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Changes in sexual function and ejaculatory function in patients who had undergone holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) were investigated using questionnaires. In this study, 77 patients on whom HoLEP was performed at our department from July 2010 to December 2010 were included. Of the 77 patients, the number of patients who could achieve an erection increased from 36 (46.8%) preoperatively to 52 (67.5%) postoperatively after HoLEP. Although postoperative ejaculatory dysfunction was found in 38 (73%) of 52 patients, 47 (90%) experienced orgasms, regardless of ejaculation, which is a high rate. With respect to ejaculatory satisfaction, patients who experienced an ejaculation had significantly higher satisfaction levels than those who did not. These results suggest that changes in postoperative ejaculatory function might affect satisfaction levels of ejaculation.

A 79-year-old male, who received hemodialysis due to bilateral nephroureterectomy and cysto-prostateurethrectomy. Five months later, an enlarged lymph node was found in the left of inguinal area. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a low density mass from the para-aortic lymph node to the left of inguinal area, suggesting lymph node metastasis of ureteral carcinoma. After 3 cycles of gemcitabinenedaplatin therapy, the size of lymph node metastasis decreased. This is a report of successful treatment of ureteral carcinoma with hemodialysis.

We present a case of myocardial metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) during the treatment with sorafenib. A 63-year-old male, who had undergone right radical nephrectomy, received interferon-alpha (IFN), interleukin (IL-2) and 5-flurouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of lung and pleural metastases. However, since this metastasis showed progressive disease, we administered sorafenib. Nine months after the introduction of sorafenib, he complained of dyspnea. Chest computed tomography and cardiac ultrasonography revealed a low density mass at the cardiac muscle of the left cardiac ventricle, suggesting myocardial metastasis of RCC. Molecular targeted therapy achieved a longer survival in advanced RCC patients in comparison with the immunotherapy using cytokines. Therefore, in metastasis evaluation, some organs which have been regarded as rare sites should be carefully evaluated.

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a safe and effective treatment for patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but is a difficult operation. To shorten the learning curve, we evaluated the surgical outcome of successive bilateral lobe enucleations with HoLEP. Performed by an inexperienced endourologist and an expert. Between March and July on 2009, we evaluated 20 cases of HoLEP performed by a beginner who underwent successive bilateral lobe enucleations and 20 cases of HoLEP performed by an expert. Enucleation time was shortened when successive bilateral lobe enucleations were performed by the beginner using HoLEP (115 vs 92 minutes, p<0.05). The enucleation time was significantly shorter in the expert group than in the beginner group. However, there were no significant differences in morcellation time, enucleated tissue weight, hemoglobin decrease level, sodium decrease level, catheterization time or significant incontinence time between the two groups. The postoperative evaluations was excellent in both groups. We conclude that HoLEP is a safe and effective operation. However, close supervision by an expert is required. In addition, learning from the easier part of enucleation to elaborate skill sets required to perform HoLEP is prerequisite for success.

A 42-year-old man who had no local or systemic symptoms presented with a yellowish tumor in the foreskin of his penis. He had travelled to Hokkaido to harvest insects, and recognized this tumor after returning home. Since it did not disappear after several days, he visited our hospital. The tumor was suspected to be due to an arthropod. En bloc resection including the arthropod was performed. Pathological findings demonstrated that the arthropod was Ixodes persulcatus. There were no symptoms after the surgery during the follow up. Ixodes persulcatus is a source of Lyme disease. Approximately ten patients develop Lyme disease per year, half of which are from Hokkaido in Japan. The case reported here was of a very rare tick-bite disease in the penis.

A 50-year-old male was referred to our hospital for a left renal mass which was incidentally found during a medical check-up. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a weak enhancement tumor devoid of fat densities at the lower pole of the left kidney. Under the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma, radical nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed large epithelioid cells, and immunohistochemical staining showed strongly positive for HMB-45. The patient was diagnosed with epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the kidney. Epithelioid angiomyolipoma is a rare variant of angiomyolipoma, which is sometimes occurred aggressive clinical behavior. However, our case remains without evidence of recurrence or metastasis after radical nephrectomy, and showed relatively better prognosis than in previous reports.

