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Seventeen cases of urinary calculi analyzed by infrared spectrophotometry were found to be composed entirely or nearly entirely of bihydrated calcium hydrophosphate. The observations are summarized here. This type of stone occurs with a frequency of about 1% (0.85% in our experience) of all urinary calculi, predominantly in men (14 of our 17 cases). Diagnosis is based on the physical and chemical analysis of the stone and on infrared spectrophotometry. Most of these stones are pure or nearly pure compounds. The macroscopic aspect of the stones or fragments of stones can guide diagnosis. These stones are cream coloured stones with a smooth regular outer surface. Broken fragments show the same cream colour, sometimes with strips radiating from the centre of the fracture surface. Radiologically, these stones are homogeneously radio-opaque, often oval-shaped with a regular outline. Blood tests can demonstrate suspected or proven hyperparathyroidism (4 out of 10 cases in our 17 observations) with hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and hypercalciuria. Complementary examinations may be needed to search for a parathyroid adenoma. With or without hyperparathyroidism, 24-h urinalysis usually shows hypercalciuria up to ro over 500 to 600 mg/24 h. Crystallization usually occurs in the upper urinary tract, in the bladder or in indwelling catheters. These stones are extremely hard and are difficult to break in vitro. To be successful, lithotripsy requires prolonged treatment: up to 3000 to 6000 shockwaves at 22-23 kv with the Dornier apparatus. Despite the notion of hypercalciuria, the pathogenesis of bihydrated calcium hydrophosphate calculi remains to be elucidated.

This study analyzed clinical response induced by TIL in patients with renal cell carcinoma previously treated by interleukin-2. Six patients (4 men, 2 women, mean age 44.3 years) with measurable metastatic localizations have been treated by TIL reinjection (0.02 to 7.6 x 10(10) cells). TIL phenotype was a combination of CD4 and CD8 in 3 patients, predominantly CD4 in two patients and predominantly CD8 in one patient. Previous treatment by interleukin-2 induced one partial response, 2 stabilizations of the disease and 3 tumoral progressions. TIL led to an amelioration for 4 patients: 2 were in complete response, 2 were stabilized and 2 had tumoral progression and decreased. This study shows that CD4 TIL may improve an initially response induced by IL-2 therapy.

The epidermoid cyst of the testis, a rare and benign tumour, continues to create problems. Its definitive diagnosis remains a histopathological one and alters the prognosis and therapy. Based on their case report and a literature review, the authors discuss the different diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic aspects of this lesion.

24 men (mean age 71.2 years) with micturition disorders and parkinson disease have been studied: irritative symptoms are present in 62.5%. Urodynamics were specially usefull when obstructive symptoms (37.5%). In these cases, 3/4 had a mechanical obstruction to be treated by surgery. 3 men had a neurologic bladder and needed a pharmacological treatment. In this high risk population, urodynamics seemed to be necessary.

Electroconductive lithotripsy uses a highly conductive liquid to bathe the electrodes rather than water. The effect is to channel energy between the electrodes and force it to pass directly from the anode to the cathode, exactly at F1. The Sonolith 4000 (Technomed Medical Systems) uses this new generation of "electroconductive" shock waves. Experimental and clinical results are presented. The typical electroconductive technique creates a linear relationship between energy level, in kilovolts, and the amplitude of the acoustic shock at F2 over a wide range of power. There is also a linear relationship between power and effectiveness of desintegration. More than 800 patients have been treated to date. Follow-up has reached 3 months in the 166 treatments reported here. Overall success rate without residual stone was 82%. The percentage of patients with residual stones smaller than 5mm was 5%. The rate of clinical success was 87%. The rate of retreatment in patients without residual stone was 10%. For 11 to 20 mm stones, the success rate (0 fragments), the rate of retreatment and the rate of auxiliary procedures were 83%, 4% and 2% respectively for stonesor = 10 mm and 78% for 11 to 20 mm stones. The electroconductive generator used in this study provided very satisfactory results, better than those generally obtained with classical generators. Tolerance was excellent.

