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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has historically been related to the development of specific cancers, some of which are so closely linked to the infection, such as Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS), that they have earned the name Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers (ADCs). While the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has decreased the incidence of AIDS-defining cancers, the resulting aging of people living with HIV (PLWH) highlighted an increased occurrence of other forms of cancer. At the "Gaetano Martino" hospital in Messina, we developed a multidisciplinary approach by creating a bridge between the Oncology Unit and the Infectious Diseases Unit to carry out screening and a more rapid diagnostic and therapeutic journey for cancers in PLWH. The goal is to improve the diagnosis of various types of cancer by involving other professionals, such as gastroenterologists and gynecologists, to ensure faster access to treatment and, therefore, a greater chance of survival. In addition, our multidisciplinary approach has also included vaccine screening, offered by the "Gaetano Martino" hospital and useful for preventing the development of specific forms of cancer in the entire population and particularly in PLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective was to report and compare the complications and recurrence rates of urethral prolapse in dogs when treated with urethropexy, resection and anastomosis or a combined surgical technique. Study design: Retrospective study. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 dogs were identified from the medical records of 10 veterinary referral hospitals from February 2012 and October 2022. Dogs were included if they underwent surgery for a urethral prolapse at first presentation. Complications were classified as minor or major based on the necessity of further surgical intervention. Complications leading to death were also considered major complications. Results: Seventy‐nine dogs were included, urethropexy (n=44), resection and anastomosis (n=27) and a combined surgical technique (n=8). Minor complications were identified in 41 of 79 dogs (51.9%): urethropexy 19 of 44 (43.2%), resection and anastomosis 18 of 27 (66.6%) and a combined surgical technique four of eight (50%). Major complications occurred in 23 dogs (29.1%), of which 21 were recurrence (26.6%). Recurrence occurred in 17 of 44 dogs following a urethropexy (38.6%), three of 27 dogs following resection and anastomosis (11.1%) and one of eight dogs treated with a combined surgical technique (12.5%). Recurrence of a urethral prolapse was significantly more likely following urethropexy in comparison to resection and anastomosis. Clinical Significance: Resection and anastomosis was associated with a lower recurrence rate in comparison to urethropexy for the surgical treatment of urethral prolapse. Based on these results, we concluded that resection and anastomosis may be preferable to urethropexy for treatment of urethral prolapse at first presentation. Urethropexy, and resection and anastomosis combined surgical technique was associated with low recurrence rate; however, further studies will be needed to clarify if it provides any benefit over resection and anastomosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, surgical treatment and outcome of dogs diagnosed with parotid duct ectasia. Materials and Methods: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with parotid duct ectasia between 2010 and 2023 at six small animal referral hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Outcome was assessed by contacting the owners or referring veterinarians. Results: Fourteen dogs were included. Lateral facial swelling was the most common clinical presentation. CT revealed a tortuous cavitary tubular fluid‐filled structure consistent with a dilated parotid duct in all dogs. Surgical treatment included marsupialisation of the parotid duct papilla, surgical exploration of the duct alone, parotid duct marsupialisation with surgical exploration of the duct, parotidectomy or en‐bloc parotid duct resection. The aetiology of parotid duct ectasia was not established in 13 of 14 dogs. In one case, a foreign body was retrieved from the duct. No recurrence of clinical signs was noted during the follow‐up period (range 21 to 2900 days). Clinical Significance: Parotid duct ectasia should be considered for dogs with a lateralised fluctuant non‐painful tubular facial swelling. Surgical management was associated with a favourable prognosis without evidence of recurrence in all cases reported in the case series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes of cats diagnosed with thymic epithelial tumours and to determine prognostic factors for survival and recurrence. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of cats diagnosed with a thymic epithelial tumour between 1999 and 2021 at three referral institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Sixty‐four cats were included. Paraneoplastic syndromes were present in nine cats and metastatic disease was seen in two cats, one at diagnosis and one at the time of recurrence. Median tumour diameter was 6 cm (range, 2 to 15) and a cystic appearance was described on imaging in 25 cats. Surgical excision was attempted in 54 cats with a perioperative mortality rate of 11%. Median survival time for cats surviving to hospital discharge was 897 days (range, 21 to 3322). The 1‐, 2‐ and 5‐year survival rates for surgically treated thymic epithelial tumour were 86%, 70% and 66%, respectively. Survival was longer for cats with Masaoka‐Koga stage I and II tumours compared to stages III and IV (1366 days versus 454 days; P=0.002). Masaoka‐Koga stage was the only significant prognostic factor detected on multi‐variable analysis, with stage III and IV tumours associated with increased risk of death (hazard ratio: 5.