A 73-year-old male, who had undergone hormonal therapy due to stage D2 prostate cancer, complained of fever up and appetite loss. Abdominal computed tomography showed emphysematous pyelonephritis and right ureteral stone. At first, we could not perform any surgical treatment due to disseminated intravascular coagulation and septic shock. After endotoxin absorption therapy, we performed transurethral retrograde drainage, and successfully treated the emphysematous pyelonephritis. Endotoxin absorption therapy should be performed before surgical treatment in cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis with severe general condition.

We report three patients with germ cell tumors whose diagnosis was confirmed in the progress of the first-line chemotherapy regimen as metastatic cancer in the lumbar vertebra. Two of the 3 cases were mixed-type nonseminoma, and the other case was an extragonadal tumor. After the first-line chemotherapy regimen, the patients underwent salvage chemotherapy using Paclitaxel either with or without irradiation. We confirmed the efficacy that the bone metastasis had completely been resolved and the lymph node metastasis was significantly reduced after the completion of all treatments.

A 66-year-old male was referred to our hospital for evaluation of tumors in his left residual ureter and the lung. He had a history of left nephrectomy due to "malignant renal tumor", performed by a general surgeon at another hospital 16 years ago. Since a definitive diagnosis of the kidney was uncertain, we speculated that the original renal disease was a renal pelvic cancer and had metastasized in the residual ureter and the lung. We performed systemic chemotherapy followed by resection of residual ureter with bladder cuff Pathological examination revealed urothelial carcinoma. However, the lung tumors did not respond to salvage chemotherapy and slowly progressed. Bronchoscopic biopsy was performed 2 years later and histological finding showed clear cell type renal cell carcinoma.

A 29-year-old woman presented with bilateral hydronephroses concomitant with acute renal failure. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated bilateral ureteral strictures located at the lower segment of ureters. Computed tomography revealed inflammation of the left ovary and severe colon adhesion. She received the operation, i.e. left ovariectomy and colon adhesiotomy, because of a possibility of gynecological disease including endometriosis and malignant tumors. Clinical and pathological findings showed non-specific inflammation in the pelvis and ovary. A pelvic inflammatory disease due to a genital Chlamydia trachomatis was highly suspected and she was treated with targeted antibiotics. There have been no signs of hydronephroses or renal failure during six years' follow-up after the treatment. We discus this rare case of bilateral hydronephroses due to genital Chlamydia trachomatis.

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) occurs predominantly in chronically catheterized and constipated patients. This syndrome is associated with bacterial urinary tract infections that produce sulfatase or phosphatase. Tryptophan is converted to indole and indigo-producing bacteria have indoxyl phosphatase or sulfatase that can produce indigo (blue) and/or indirubin (red) in patients with urinary tract infection. To further explore the metabolism of these amino acids, we evaluated the serum levels of amino acids in patients with PUBS. A total of 15 patients were enrolled in this case-control study (PUBS-positive case group: 5 patients, PUBS-negative control group: 10 patients). Data from urine tests (pH, sugar, protein, leukocyte counts), renal functions (BUN, creatinine), serum levels of amino acids, and performance status were compared between the two groups. No significant differences were seen between the two groups in urine sugar, protein, leukocyte counts, renal functions, and performance status. The mean urine pH was significantly higher in PUBS patients than in control patients (8.5+/-0.0 vs. 7.3+/-1.16, respectively, p=0.0321), and serum levels of alpha-aminobutyric acid were significantly higher in PUBS patients than in control patients (16.2+/-3.08 vs. 12.4+/-3.20, respectively, p=0.0275). These data suggest that strong alkaline urine acts as an important factor in PUBS, in combination with other facilitating factors.

A 76-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria. She had received transurethral resections (TURBT) twice for superficial bladder tumors near the right orifice. All pathologic findings demonstrated low grade superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Cystoscopy showed the tumor lesions during the follow-up. Bladder tumors were completely harvested and pathologic examination revealed inverted papilloma. However, recurrent tumors were detected at the same location after 4 months' follow up. Although she came to our hospital for the purpose of TURBT, she complained of severe neck pain and was suddenly dead. Autopsy findings showed that dissecting aortic aneurism was the cause of death and the bladder tumor was low grade superficial TCC. The case reported here had a very rare pathologic finding with a history of superficial tumors located in the same areas in the urinary bladder.