Kidney cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers, with approximately 85% of tumors arising in the renal parenchyma (renal cell carcinoma). To evaluate the part of the incidental detection of the renal carcinoma, we performed a retrospective review of the 302 patients treated for this reason in our department between April 1981 and October 1992. For the purpose of a historical comparison, 2 periods of 6 years were compared: 1981-1986 and 1987-1992. During 1981 to 1992, 71 patients (25.8%) were totally asymptomatic, with a significant improvement of the incidentally detected tumors from 1981-1986 (15%) to 1987-1992 (33.7%) (p0.001). Renal ultrasonography, which is responsible for 97% of the incidental diagnosis, allow for a better detection in the right kidney (60.3% vs. 39.7% in the left kidney) (p0.05). Primary tumor size and clinical stage (with Robson or the TNM 1992 classification) were significantly smaller (47.3 +/- 19.9 mm for the asymptomatic group vs. 71.6 +/- 34.1 mm for the symptomatic tumors) and lower respectively, in the asymptomatic group than in the symptomatic group (p0.001). The five-year survival rate (actuarial method) of the incidental cases tended to the better for the asymptomatic cases (87.5% vs. 39% for the symptomatic tumors) (p0.05). Most of the authors agree that incidental diagnosis has led to lower tumor size and stage and possibly better survival rate compared to cases where the diagnosis was suspected clinically. However, prospective studies on a large scale are needed to evaluate the role of nephron sparing surgery for incidental cancer of the kidney. Nowadays, the treatment remains radical nephectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

While it is known that radical prostatectomy is not a curative procedure, would be logical to propose a possible adjuvant treatment. Unfortunately it does not appear that adjuvant radiotherapy significantly improves total survival.

Distortion of the penis can be an obstacle to normal sexual intercourse and can lead to psychological problems. Nesbit first described an operation for the correction of three cases of congenital incurvation of the penis. Several authors later proposed modifications of the original procedure, but the principle technique relies on folding the corpus cavernosum on the side opposite the deviation. We have treated 26 cases with distorted penis: 14 congenital, 3 postsurgical, 1 post-trauma and 8 due to la Peyronie's disease. Our functional results have been excellent. The risk of postoperative retraction is considerably reduced when the fold is created without removing the albugin patches. The quality of the results is directly related to rigorous patient selection.

The TULIP (transurethral ultrasound-guided laser-induced prostatectomy) system combines a real-time ultrasound transducer and a Nd:YAG laser delivery system with a 1.064 microns wavelength within a 22 F urethral probe. The goal is to produce a coagulation necrosis of the prostatic parenchyma, with a subsequent elimination of tissue in the urine. 29 patients have been included in this study, and 13 have a minimal one year follow-up. No complication occurred. 2 patients underwent a transurethral resection of the prostate secondary to the TULIP treatment. All patients complained of irritative urinary symptoms (frequency, burning on urination...) in the days or weeks following the treatment, and suprapubic catheterization tube had to be left in place for a mean duration of 13.8 days. Inclusion/exclusion criteria and evaluation modalities have been the same as in the American national study published elsewhere. At one year, our success rate for at least one criteria has been 84.6%, but only 2 (15%) out of 13 patients have been successful both in symptom score and flow rate.

This work is a report on our preliminary experience with the treatment of iterative stenosis of the pyeloureteral junction (JPU) through a retrograde endoscopic approach. From June, 1991, to June, 1992, we used this method to operate 6 cases of failed surgical pyeloplasty due to abnormalities of the JPU. The success of this operation depends, on one hand, on the systematic dilatation of the intramural portion of the ureter, and on the other hand, on the possible installation of a double pigtail stent a few weeks before endopyelotomy. We have noted no complication. The stay in hospital lasted 3 days in average (2 to 5 days). Clinical and radiological results include: 4 successes, 1 improvement and 1 failure. The average time elapsed is of 9 months (6 to 18 months). This technique, which has a proven feasibility, is a good alternative for this indication, in the absence of associated calculi and particularly in women. Its efficacy remains to be demonstrated by larger series with a longer follow-up.