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.29 to 24.91, P=.021). Tumour recurrence occurred in 11 cats at a median of 564 days (range, 93 to 1095); no significant prognostic factors for recurrence were identified. Clinical Significance: Cats with thymic epithelial tumours had a good long‐term prognosis following surgery. Tumour recurrence can occur late in the disease course and ongoing monitoring should therefore be considered. Masaoka‐Koga stage may influence survival time and could be used to predict outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To date, radio-recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the fourth most common urological malignancy when considering the number of men with localized PCa who undergo radiation treatment and subsequently experience a biochemical recurrence. This systematic review aimed to summarize available evidence about the outcomes of local salvage strategies in patients with local PCa recurrence following primary external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT)., Methods: We conducted a comprehensive bibliographic search on MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection databases in October 2023 to identify studies published in the last 20 years evaluating outcomes of local salvage procedures in patients with locally radio-recurrent PCa following EBRT. The meta-analysis was performed using ProMeta 3 software when two or more studies reported the same outcome. The effect size (ES) was estimated using rates reported with its 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: Overall, 28 studies (6 prospective and 22 retrospective) including 1544 patients were included in the review. Two-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 84.0% (95% CI: 67.0-93.0%), 69.0% (95% CI: 42.0-87.0%), 58.0% (95% CI: 43.0-71.0%), and 45% (95% CI: 38.0-52.0%), for patients undergoing brachytherapy (BT), EBRT, Cryotherapy and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), respectively. After salvage prostatectomy, RFS ranged from 75% to 78.5% at a median follow-up ranging from 18 to 35 months. Estimates for severe gastrointestinal toxicity were 2%, 3%, 3%, 4%, and 11% following cryotherapy, BT, HIFU, EBRT, and salvage radical prostatectomy, respectively., Conclusions: In patients who underwent EBRT as primary treatment, prostate salvage re-irradiation through BT or EBRT represents the modality providing the best balance between efficacy and safety. Unfortunately, due to the low level of evidence, strong recommendations regarding the choice of any of these techniques cannot be made., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objectives: To describe the clinical features and oncologic outcome for cats with primary rib tumours., Materials and Methods: Medical records for cats with surgically treated primary rib tumours from six veterinary referral centres were reviewed. Signalment, preoperative clinical signs, reconstruction technique, and surgical and oncologic outcome were retrieved from medical records or by telephone interview with owners and/or referring veterinarians., Results: Of the eight cats with primary rib tumours, three had hemangiosarcoma, two had osteosarcoma and one cat each had chondrosarcoma, osteochondroma and osteoma. The size of the primary rib mass ranged from 2 × 2 × 1.6 cm to 9 × 7 × 7.5 cm. Three minor and one major complication developed during the immediate post-operative period. Surgery consisted of thoracic wall resection in all cats. All animals survived the procedure and the median time to discharge was 3 days. The survival time for benign tumours was 150 (case 5) and 466 (case 4) days, while for malignant tumours ranged from 105 to 550 days (cases 1 to 3, cases 6 to 8)., Clinical Significance: Hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma were the most represented primary rib tumours in this cohort of cats. Wide surgical excision and adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for cats with hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma, but the prognosis remains guarded. Prognosis appears to be fair for the other tumour types., (© 2024 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) shows an important impact on quality of life (QoL), for various clinical aspects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the short-term bowel function in patients that underwent RC., Methods: Two hundred and six patients with MIBC underwent RC with ONB or IC urinary diversion. QoL was measured using the EORTC QLQ C30 and the Short-Form SF-36 questionnaires before surgery and at 12 months postoperatively. Baseline characteristics, including demographic profile, BMI, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), modified Frailty Index (m-FI), pathological tumor stage, Clavien-Dindo grade, and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were recorded and compared., Results: The uni-variate and multivariate analysis (OR) were performed for constipation, diarrhea and m-FI of patients underwent RC for localized MIBC according to global health status score (poor/good vs. very good). Multivariate analysis showed that constipation medium/high was significant associated with global health status poor/good (OR=2.39; 95% CI: 1.22-4.71; P=0.01); Diarrhea medium/high was associated with global health status poor/good (OR=2.85; 95% CI:1.18-6.92; P=0.02), and m-FI ≥2 score (OR=2.13; 95% CI: 0.99-4.57; P=0.05)., Conclusions: Diarrhea and constipation are associated with a lower QoL in cystectomized patients, both with ONB or IC urinary diversion; such association is especially significant in more fragile patients (Frailty Index ≥2).

