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To assess the incidence of benign renal lesions in our Japanese clinical experience with surgical resection.A total of 411 renal masses harvested by radical or partial nephrectomy between January 1991 and April 2011 at our institution were retrospectively assessed. The incidence of benign lesions in 1-cm increments in diameter was determined, and a logistic regression model was used to assess relationships between the incidence of benign lesions and other factors.Histological examination confirmed a total of 18 (4.4%) benign lesions. The incidence of benign lesions was 42.8% for nodules1 cm and 10.0% for nodules 1 to2 cm. In contrast, the incidence of benign lesions in each 1-cm increment between 2 and 6 cm was 4.1-4.9%. The incidence of benign lesions 2 to4 cm was 4.8% and of benign nodules ≥6 cm was just 0-1.0%. The incidence of benign lesions ≥2 cm (3.5%) was significantly lower than that of masses2 cm (16.2%; P0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that female gender (odds ratio 3.68) and smaller mass size (2 cm; odds ratio 4.84) were significant predictors for benign lesions.The incidence of benign lesions among renal masses ≥2 cm in diameter was found to be much lower than previously reported. This should be taken into account when designing strategies for the management of suspicious small renal masses.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combined gemcitabine and capecitabine (Gca) chemotherapy in patients with advanced renal cell cancer after immunotherapy failure. Nine patients were enrolled in this trial. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) was injected on days 1 and 8, followed by oral administration of capecitabine (1660 mg/m(2)) on days 1-14. The response rate was 11%, with a partial response in one patient (11%), stable disease in five patients (56%) and disease progression in three patients (33%). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in one patient (11%) and thrombocytopenia in two patients (22%). The quality of life (QOL) questionnaire scales showed no significant changes induced by chemotherapy. The median progression-free survival was 4 months with an overall 1-year survival rate of 78%. Gemcitabine and capecitabine chemotherapy can be safely administered as second-line therapy in renal cell cancer patients, maintaining QOL baseline parameters.

This study was designed to assess the intraoperative and postoperative benefits of two techniques for treating renal cell carcinoma (portless endoscopic surgery with radical nephrectomy [PLES-RN] and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy [LRN]) carried out at a single center. Radical nephrectomy with either PLES-RN (14 cases) or LRN (15 cases) was carried out on 29 patients with cT1 renal cell carcinoma. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in patient characteristics (except tumor side), operation time, and amount of blood loss (chi(2) and Fisher's test). No blood transfusions were required in either group. The mean incision length of PLES-RN was not significantly longer than that of LRN. No minor or major complications resulted. From postoperative data, the first intake of fluid (P = 0.07) and food (P = 0.02) tended to be sooner in the PLES group than the LRN group. Postsurgically, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein were not significantly different between the two groups. The added cost of disposable instruments needed in LRN was 111 570 Japanese yen (1115.7 United States dollars). Both techniques are optimal options for surgically treating early renal cell carcinoma. The comparison related to invasiveness between the two methods should be evaluated using a large number of cases focusing on the various aspects for the future.

To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant platinum based chemotherapy in upper urinary tract urothelial cancer following surgical resection in terms of survival benefit and inhibition of bladder cancer recurrence.Between April 1986 and August 2005, a total of 132 patients with a diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelial cancer underwent radical nephroureterectomy with cuff of bladder at our department. A total of 46 patients (13 with pT2pN0M0 and 33 with pT3 pN0M0 transitional cell carcinoma without prior bladder cancer) were enrolled. Patients with locally advanced disease were divided into two groups: the adjuvant chemotherapy group (24 patients) who received adjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin (M-VAC) and the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group who did not receive adjuvant M-VAC (22 patients).There were no statistically significant differences in patient characteristics or 10-year survival between the two groups. The recurrence rate in the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group was significantly higher than in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (log-rank test, P0.0001). Only non-adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant and independent risk factor (hazard ratio 6.97) for the development of intravesical recurrence (P0.01).Adjuvant M-VAC is an important optional adjuvant therapy and can prevent recurrent bladder tumors following surgery for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. To determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy has further benefit, a randomized study would be needed.