We report a very rare side effect, anaphylactoid purpula, after intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). A 83-year-old man presented with purpura located on his bilateral lower legs. He had received transurethral resections four times for superficial bladder tumors. Intravesical therapy using BCG was performed. During the treatment course, asymptomatic purpura was suddenly seen in the lower legs after the third administration. Lymphocyte stimulation test was highly positive for BCG. He was diagnosed with anaphylactoid purpura caused by BCG. Conservative treatment was selected because there were no concomitant diseases in other organs. There have been no signs of recurrence of tumors or purpura during the one-year follow-up. However, physicians need to be cautious of anaphylactoid purpura which could lead to severe diseases, such as renal failure, gastrointestinal dysfunction and systematic arthritis.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease defined by a low platelet count secondary to accelerated platelet destruction by anti-platelet antibodies. The resulting bleeding diathesis can present a therapeutic dilemma. We have treated two cases of ITP in which ureteral stones were successfully extracted by transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) after high-dose gamma-globulin therapy. The first case was in a 52-year-old woman and the second case was in a 65-year-old woman. Intravenous pyelography revealed a left ureteral stone in the first case and bilateral ureteral stones in the second case. High-dose gamma-globulin therapy and platelet transfusion elevated their platelet counts to safe levels; TUL and ESWL were then performed successfully with no bleeding complications. This is the first case report of ITP being treated by ESWL after high-dose gamma-globulin therapy. High-dose gamma-globulin therapy effectively provides adequate platelet counts for surgical treatment in patients with ITP.

Paraganglioma, extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, are relatively rare in adults, with most arising from para-aortic sympathetic and visceral organs, such as the bladder. Paraganglioma localized at the extravesical retroperitoneal pelvic cavity is extremely rare. We report a case of symptomatic perivesical pheochromocytoma in a 34-year-old man treated by surgical excision. Symptoms related to cathecolamine secretion ceased after surgery, and the patient has remained disease-free for 24 months.

A 48-year-old man was referred to our institute for the evaluation of a concomitant gastric submucosal tumor and right adrenal tumor, incidentally found by ultrasound examination. Computed tomography showed a mass with a diameter of 6 cm adjacent to the stomach and the right adrenal tumor with a diameter of 3 cm. These tumors had similar characteristics in both plain and enhanced imagings. By magnetic resonance imaging, the intensity of the right adrenal tumor was equivalent to the liver in both T1 and T2 weighted images. On the other hand, the gastric submucosal tumor showed low intensity in T1 weighted images and high intensity in T2 weighted images. An adosterol scintigram showed slight accumulation at the region of adrenal tumor. The results of all conducted serum and urinary hormonal examinations were found to be within the normal range. Adrenalectomy and partial gastrectomy were performed laparoscopically. Pathological diagnosis of the adrenal tumor was a cortical adenoma, and that of the gastric submucosal tumor was gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The gastric tumor was immunohistochemically stained positive with the C-kit and CD34 and negative for s-100 protein and desmin. Histopathological diagnosis was coincident with gastric GIST and right adrenocortical adenoma, and the GIST was diagnosed as a high risk tumor because its diameter was over 5 cm.

A 66-year-old woman presented with a coin-size lesion in the right lung. Bronchoalveolar lavage cytology showed class V. Thoracoscopic partial pneumonectomy of right upper lobe was performed and pathologic finding was metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). She had a history of superficial bladder tumors which were treated with transurethral resection (TURBT). All pathologic findings demonstrated low grade superficial TCC. After the pneumonectomy, recurrent tumors were detected in the bladder after three months' follow up. Intravesical instillations and TURBT were performed and the pathologic finding showed superficial TCC. There have been no signs of recurrence during the six-year follow up. The case reported here is of superficial cancer with a metastatic lesion in the lung without local invasion in the urinary bladder.

A 72-year-old man presented with gross hematuria. Cystoscopy showed a non-papillary tumor at the right side of the posterior wall. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed. Pathologic findings demonstrated superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). However, recurrent tumors were detected at the same location after 69 months' follow up. TURBT was done for the biopsy and pathologic examination showed muscle-invasive TCC. After two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (MVAC), we performed radical cystectomy with Hautmann's continent reservoir. Pathologic findings revealed small cell carcinoma without any TCC features. Immunohistochemical staining using chromogranin A and synaptophysin was positive in the latest TURBT and the radical cystectomy specimens. We report a case of primary small cell carcinoma transformed from TCC of the urinary bladder.

