Percutaneous Catheter Dilatation of Benign Ureteroenteric Anastomotic Strictures Followed or not by Retrograde Transconduit Placement of a Catheter: Long Term Results

BACKGROUND: We report our experience on multiple balloon dilatations for benign ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures after total cystectomy and urinal deviation by ileal conduit, followed or not by retrograde placement of a permanent catheter through the stoma of the ileal conduit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were classified in two groups: Group A included patients treated only by multiple balloon dilatations and Group B patients in whom multiple dilatations were followed by retrograde insertion of a permanent catheter through the stoma of the ileal conduit, which then had to be replaced regularly. Records of survival and patency rates were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty patients with 24 benign ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures referred to radiology department. Long-term results were available in only 15 patients, who finally included in the study. In Group A long term follow-up was achieved in five patients. Mean primary patency time of stenoses (interval between initial dilatation and recurrence) was 33.2 months. This time-period proved to be the same as the survival time of Group A patients, since all five patients eventually succumbed to the underlying disease or other reasons. In Group B, 6 patients are still alive and 4 patients eventually succumbed to the underlying disease or other reasons. Mean primary patency time of stenoses was 38.1 months. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon dilatations of benign ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures, due to radical cystectomy and urinal deviation by ileal conduit, were technically successful in all cases. Patency rate was comparable in the two study groups. However, regular catheter replacement through the ileal conduit is well tolerated and gives a sense of security to both patient and physician

The prognostic irnportance of the morphological su bdivision of the grade II superficial bladder cancer

In this study a morphological subdivision of grade (g)ll superficial bladder cancer is proposed and correlated with recurrence and progression rate. Forty patients, 33 males and 7 females, of 70 years mean age, with initial gII superficial transitional bladder cancer were treated with transurethral resection between January and December 1987 with followup for a mean period of 4 years. Recurrences were observed in 24 patients. All histological specimens were reviewed and reclassified to gIIa and gIIb mainly according to the variation in nuclear size. the degree of nuclear atypia and the number of mitoses. 42.1 % (8119) of the gIIa and 76.2% (16121) of the gIIb tumors recurred. The observed difference in recurrence rate was statistically significant (s.s) - p< 0.05. The disease-free interval after the initial presentation was over two years in 50% (418) of gIIa and in 6.25% (1116) of gIIb patients (s.s. difference - p< 0.05). None of the patients with gIIa, but 37.5% (6116) with gIIb urothelial cancer had more than two recurrences (s.s. difference - p< 0.05). All gIIa recurred as gIIa superficial cancers, 62.5% (10116) of gIIb as gIIb (5 superficial and 5 invasive) and the remainder 37.5% (6116) as invasive gIII tumors. Only one patient with repeated recurrences died two years after the initial presentation. 3 patients died from other causes. In conclusion: 1. The morphological subdivision of gIl urothelial cancer into gIIa and gIIb has a prognostic significance, as it is related to the recurrence rate, the disease-free interval after the initial resection, the number of recurrences and the progression rate. 2. As gIIb urothelial cancer identifies patients at a higher recurrence risk. it is evident that this group requires an adjuvant treatment and a closer follow-up

Free/Total PSA (F/T ratio) kinetics in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy

Background: In this paper we study the Free/Total PSA kinetics in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Methods: Serum PSA, Free PSA and Free/Total Ratio were determined preoperatively, at the time of prostate removal (0 time) and then at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 168 h, from 9 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. The elimination rates and half-lives of Total, Free PSA and F/T Ratio were studied applying one and two compartment models for pharmacokinetic analysis. Results: Surgical manipulations of the prostate caused a mean 2.16-fold increase of PSA, 12-fold increase of free PSA and 4.2-fold increase of F/T PSA ratio. Removal of the prostate caused a rapid biphasic, biexponential elimination of Free PSA with a mean half-life of 0.8 h for the alpha (a) phase and 32.6 h for the beta (b) phase. PSA was eliminated following a rapid exponential (a) phase with a half-life of 1.15 h and a non-exponential (b) phase with a half-life of 71.96 h. Free/Total PSA followed a biphasic kinetic, with an initial exponential elimination phase and a mean half-life of 2.6 h and a second non-exponential increase phase with a doubling time of 130.8 h. Free/Total PSA reached its nadir very soon, at the first postoperative 24 h. Conclusions: Free/Total PSA kinetic after radical prostatectomy reflects the differences of Free and Total PSA elimination kinetics. Free/Total Ratio follows a biphasic kinetic, with an initial rapid exponential elimination phase, which is affected mainly by the rapid exponential (a) phase of Free PSA elimination and a second slow increase, which is affected mainly by the terminal non-exponential (b) phase of PSA elimination. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Total and free PSA kinetics in patients without prostate cancer undergoing radical cystoprostatectomy

BACKGROUND. Radical cystoprostatectomy and radical prostatectomy are the two major operations where prostate is totally and radically removed. Radical cystoprostatectomy is usually performed in patients with invasive bladder cancer. The aim of the study was to examine Total PSA, Free PSA, and Free/Total Ratio elimination kinetics after radical cystoprostatectomy. METHODS. Serum PSA, Free PSA, and Free/Total Ratio were determined preoperatively, at the time of cystoprostatectomy specimen removal and then at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 168 hr, from seven patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer, who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy. Free and Total PSA concentrations were measured with non-competitive immunological procedures. The elimination rates and half-lives of Total, Free PSA and Free/Total Ratio were studied using a nonlinear regression analysis. RESULTS. Surgical manipulations caused about 1.5-fold increase of PSA, 5-fold increase in Free PSA and 3-fold increase in Free/Total Ratio. PSA and Free PSA followed a biphasic elimination pattern of a rapid exponential (a) phase with a half-life of 4.27 and 2.14 hr and a terminal, nonexponential (b) phase with a half-life of 63 and 173.2 hr, respectively. Free/Total PSA Ratio followed, also, a biphasic kinetic pattern of a rapid exponential decline with a half-life of 3.34 and a terminal non-exponential increase with a doubling time of 43 hr. CONCLUSIONS. Comparing PSA kinetics after radical cystoprostatectomy with those of radical prostatectomy, it appears that PSA follows the same elimination pattern in both models. In contrast, Free PSA and Free/Total Ratio elimination kinetics&apos; patterns differ between the two surgical models. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc