episodes and non-rapid eye movement sleep. Her nocturnal eating and RLS were completely inhibited by clonazepam treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of nocturnal eating/drinking syndrome secondary to neuroleptic-induced RLS.     

Individualizing Hearing Preservation in Acoustic Neuroma Surgery

Surgical series of hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma usually emphasize a team's results with one particular technique. This report reviews acoustic neuroma outcomes of individualizing the surgical approach to patient and tumor characteristics. This study reviews 60 consecutive hearing preservation acoustic neuroma surgeries in a total series of 330 acoustic neuromas. Tumor sizes ranged from 0.3 to 4 cm in patients ranging from 23 to 74 years of age. Middle fossa surgery was performed in 57%, retrosigmoid in 43%. Overall, measurable hearing was preserved in 77%, and useful hearing in 67%. Among middle fossa cases, 85% had measurable and 74% had useful hearing. Among retrosigmoid surgeries, 65% had measurable hearing and 58% had useful hearing. Overall, long-term facial nerve function was excellent (grade I or II) in 90% and poor (grade V or VI) in 2%. There was one case of bacterial meningitis(2%), and cerebrospinal fluid leaks requiring surgery occurred in four patients (7%). The hearing preservation and other outcome parameters in this series compare favorably with other reports. We believe that individualizing the surgical approach to the patient's tumor characteristics and clinical features contributed to the high rate of hearing preservation.     

Medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy for patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium who wish to preserve the uterus-usefulness and limitations

BACKGROUND: To determine the effectiveness of medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy for women with endometrial adenocarcinoma who wish to preserve their uterus. STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen patients with endometrial carcinoma (12 with grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. 2 with grade 2 adenocarcinoma and 1 with adenoacanthoma) were treated with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate alone as primary therapy and their clinical responses evaluated. RESULTS: Seven of the 12 cases (58%) with grade I adenocarcinoma and one of the two (50%) with grade 2 carcinoma responded initially to medroxyprogesterone acetate. The median length of treatment required for regression was 29 weeks. Three patients who initially responded relapsed. Thirteen patients are alive without evidence of disease as of December 1999 (10 to 146 months, median; 4 years and 11 months) and one is continuing medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy as a final follow-up. One patient was lost to follow-up. Two patients have conceived having three healthy infants. CONCLUSION: Treatment of endometrial carcinoma with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate could be an alternative to hysterectomy, although the successful rate is limited.