We report a case of uretero-appendiceal fistula. A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with high grade fever and loss of 5 kg of body weight over 6 months. Pyonephrosis was diagnosed. A retrograde ureterogram and barium enema showed a connection between cecum and ureter. Right nephroureterectomy and right hemicolectomy were carried out. The final diagnosis was uretero-appendiceal fistula.

We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of Paclitaxel Carboplatin (Pca) therapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer and platinum based chemotherapy failure.From April 2001 to September 2005, 18 patients were enrolled in this trial. The patients received methotrexate, vinblastine and doxorubicin cisplatin (M-VAC) therapy prior to Pca therapy. On day 1, Paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2), body surface) was injected followed by Carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) (5) via an external venous line and treatment was repeated on a 21-day cycle. Cases exhibiting either a response or stable disease were treated until progression of the disease was observed. All patients were examined to determine toxicity (National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria) and QOL (EORTC QOL-C30). The survival curves were established using Kaplan-Meier graphs.The median cycle of Pca therapy was 4 cycles (range, 1-9 cycles). The overall survival response was 33% with a partial response in six patients (0 with CR, 6 with PR), stable disease in eight patients (44%) and disease progression in four patients (22%). Grade 3-4 anemia was recognized in 5 (28%), neutropenia in 9 (50%) and thrombocytopenia in 3 (22%). The QOL questionnaire scales showed no significant changes induced by Pca therapy. The progression free survival rates were 33% at 6 months, 16% at 1 year and 5.2% at 2 years. Regarding overall survival period, the 6 month, 1-year and 2-year estimates were 78%, 50% and 22%, respectively.Since the Pca therapy was well tolerated we consider that this treatment modality has the potential to prolong survival with a high quality of life when used as a second chemotherapy.

Despite laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic cryotherapy being performed lately, an even less invasive treatment would be desirable in high-risk patients. Under local anesthesia with i.v. sedation, we were able to perform percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with renal arterial embolization for unresectable stage 1 (T1NoMo) renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We evaluated the feasibility, safety and therapeutic effects of this technique after a 2-year mean follow up.Thirty-one patients who were not candidates for surgery underwent RFA for 36 stage 1 RCC. Twenty-eight tumors were percutaneously ablated 6 days after the tumor vessels were embolized. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to evaluate treatment at completion.Tumor enhancement was eliminated after two RFA sessions in all tumors. Thirty tumors remained free of enhancement during a mean follow-up period of 24.3 months. There were no major complications related to the procedures though one instance of pyonephrosis, two of subcapsular hematomas, one of retroperitoneal hemorrhage and one of nausea were seen after RFA. Two patients died of other diseases (i.e. colon cancer and cerebral bleeding) 20 and 26 months after RFA treatment. One patient had a local recurrence of tumor and underwent re-RFA. The recurrence rate of RCC after successful RFA was 2.8%. There was no recurrence in patients who had tumors of less than 4 cm after RFA at a mean follow-up period of 24.3 months. Local control was achieved in 100% of T1NoMo tumors including the recurrence case that underwent re-RFA.The result of the present study at 2-year mean follow up showed percutaneous RFA was a feasible, safe and promising therapy for the treatment of unresectable stage 1 RCC, especially those smaller than 4 cm.

