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The majority of spinal cord lesions observed in prostate cancer are related to extradural compression. Intradural (extramedullary or intramedullary) metastases are very rare. The authors report a case of probable carcinomatous myelitis secondary to prostate cancer in a 50-year-old man, 9 months after the initial diagnosis of advanced metastatic prostate cancer. Despite endocrine therapy initiated immediately after diagnosis, the patient rapidly developed leg pain due to vertebral osteolysis. He developed flaccid paraplegia despite radiotherapy of the lumbar spine combined with corticosteroid therapy and chemotherapy. Spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed typical features of very probable carcinomatous myelitis in the cervicothoracic zone. The patient died shortly after without histological confirmation. Regardless of the primary cancer, intramedullary spinal cord metastases have a very poor prognosis. Based on a literature search, this case appears to be the first case related to prostatic cancer reported in the medical literature.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report our experience with endoscopic transanal resection (ETAR) using a urologic resectoscope for palliative treatment of rectal carcinoma., Methods: Outcome in patients who underwent ETAR with a urologic resectoscope between October 1992 and March 1999 are reported., Results: The 60 ETAR procedures were performed in 37 patients (19 men and 18 women, median age 82 years). Morbidity was 10% (6 patients) and mortality was 2.7% (1 patient). Median hospital stay for the procedure was 5 days. Symptom control was achieved in 86% of the patients (40% partial control, 46% complete control). Colostomy was performed in 8 patients 7 months after ETAR. At study end, 4 patients were alive. Median survival was 14 months (range 0 - 62). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 54, 32 and 5%, respectively., Conclusion: ETAR is a simple, minimally invasive and economical method for palliative treatment of patients with rectal carcinoma. ETAR is a useful addition to the surgeon's armamentarium.

Palliative treatment for patients with rectal carcinoma affect more than 10% of the 8000 cases diagnosed each year in France. Twenty-four patients underwent endoscopic trans-anal resection using a urological resectoscope. The morbidity rate was 18,5% and there were no postoperative deaths. The median hospital stay for the procedure alone was 4 days. Good palliation was obtained in 89% of cases. This simple, minimally invasive and economic method should join palliative treatment for patients with rectal carcinoma beside laser destruction and external beam radiotherapy.

There exist rare cases in which a prostatic carcinoma invades the perirectal space producing an extrinsic rectal stenosis. Three cases are discussed. Differential diagnosis with a rectal tumor is difficult clinically, but endorectal ultrasound and deep rectal biopsies must provide the correct diagnosis in most cases. Hormonotherapy is recommended, but prognosis is reserved.

Palliative treatment for patients with rectal carcinoma concerns more than 10% of the 8000 cases diagnosed each year in France. Seventeen patients (median age: 83 years) underwent 27 endoscopic transanal resections using a urological resectoscope. The morbidity was 18.5% and there were no postoperative deaths. The median hospital stay for the procedure alone was 4 days. Local control was obtained in 13 (76%) patients with good palliation of obstruction, bleeding and tenesmus. The mean survival time was six months. This simple, minimally invasive and economic method should be part of palliative treatment for patients with rectal carcinoma together with laser destruction and external beam radiotherapy.

296 solid renal tumors were studied retrospectively, i.e. the total number of renal tumours diagnosed in the Indre-et-Loire region between 1980 and 1987 inclusive. The crude incidence rate increased from 5.4 per 100,000 in 1980 to 8 per 100,000 in 1987. The standardised rates were 6.7 per 100,000 for men and 3.2 per 100,000 for women. These figures being quite high for France. The mean age at the time of diagnosis, 67 years for women and 65 years for men, decreased during the study, especially for women. Patients in whom the renal cancer was discovered accidentally, tended to be older than those in whom the tumour was symptomatic. The percentage of tumours discovered at stage I rose from 29 to 49% the percentage of tumours at stage IV fell from 45 to 23.5%. In parallel, the percentage of nephrectomies rose from 40 to 70%. The overall 5 year survival rate was 43.5%, rising to 71% for stage I tumours. It appeared that patients who consulted in the private sector tended to be younger and were therefore at an earlier stage in the natural history of the disease. From an epidemiological viewpoint, the introduction of ultrasonography in the Indre-et-Loire region and its more widespread use did not produce any change in the means of diagnosis of renal cancer.