A 31-year-old Japanese man who had been in Africa for two years presented with gross hematuria. He had been swimming in Lake Malawi during this period. Urinary specimen consisted of hematuria and pyuria. Cystoscopy showed tumors resembling Bilharzial tubercles located in the trigone, left lateral and posterior wall and dome. Further urine examination demonstrated eggs of schistosome haematobium. The patient was highly suspected of having Bilharzial schistosomiasis in the urinary bladder. Transurethral resection of bladder tumors was performed for diagnosis. Pathological examination revealed granuloma with many eggs of schistosome haematobium. He was diagnosed with Bilharzial schistosomiasis and was treated with 3,600 mg of praziquantel daily for two days. There have been no signs of recurrence during the one-year follow up except for excretion of degenerated eggs of schistosome haematobium in the urine specimens.

Urethrorectal fistula is a relatively rare disease. The most frequent cause of acquired urethrorectal fistulas is known to be iatrogenic complications, such as rectal injuries during the prostate operations. Rectal injuries are usually noticed during the operation and the majority can be repaired in situ. We report a case of late-onset urethrorectal fistula that lacked obvious rectal injury during the operation. Ischemic change or heat denaturation of rectal wall may be the potential cause of the present urethrorectal fistula.

We report a multicenter trial with transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. A total of 72 consecutive patients with stage T1c-2NOM0 prostate cancer were treated using the Sonablate 500TM HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, USA). Biochemical recurrence was defined according to the criteria recommended by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Consensus Panel. The median age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level were 72 years and 8.10 ng/ml, respectively. The median follow-up period for all patients was 14.0 months. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in all patients at 1 and 2 years were 78% and 76%, respectively. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with stage T1c, T2a and T2b groups at 2 years were 89, 67% and 40% (p = 0.0817). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with Gleason scores of 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 at 2 years were 88, 72% and 80% (p = 0.6539). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with serum PSA of less than 10 ng/ml and 10-20 ng/ml were 75% and 78% (p = 0.6152). No viable tumor cells were noted in 68% of patients by postoperative prostate needle biopsy. Prostatic volume was decreased from 24.2 ml to 14.0 ml at 6 months after HIFU (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted in International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate and quality of life analysis with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy. HIFU therapy appears to be minimally invasive, efficacious and safe for patients with localized prostate cancer with pretreatment PSA levels less than 20 ng/ml.

Laparoscopic unroofing of renal cyst has replaced open surgical intervention in recent years. We report our experience with this procedure on 6 patients with hydronephrosis due to peripelvic cyst. Four male and two female patients, ranging from 51 to 67 years, underwent laparoscopic unroofing of peripelvic cyst. All patients had various degrees of hydronephrosis. Two patients had lumbago and hematuria. The cause of this hematuria was probably due to the renal pelvic stone. Surgical approaches i.e., retro- or transperitoneal were selected depending on the location of cyst. The operative time ranged from 80 to 235 minutes (mean 167 minutes). The length of postoperative hospital stay ranged from 3 to 7 days (mean 4.6 days). Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 20 to 26 cc (mean 21 cc). Four weeks after the operation, all patients showed improvement of hydronephrosis. Laparoscopic unroofing of peripelvic cyst is a safe and efficacious procedure, and could be an' attractive alternative for management of peripelvic renal cysts.

In order to establish an acceptable guideline for prevention of perioperative infection following urologic surgery, a questionnaire survey on the theory of antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) was conducted among urologists in Japan in February 2004. A reply was obtained from 149 urologists working for institutes located all over Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu areas. Ninety-two percent of the urologists agreed that AMP should be administered 30 min before an incision, and 44% replied that an additional dose of AMP is required in the case of prolonged intervention. Penicillins or the 1st or 2nd generation cephems were used by 89 to 93% of the urologists in operations not including bowel segments, while 78% preferred such AMP agents in the procedures including bowel segments. AMP was terminated within 3 days in 87% for genital operations, in 70 to 76% for laparoscopic operations, in 54 to 65% for other clean or clean-contaminated operations, and in 24% for operations without the bowel segments. Especially, 58% of the urologists continued AMP for more than 5 days after operations with urinary diversion using the intestine. When compared with the previous questionnaire survey by Shinagawa et al, our survey demonstrated that standard consensus of AMP has spread widely among urologists in Japan, although the recommendations published in Europe and United States are still controversial in Japan. Thus, further well-designed clinical trials are required to establish original guidelines in Japan.