To elucidate the crucial predictors for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) trends and determine the usage of anti-androgen treatment during delayed-combined androgen blockade (CAB) leading to a PSA level below 0.2 ng/mL.From January 2001 to December 2004, 105 prostate cancer patients were enrolled. Medical castration and anti-androgen treatment were used sequentially and termed delayed-CAB. The first goal was to maintain an undetectable PSA level. The nadir PSA was determined after medical castration only. Anti-androgen was given if a PSA level of more than 0.2 ng/mL was observed and the subsequent PSA response was assessed. All cases were divided into two groups based on whether the PSA was lower (n = 59) or higher (n = 46) than 0.2 ng/mL. An analysis of the difference between the two groups was calculated.The median of the initial PSA level in the lower group was lower than in the higher group with a 95% cut-off level of 40 ng/mL. The median PSA half-life in the lower group was also reduced with a 95% cut-off of 3.6 months. In a multivariate analysis, the pretreatment PSA level and the PSA half-life exhibited a significant correlation between the two groups. Anti-androgen treatment was given to 26 cases in the higher group. The PSA increased in one case, decreased to less than 0.2 ng/mL in 17 cases and remained over 0.2 ng/mL in eight cases.Both the PSA half-life and the pretreatment PSA level were useful markers for predicting the PSA trends to determine the optimal use of anti-androgen treatment during delayed-CAB.

We report herein a case of ureteral obstruction associated with pelvic inflammatory disease in a long-term intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) user. A 62-year-old woman presented with a 2-week history of left flank pain and high fever, but no abdominal pain. She had forgotten the use of an IUD. Retrograde pyelography showed a stricture in the lower third of the left ureter. Magnetic resonance showed swelling of the uterus wall and left parametria, but did not reveal the presence of an IUD. Subtotal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and left nephronureterectomy was performed. The IUD was then found in the uterine cavity. The results of pathological and bacteriological findings for Actinomyces infection were negative. Therefore we diagnosed this case as ureteral obstruction associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. Ureteral obstruction associated with pelvic inflammatory disease in a long-term IUD user is extremely rare.

Tuberculids of the penis are extremely rare. The clinical features of tuberculids of the penis have been reported as ulceration or scars. We have experienced a case of tuberculid of the penis that appeared as a scab on nodule. A 56-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of a painless subcutaneous nodule at the glans penis. Pathological findings of the nodule showed granulomatous inflammation. Tuberculin tests were strongly positive, but tubercle bacilli could not be detected. The diagnosis was tuberculid of the penis and the patient received antituberculosis chemotherapy. The present paper reports an interesting and rare case of tuberculid of the penis with a scab on nodule.

Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder is an unusual tumor that typically presents with hypertensive crises related to micturition. We report, herein, the case of a 62-year-old woman with bladder pheochromocytoma. The patient presented with a bladder tumor that was incidentally found by computed tomography (CT) without the triad of sustained hypertension, hematuria and postmicturitional syncope. Cystoscopy revealed a yellowish submucosal tumor in the right lateral wall of the bladder. Treatment consisted of transurethral resection in the initial diagnosis of bladder tumor. A definitive diagnosis was made postoperatively upon pathological examination. The patient has been followed up for 12 months and has shown no recurrence.

Objective: To determine the effects of an anterior urethral stitch, referred to as an endopelvic anterior urethral stitch (EAUS), in reducing recovery time for post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Methods: The urinary continence recovery time for 24 patients, who received a retropubic radical prostatectomy with the EAUS procedure, was compared to that of a historical control series of 22 patients without EAUS. The EAUS is a simple 2-0 polyglactin stitch placed between the bunched dorsal vein complex and the anterior urethra. This procedure was performed at the time of urethro-vesical anastomosis. Continence recovery time was defined as the day after removal of the urethral catheter when the patient no longer required pads for incontinence. Results: A significantly shorter time for continence recovery (median 8.5 days) was obtained in EAUS patients compared with that of the control series (median 72 days) (P < 0.0001). Early recovery of continence was observed in 12/24 patients (50%) within 1 week and 18/24 patients (75%) within 1 month in EAUS patients. No adverse effects or complications were observed in the EAUS patients. Conclusion: A surgical procedure, the EAUS, has been developed that reduces urinary incontinence in patients who have undergone a radical prostatectomy. This procedure is simple and quick and improves recovery of continence without any side-effects.