The association of an oncocytoma and of an angiomyolipoma within the same renal tumor is infrequent. The authors review the literature on the basis of two cases. Histogenesis and the clinicopathological analysis show that such an association is accidental. It makes up 0.5% of kidney tumors, and 1% of oncocytomas are associated with an angiomyolipoma. The risk to encounter a malignant tumor is of 25% in such cases.

The TULIP (Transurethral Ultrasound-guided Laser-Induced Prostatectomy) system combines a real-time ultrasound transducer and a Nd:YAG laser delivery system with a 1.064 micron wavelength within a 22 F urethral probe. The goal is to produce a coagulation necrosis of the prostatic parenchyma, with a subsequent elimination of tissue in the urine. 29 patients have been included in this study, and 13 have a minimal one year follow-up. No complication occurred. 2 patients underwent a transurethral resection of the prostate secondary to the TULIP treatment. All patients complained of irritative urinary symptoms (frequency, burning on urination...) in the days or weeks following the treatment, and suprapubic catheterization tube had to be left in place for a mean duration of 13.8 days. Inclusion/exclusion criteria and evaluation modalities have been the same as in the American national study published elsewhere. At one year, our success rate for at least one criteria has been 84.6%, but only 2 (15%) out of 13 patients have been successful both in symptom score and flow rate.

The effectiveness of intracavernous PGE1 injections for spontaneous erections has been assessed in this study. Patients with disorders of erection were treated with 6 intracavernous PGE1 injections (10 to 25 micrograms) at 15-day intervals. An exploration was undertaken in these patients to establish the cause of the disorders of erection. Spontaneous erections were compared before and after the six PGE1 injections. Thirty-five patients were studied. Their average age was 58.8 years. The cause of the disorders of erection was organic [22] or psychogenic [13]. Thirty-one patients (88%) had an erection allowing sexual intercourse after the first PGE1 injection, two had a weak erection and two had no erection. After more than one year, 24 (73%) of the 33 patients treated reported improvement of spontaneous erections, allowing intercourse; 11 (33%) occasionally received a PGE1 injection. Nine (27%) were not improved, including two psychogenic cases. The number of patients who occasionally resorted to PGE1 injections raised from 6 to 11 (33%). This study shows the effectiveness--at least temporarily--of repeated PGE1 on spontaneous erections, owing to an action on the psychogenic component of disorders of erection, but maybe also to a local, long-lasting action of PGE1 on the cavernous tissue.

The authors report about one case of retroperitoneal benign schwannoma located near the right kidney and causing renovascular arterial hypertension. The diagnosis of benign schwannoma, which is unfrequent in the absence of Recklinghausen's disease, was established after the pathological study of the complete specimen including the right kidney.

Twenty-three patients having undergone enterocystoplasty with a detubulated graft has an urodynamic study on an empty stomach and after a standardized meal. All patients (average age 62.9 years) had been operated more than 6 months earlier, and 30% still presented with urine leakages at night. The urodynamic study included a cystomanometric measurement with rapid water filling, an urethral profile and a micturating cystography. It was repeated 60 to 90 minutes after a meal composed of glucids, lipids and protids. Feeding had variable effects on the intestinal graft: increase in peristaltic intensity and/or earlier onset of contractions (10/23); apparently paradoxical decrease in contractions (6/23); sometimes no modification (7/23). This short work without any obvious physiopathological explanation has led us to advocating breaking up feeding for patients who were improved by the meals.