A 59-year-old female was referred to our institute for urinary tract infection with septicemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglycemia. Plain abdominal X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed emphysema at the left renal parenchyma and urinary tract along with the perirenal inflammatory changes. These findings suggested emphysematous pyelonephritis in the early phase of occurrence in a diabetic patient. Transurethral catheterization of the left ureter was immediately performed, and occluded cloudy urine was drained. Ureteral stent was left indwelt transurethrally for easy accession in case of occlusion. E. coli was cultured in drained urine. Administration of antibiotics, insulin, and anti-coagulant was performed, and drained urine became clear in several hours. General condition and laboratory findings were improved normally in a week, and CT did not reveal the emphysematous change of the left renal unit at the 11th hospital day.

A 20-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further evaluation on persistent pyuria. Physical examination showed a tender solid suprapubic mass. Computed tomography showed a right ovarian multilocular cystic tumor just above the urinary bladder. Cystoscopy showed pus leakage from an orifice in a hemisphere protrusion of the bladder wall. A small catheter could be inserted into the orifice. It revealed a fistula 4 cm in length between the right ovarian tumor and the vesical cavity. The tumor and the adjacent thickened bladder wall with an abscess and fistula were resected en bloc. Also a small left ovarian cyst was enucleated. Histopathological examination showed bilateral ovarian dermoid cysts, abscess formation, and marked inflammatory change around the fistula in the vesical wall. The fistula was thought to be the consequence of infection of the ovarian cyst.

Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the first-line therapeutic option for flat carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder. Intravesical BCG instillation has been demonstrated to cause granulomatous prostatitis. Bladder CIS often also is known to show prostatic stromal invasion. We report a case of BCG-induced granulomatous prostatitis and a case of prostatic stromal invasion of bladder CIS accompanied by locally advanced prostate cancer, which showed similar clinical findings after the intravesical BCG therapy. In these 2 patients, urinary symptoms such as dysuria were prolonged regardless of anti-tuberculous medication, hard nodules were palpable at the prostate, and hypoechoic lesions were visualized by transrectal ultrasound. Both patients were treated by transurethral resection of the prostate, and the diagnoses were made by histopathological examination. Urinary symptoms were resolved in both patients after surgery, but the prostatic stromal tumor showed recurrence of growth. We report the usefulness of transurethral resection of the prostate for medication-resistant BCG-induced granulomatous prostatitis, and the importance of the correct diagnosis of prostatic stromal invasion of bladder CIS especially in the cases with concurrent prostate cancer.

Ganglioneuroma is relatively rare, and difficult to distinguish from other tumors due to lack of image findings specific for ganglioneuromas. In this report, two cases of ganglioneuroma preoperatively diagnosed as non-functioning adrenal tumor and retroperitoneal tumor are reported. A 25-year-old male and a 29-year-old male visited our institute with chief complaints of upper abdominal pain and asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, respectively. Computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed a 7 x 6 x 5 cm solid tumor above the upper pole of the right kidney in the former case, 8 cm poorly enhanced tumor grown surrounding the left renal artery in the latter case. Surgical resection was performed in both cases. In the latder case, since intraoperative histological examination showed no malignant finding, renal vessels penetrating in the tumor were preserved by transecting the tumor. Postoperative histological examination revealed an adrenal ganglioneuroma and a retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma in the former and latter cases, respectively. A ganglioneuroma can be surgically dissected with favorable prognosis, but preoperative differential diagnosis is sometimes difficult due to few specific radiological and laboratory findings.

The patient, a 59-year-old woman, was referred to our University Hospital for evaluation of a left mass. Ultrasonography revealed a left adrenal cystic mass. On excretory urograms, the left kidney was pressed downward by a suprarenal mass, and computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed an adrenal cyst. 131I-meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy showed prominent accumulation in the left adrenal mass and the capsule. Considering the elevation of catecholamines in both blood and urine samples, we performed a left adrenalectomy with a presumptive diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (tumor size: 11.6 x 7.5 x 6.5 cm, tumor weight 720 g). The subsequent pathological examination confirmed a left giant cystic pheochromocytoma. 131I-MIBG scintigraphy was the most useful tool in the diagnosis of the cystic pheochromocytoma.