Objective: To describe and evaluate the use of preoperative percutaneous ultrasound-guided anchor wire placement to aid intraoperative localization of superficial foreign bodies and abscesses in dogs., Animals: 11 dogs., Clinical Presentation: In a retrospective observational study, the medical records of dogs that underwent surgical exploration of superficial abscesses, guided by anchor wire, between 2018 and 2023 were reviewed for clinical and histopathological findings and complications. Owners or veterinarians were contacted to collect long-term follow-up information., Results: 11 dogs were included. Superficial swelling was the most common clinical presentation. Computed tomography and ultrasound revealed an abscess cavity and suspected foreign body in 9 dogs and an abscess cavity without evidence of a foreign body in 2 dogs. Anchor wires were placed in close proximity to the foreign body or inside the abscess. All documented foreign bodies were successfully located and retrieved. Two dogs suffered minor postoperative complications. No major intra- or postoperative complications were documented. One dog displayed recurrence of clinical signs, but no further surgical management was required., Clinical Relevance: Preoperative percutaneous placement of an anchor wire via ultrasound guidance was successful in aiding intraoperative localization of nonpalpable abscesses and retrieval of foreign bodies. This technique may decrease surgical time, minimize the surgical approach required, and increase the likelihood of successful localization.

Background and Objective: Several novel multiport robotic systems have been developed and introduced in clinical practice after regulatory approval. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the evolution status of novel robotic platforms approved for clinical use in urological surgery according to the IDEAL framework., Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the Medline and Scopus databases according to the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (CRD42024503227). Comparative or noncomparative studies reporting on any urological procedures performed with novel robotic platforms (Hugo RAS; Versius, KangDuo, Senhance, REVO-I, Avatera, Hinotori, Dexter, or Toumai) were selected and included in the analysis., Key Findings and Limitations: Seventy-four eligible studies were included, of which 67 (90.5%) were noncomparative surgical series representing developmental or explorative studies according to the IDEAL criteria. Only one randomised controlled trial (comparing KangDuo vs da Vinci robot-assisted partial nephrectomy) was included. The trial showed comparable perioperative outcomes between the two robotic systems. Four studies assessed clinical outcomes for patients undergoing urological procedures using a REVO-I (1 study), Senhance (2 studies), or Hinotori (1 study) system in comparison to the same procedures performed using a da Vinci system. All studies revealed outcomes comparable to those with the da Vinci system. Limitations include the small sample size in all studies, and assessment of first-generation novel platforms versus the fourth-generation multiarm da Vinci system in most of the comparative studies., Conclusions and Clinical Implications: A few poor-quality studies have compared the use of novel robotic platforms to da Vinci systems in urological surgery and demonstrated comparable results. Most studies can be classified as developmental or explorative, representing the initial steps of clinical research. Large multicentre series are needed to understand whether these novel robots could offer advantages beyond cost reductions over the da Vinci systems., Patient Summary: We reviewed research on new robotic systems for surgery in urology. Several studies have shown the feasibility and safety of these new robots during the most common procedures. Very few studies have assessed clinical outcomes with the new robots in comparison to the reference standard, which is a fourth-generation da Vinci robot. Large multicentre studies are needed to understand whether the new robots could offer advantages other than cost savings over the da Vinci robot., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Objectives: To investigate the use of endovascular gastrointestinal stapling devices to perform intestinal functional end-to-end stapled anastomosis in small dogs and cats., Materials and Methods: Medical records of dogs (≤10 kg) and cats that underwent intestinal resection and functional end-to-end stapled anastomosis with an endovascular gastrointestinal anastomosis (endovascular-GIA) stapling device at five small animal referral centres between April 2014 and September 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Data including clinical findings, surgical technique, histopathology and complications were collected. A minimum follow-up of 