38 cases of renal oncocytoma were recognized at Cochin's hospital from 1982 to 1991. Accurate diagnosis was not possible before performing surgery. However, a benign tumor appearance on the preoperative morphologic investigations and an evocative peroperative macroscopic aspect of renal oncocytoma, allowed us to realize a conservative surgery in 4 cases. Follow-up of 27 patients (11 lost to follow-up) showed a benign clinical behaviour in all cases, de spite of invasion of the perirenal fat in 2 cases, and tumoral thrombosis of a proximal branch of the renal vein in 1 case. No metastases occurred after a mean follow-up of 32.5 months, within range from 11 to 101. Our experience as well as the literature leads us to believe that renal oncocytoma is a benign tumor. We conclude that conservative surgery must be systematically considered when peroperative histological examination assert the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma, especially when the tumoral diameter is less than 5 cm.

Dilatation of the renoureteral cavities during pregnancy is a common occurrence, especially on the right side. Though generally asymptomatic, this dilatation can be unfrequently complicated by pain and/or urinary infections that may cause severe infectious and obstetrical complications. In such cases, drainage of the renal cavities may be indicated in very selected cases. The authors review their experience with renal bypass through an endoureteral prosthesis during pregnancy, and specify the technical aspects and the indications of this type of bypass.

Between March 1988 and February 1991, 47 patients with urinary stress incontinence (USI) were treated by Gittes' operation, suspension thread traction being determined by perioperative ultrasonography in 31 of these cases. All patients were re-examined on February 1992 after a mean follow-up of 26 months (range 12 to 24 mths). The global success rate (recovery and improvement) was assessed as 72% at 3 months and 56% at follow-up. Rated as a function of closure pressure (CP), the success rate at evaluation was 62% with normal CP, 42% with CP low for age, and 33% with CP30 cm H20. For the 31 patients with perioperative ultrasonography examination the success rate was 80% at 3 months and 70% at follow up. As a function of CP the rate was 83% at follow up with a normal CP, 50% with a CP low for age, 37.5% with a CP30 cm H20. Although Gittes' operation is a simple, fairly non-aggressive intervention, results diverge widely from those obtained with "classical" techniques. Optimization of indications is essential, therefore, only patients with pure USI without hypotonia of the sphincter obtaining maximum benefit from the intervention, carried out preferably under perioperative by control ultrasonography.

For about the last 10 years, transrectal hyperthermia has been used to treat obstructive manifestations of adenoma of prostate. This procedure induces interstitial edema and acts preferentially on the fibrous elements of the prostate. Several therapeutic regimens have been used successively by different teams, after objective and subjective inclusion screening programmes. Results published up to the present show about 45% of objective responders (against 3% in a placebo group) with improvement sustained in 3 out of 4 cases. Morbidity rate (infection and urinary retention) was 3%. Data from a retrospective study of a series of personally treated patients was w used to determine those with the greatest chance of a successful outcome, even though this is never comparable with that of surgical treatment.

The authors report about the exeresis of a pyelonephrictic left small kidney with laparoscopic surgery. First a ureteral tube was inserted to facilitate detection of the ureter by laparoscopy possible after reclining the colon. Dissection of the ureter was taken up to the hilum and pedicle, which was severed between rows of clamps by means of the endoscopic GIA stafler. The operation lasted 4 hours and 30 minutes. The blood loss was minimal and the stay in hospital was of three days.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the most frequent cancer of male over 60 years of age. Radical prostatectomy is one of the preferred modes of treatment for localized stages. Surgical morbidity decreases with experience and consists mainly in bleeding and rectal injury. Delayed morbidity comprises loss of erection, anastomosis stricture, incontinence. A retrospective study of 100 patients is reported.

Ureteroscopy with endocorporeal urinary stone lithotripsy (EUSL) implies an "in situ" stone fragmentation including or not a basket extraction of the fragments. EUSL needs three conditions: ureteronephroscopy (antegrade or retrograde), sources of energy (ultrasonic, electrohydraulic, laser), extraction devices (basket, grasping forceps). The paper reports the data on 120 ureteral stones treated by ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy with an overall effect of 84%.