A 50-year-old male with the complaints of lumbago and voiding disturbance was diagnosed to have malignant mesothelioma. Serum CA-125 was found to be elevated. The tumor was stained positive immunohistochemically only for CA-125 and epithelial membrane antigen. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic demonstrated a large mass extending from the right external obturator muscle to the perineum. He was treated by two courses of methotrexate given intra-arterially (2,000 mg) followed by external beam irradiation at a total dose of 60 Gy. Disease progression was not apparent 15 months after treatment.

A 43-year-old men presented with left supraclavicular growing mass. Ultrasonography revealed a 31 x 21 mm solid mass with a homogeneous echoic pattern. Lymph node metastasis of some malignant neoplasms was highly suspected. However, whole body evaluation with computed tomographic scan revealed no findings in the primary region. In addition, tumor markers including alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and carcinoembryonic antigen were within normal limits. Then, extirpation of supraclavicular mass was performed and pathological diagnosis was made as pure seminoma. Evaluation of testicle by ultrasonography revealed a diffuse calcification. However, histological examination of biopsy specimen of testicle revealed no malignancy. The mass was finally diagnosed as extragonadal or "burned-out" pure seminoma. The patient received two courses of Peplomycin, vinblastine and cisplatin (PVP) therapy, and there has been no evidence of recurrence for 34 months.

Little information is available regarding the correlation between Prader-Willi syndrome and urolithiasis. We report a patient with Prader-Willi syndrome with a renal uric acid (UA) stone. A 23-year-old male patient was admitted to our department with gross hematuria and left flank pain. The blood and urine examination demonstrated hyperuricemia with the presence of UA crystals in the urine. Excretory urography revealed a radiolucent stone (17 x 27 mm) in the left renal pelvis suggesting a UA stone. The stone was removed successfully using extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) combined with medication for UA metabolism. The stone was thought to have formed as a result of overeating associated with Prader-Willi syndrome, and accompanying overproduction of purine.

A 71-year-old female presented with recurrent episodes of right flank pain and fever for the past several years. No pathogens were detected in the urine culture. Abdominal X-ray revealed staghorn calculi of the right kidney. Computerized tomography revealed pneumopelvis and staghorn stones of the right kidney. A nephrectomy was indicated based on the results of intravenous pyelography (IVP) and renogram which revealed a right non-functioning kidney. The adhesion of the right kidney with the duodenum and a transverse colon was so strong that a nephrectomy, a wedge resection of the duodenum and a transverse colectomy were performed. There was a fistula between the renal pelvis and the second portion of the duodenum. The fistula was speculated to have occurred by the spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis to the duodenum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the 15th case of spontaneous nephroduodenal fistula in Japan.

Congenital ureteral valves have not been a well recognized condition for the cause of ureteral obstruction. In our first case a 21-year-old male presented with left flank pain. Intravenous urography showed left mild hydronephrosis due to upper ureteral obstruction. Partial ureteral resection and re-anastomosis was performed. Histology demonstrated mucosal folds with smooth muscle. In our second case a 12-year-old boy presented with left flank pain. Retrograde pyelogram showed a fold-like filing defect which suggested ureteral valve. Endoscopical valve resection through nephrostomy was performed. Optimal management and diagnostic difficulties were discussed.

A 72-year-old male patient underwent antegrade percutaneous resection of a solitary and papillary tumor in the lower calyx of left kidney. He had undergone right nephroureterectomy one month previously due to right nonfunctioning kidney caused by right ureteral carcinoma. Percutaneous electroresection of the tumor was performed after puncture of a lower calyx. Pathological findings revealed a grade 2 transitional cell carcinoma. Second look biopsy was done on the 11th postoperative day, which showed no residual tumor pathologically. Continuous instillation of mitomycin-C 50 mg/50 ml saline with 40 cm H2O pressure for one hour was done through the nephrostomy catheter once a day, totally 7 days as an adjuvant therapy. No side effect was noticed. Cytological, radiographic studies were negative 24 months after the treatment. We discuss the indication and technical aspect of percutaneous approach to renal pelvic carcinoma.