10 days was required. Patients with follow-up of less than 10 days were included if they developed a major complication. Outcome was obtained from assessing the clinical records and contacting the referring veterinarians or owners. Estimated survival was generated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences between survival curves were tested by log-rank test., Results: Twenty-five patients (10 dogs and 15 cats) were included. The median bodyweight was 4.6 kg (range 2.6 to 10 kg). Nine patients were diagnosed with intestinal neoplasia, 16 with non-neoplastic intestinal disease. The median follow-up was 126 days (range 18 to 896 days). Five patients developed minor postoperative complications, including three superficial surgical site infections. No major postoperative complications were reported. Eighteen patients were alive at the end of the study, one patient was lost to follow-up. Kaplan-Meier estimated median survival time was not reached. Survival was significantly longer for patients with non-neoplastic versus neoplastic intestinal., Clinical Significance: The study suggests that the use of endovascular gastrointestinal anastomosis staplers is safe and effective to perform intestinal functional end-to-end stapled anastomosis in dogs ≤10 kg and cats., (© 2024 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Objective: To describe complications and outcomes in dogs undergoing epicardial pacemaker (EP) implantation, identify factors associated with survival, and investigate improvement in clinical signs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following surgery., Animals: 52 client-owned dogs that underwent EP placement., Methods: Medical records of 4 UK-based referral hospitals were searched and data reviewed retrospectively between July 2010 and December 2022. Factors contributing to outcomes after EP placement were assessed., Results: The primary reasons for referral included collapsing/syncopal episodes (n = 36), exercise intolerance (15), and significant bradycardia (46). Third-degree atrioventricular block (39/52 [75%]) was the predominant indication for pacemaker placement, and common reasons for EP placement included previous transvenous pacemaker dislodgment/loss of capture (n = 12) and small body size (10). Intra- and postoperative complications were documented in 11% and 23% of dogs, respectively. Overall, 96% of dogs survived to discharge, and median follow-up time was 462 days (range, 31 to 3,139 days). Presence of coexistent myocardial or valvular disease at the time of EP implantation was associated with a reduced survival. Owners reported decreased clinical signs, increased activity levels, and improved HRQoL., Clinical Relevance: Epicardial pacemaker implantation is a valuable option for dogs requiring artificial cardiac pacing. Complications were common but did not impact the overall outcome. Dogs with a coexisting cardiac pathology had a shorter life expectancy after EP placement, but their HRQoL appeared to be good, with an improvement in clinical signs and increased activity levels.

Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used in the staging of hepatic masses and for liver lobectomy planning. Mass location is an important factor in determining the feasibility of resection, including surgical technique and the likelihood of surgical complications. The objectives of this retrospective descriptive cross-sectional, observer agreement, method comparison study were to assess the reliability of CT in correctly determining the hepatic division and lobar site of origin of feline primary nonhematopoietic hepatic masses, compared with surgically confirmed locations. Furthermore, it provides an overview of the types and locations of liver masses found in a cohort of cats. Pre- and postcontrast CT images of 21 cats were independently and simultaneously reviewed by two observers. Intra- and interobserver agreements and descriptive statistics on demographic and histological diagnoses were calculated. Based on surgical assessment, it was found that masses most frequently originated from the left hepatic division (13/24, 54%). The most frequent lobar origins were the left lateral (8/24, 33%), left medial (5/24, 21%), and right medial lobes (5/24, 21%). No masses were found originating from the right lateral lobe. CT correctly determined hepatic division and lobar origin in 76% of cases, with good-to-excellent intra- and interobserver agreement. The hepatic division had higher agreements overall for both observers. Most of the masses were benign (17/21, 81%), and the most prevalent histological diagnoses were biliary cystadenoma (11/21, 52%) and hepatocellular adenoma (6/21, 29%). Findings suggest that postcontrast CT is a reliable method for correctly determining hepatic mass division and lobar origin in cats., (© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.)