The discovery of a pathological stage C after radical prostatectomy with a curative aim for a clinically localized cancer of the prostate raises the question of a possible adjuvant therapy. The indications and modalities of such a therapy still remain controversial. Our review sums up our knowledge and uncertainties on this point.

118 patients suffering from a calculus in the lumbar ureter were treated from January, 1987 to January, 1990. The treatment of 91 patients combined an initial internal ureteral drainage, followed by extracorporeal lithotrity (ECL): 40 calculi were driven back into the kidney and 51 were treated within the ureter. 69 patients (76%) no longer have any calculus; 17 (19%) retain residual fragments smaller than or equal to 3 mm in the lower calyces. We therefore count 5 failures, including 3 in which a second-intention surgical ureterotomy was performed. The ascent of the probe failed in 9 cases at the beginning of the series (6 ureterotomies and 3 percutaneous nephrostomies + ECL). 11 patients were treated with probeless in situ ECL. The others were treated with ureteroscopy (4), percutaneous nephrostomy + ECL (1) and nephrectomy (2). There is not one single treatment for the calculi of the lumbar ureter, and they require associating several therapeutic procedures.

As the two standard methods of treatment for incidental carcinoma are a wait-and-see policy and a radical treatment by radiotherapy or surgery, the number of patients treated by hormonotherapy is limited. We report our experience with 27 patients who underwent hormonal manipulation for incidental prostatic carcinoma. We compared their evolution with that of 29 patients whose incidentally discovered carcinoma was primarily untreated.

A prospective study was carried out in 100 consecutive male patients coming to consultation in the department. These men, whose average age was 65 years (32-82), and who had come for various reasons, answered a questionnaire on the quality of their urine flow, which was rated on a scale ranging from 1 to 4. The results of flow rate measurements were classified in 4 categories according to the maximum flow rate and to the volume of micturation, which always was greater than 150 ml. The comparison of the subjective appreciation and of the objective value showed frequent discrepancies (over- or under-evaluation). These results were analysed according to various parameters, and in particular to the patients' age. It thus appears that one third of the patients only have an accurate appreciation of the quality of their micturation.

The results of 40 consecutive patients who underwent bladder replacement following cystoprostatectomy for invasive bladder cancer are reported. A 30 cm detubularized ileal segment was used to make the neobladder. Mean follow-up was 19 months (over 2 years in 17 patients). All patients achieved diurnal continence. Nocturnal continence was obtained in 70.5% of patients: 41% had no leakage and nocturia less than 2, while 29.5% had some occasional leakage. Urodynamic evaluation showed the average peak flow to be at 18.3 ml/s and an average neobladder capacity of 410 ml. Six patients had spontaneous contractions of the enteric bladder of greater than 40 cm H20, always associated with elevated urethral pressure. Post-void residue was smaller than 100 cc in all cases. This procedure is simple to do, and led to an excellent diurnal continence, although it cannot assure nocturnal continence in every single patient.

The LDMWH (Promeditech 2000), a hyperthermia apparatus emitting microwaves with a frequency of 915 MHz, has been used since July 1988 in the Urology Department of Hôpital Cochin and the Polyclinic of Montreuil for the treatment of prostatic obstructions. Patients are selected on the basis of objective criteria (flowmetry, post-micturating residue) and subjective criteria (standard clinical history). Only patients with objective obstruction are treated by localized hyperthermia, which constitutes a real alternative to surgery. Treatment is performed as an outpatient procedure without anaesthesia as one one-hour session per week for a period of six weeks. The results are evaluated one and three months after completion of treatment by assessing the same objective and subjective criteria as before treatment. The results of the first 26 patients with sufficient follow-up reveals 45% good objective results and 65% good subjective results.