Primary localized amyloidosis of renal pelvis is very rare, and only 12 cases have been reported. More than half of the reported cases were treated by nephrectomy, and the preoperative diagnosis could not be made correctly because of its resemblance to renal pelvic tumor. The ureteroscopy is a useful diagnostic means in such a condition. This case is unusual in that a papillary transitional cell carcinoma was present coincidentally.

Balloon dilation of the prostatic urethra was performed for the management of benign prostatic hypertrophy. The patients selected were mainly high risk patients who were poor surgical candidates for transurethral resection of the prostate. Ten patients between 61 and 87 years old with a mean age of 77.8 years were treated. Of the 10 patients 6 had urinary retention. The procedures were performed under spinal anesthesia, using 75 Fr dilation balloon for 10 minutes twice at 3 atmospheres. In a couple of months after treatments, 5 patients showed improvement in both uroflowmetry and clinical symptoms. Three patients revealed improvement of clinical symptoms only and 2 were in vain. One year after treatment, 3 out of 6 patients had persistent improvement. Balloon dilation of prostatic urethra was safe and showed promising effectiveness for high risk patients.

We report the results and complications of 103 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous removal of renal and ureteral stones. The overall clinical success rate was 80.6%. For the recent 33 cases in which UL-arm fluoroscopy was used, however, the success rate was as high as 87.9%, which was considered to be due to easier establishment of percutaneous direct access. The most common complications were bleeding (18.5%), extravasation (15.5%) and fever (9.7%). Four cases with significant bleeding required arteriography, but there were no sign of arteriovenous fistula nor pseudoaneurysms in any cases. To study renal parenchymal damage in the percutaneous procedures, plasma renin activities (PRA) were compared in 54 cases after six months. However, significant elevation of PRA did not occur in any case.

Therapeutic guide for renovascular hypertension has been greatly changed by a development of beta-blockers and captopril, and an introduction of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) The accepted opinion was that surgical therapy was superior to drug therapy since Hunt & Strong reported the follow-up results in 1973. However, efficacy of drug therapy was reevaluated by an appearance of beta-blockers and captopril and the number of patients applied to operation was decreased. Further, since PTA was widely used in clinical practice from the end of 1970s, surgical therapy for renovascular hypertension was hardly or never considered. Has the necessity of surgical therapy really ceased to exist? Recently, we encountered 2 cases of bilateral renovascular hypertension and reevaluated the necessity of surgical therapy during the course of treatment. The first case was in a 43-year-old male, for whose bilateral renovascular stenosis a bilateral PTA was applied. One year later a complete occlusion of the right renal artery and re-stenosis of the left renal artery developed. Thus, removal of the right kidney and the auto-transplantation of the left kidney were conducted. The second case was in a 17-year-old female with bilateral renovascular stenosis complicated by moya-moya disease. PTA was conducted for the left kidney with shorter range of stenosis and auto-transplantation was conducted for the right kidney with longer range of stenosis. The prognosis was favorable in both cases and hypertension was cured or improved. We recognized and re-evaluated the necessity of surgical therapy for patients who were unsuccessful to PTA or patients with bilateral renovascular hypertension from our experience and literatures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A case of renal leiomyosarcoma in a 55-year-old male is presented. The patient also had penile carcinoma. We believe this is the first report of renal leiomyosarcoma associated with penile carcinoma. Since 1957, thirty four cases of renal leiomyosarcoma have been reported in the Japanese literature. Some diagnostic problems of renal leiomyosarcoma are discussed, and the association of penile carcinoma with other malignant tumors is reviewed.

We present a case of urinary retention and constipation secondary to Herpes zoster in the distribution of the second and third sacral dermatomes in a 68-year-old woman. Vesical irritability was not observed. Cystometry revealed a flaccid type bladder. Cell count of spinal fluid increased but clinical symptoms and physical findings of myelitis were not observed. A Foley catheter was left indwelling for five days due to urinary retention. After removal of the catheter, bladder paresis gradually improved. Skin eruption and disturbance of urination completely improved about three weeks later. Forty-seven cases of bladder involvement secondary to Herpes zoster including our case have been reported in the Japanese literature.