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Introduction and Objectives. Although discovered in the late 19th century by the American physician Robert F Weir, lichen sclerosus is still a condition not fully understood. Initially considered a simple skin disorder, it mainly affects the genital regions of both men and women, producing white hypomelanotic lesions, that if left untreated tend to evolve into more serious health related problems. In this paper we conducted a thorough review of the literature in order to assess the current level of knowledge of lichen sclerosus of the male genitalia, to identify its etiology, clinical presentation and diagnostic methods, and establish the main treatment options. Materials and Methods. So far a total of five etiologic factors have been considered for lichen sclerosus: autoimmunity, genetics, hormonal infiuence, repeated microtrauma and infections. As only empirical observations sustain each of them, and none alone can explain or predict lichen sclerosus, it is assumed that this condition has a multifactorial origin, and the precise appearance mechanism has yet to be determined. Regarding the lichen sclerosus of the male genitalia, four distinct clinical stages of presentation have been described, based on the extent of the disease and the complications it produces. During the first stage the white hypomelanotic lesions can be observed at the level of the prepuce, that gets scarred and brittle, and can lead to phimosis. For the second stage the lichen lesions also affect the glans of the penis, that can fuse with the phimotic prepuce. The third stage marks the involvement of the urethra, patients exhibiting stenoses and strictures, of various degrees of severity. And the fourth and most dangerous stage represents the malignant transformation of the involved tissues, resulting in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis or urethra, verrucous carcinoma of the penis, and erythroplasia of Queyrat. While definitive diagnosis is obtained after a histopathological examination of a removed specimen, the clinical presentation can often be enough to identify lichen sclerosus. Imaging like ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance is also required to correctly assess the extent of the complications. Results. Various treatment options have been employed for lichen sclerosus thus far, ranging from local ointments and creams to surgical excision and correction in the complicated cases. Some, like the revulsives and X-rays, retain only historic value, having been already abandoned. Out of the topical treatments used nowadays, meant to alleviate the symptoms and reduce the lichen affected areas, the most common are corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, hormonal creams and retinoids. The same effects have been obtained with some forms of phototherapy. But when lichen sclerosus evolves beyond simple skin lesions, surgery is required in order to correct the acquired complications. If phimosis is associated, a complete circumcision of the involved tissue is needed. For the second stage, if the prepuce is fused to the glans, a restoration of lost obscured coronal sulcus procedure achieves the best results. In the third stage, when urethral strictures develop, various forms of urethroplasties are necessary to restore normal micturition, and even perineal urethrostomies are considered in cases of panurethral strictures. The fourth and most severe stage of lichen sclerosus, marked by the malignant transformation, imposes an oncologic treatment catered to the extent of the disease, from a simple excision of a prepuce or penile tumor, to complete emasculation and ilio-inguinal lymph node dissection, or even palliative chemotherapy in metastatic cases. Conclusions. Although known for almost 150 years, lichen sclerosus is still not a fully understood disease. Being considered a simple skin disorder for a long time, it's been overlooked by both patients and physicians, and its true incidence is underestimated. Only recently, after all the evolutive complications of lichen sclerosus have been identified, more effort has been invested in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. While uncomplicated lichen sclerosus can be managed by topic therapies, advanced forms require complex surgical interventions and experienced physicians in order to achieve the best results. But further research is still needed to clarify the etiology and evolution risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents about 3% of all cancers. The classic triad of flank pain, palpable abdominal mass and hematuria, is present in less than 10% of patients and as many as 60% of renal masses are detected incidentally. The treatment methods for renal tumors include radical nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy. Partial nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) is considered the treatment of choice for localized small renal masses with oncological outcome in cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) similar to that of radical nephrectomy (RN). The aim of this paper is to present partial nephrectomy as a treatment method in a patient with multiple renal cell carcinoma on a solitary kidney. Materials and Methods. A 59 years old male patient who referred to our clinic with three renal masses on the left kidney. The patient had a history of right radical nephrectomy, performed 7 years prior, for a pT3aNxMx RCC. We opted for an open partial nephrectomy in order to preserve as much of the renal parenchyma as possible and avoid dialysis. After performing a left subcostal incision, we dissected the kidney and were able to identify the renal masses on the lower extremity of the kidney. After clamping the renal vessels we performed a wedge resection for all three tumors, while also being careful to keep a maximum amount of healthy renal tissue intact. We sutured the kidney and after adequate hemostasis, two drainage tubes were inserted using a small incision and the surgery was completed. Results. The operative time was 90 minutes with a warm ischemia time of 20 minutes. No major complications were encountered in the postoperative setting. The patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day, with a subsiding creatinine level (from 3.49 mg/dL at the 48 hour mark to 1.79 mg/dL) and subsequent follow-ups have been nominal. The histopatological examination revealed clear cell renal carcinoma pT(m)3a pNx pMx. Conclusions. Nephron sparing surgery should always be considered when managing patients with renal tumors, especially in cases of solitary kidneys, in order to maintain normal renal function and avoid dialysis. While laparoscopic partial nephrectomies are feasible for patients with multiple RCCs, they should be avoided in solitary kidney cases, due to a longer warm ischemia time and higher blood loss when compared to the open approach. Open partial nephrectomy is the preferred approach for these types of patients at high risk for chronic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives. A seminal vesicle cyst is a very rare diagnosis, with a reported prevalence as low as 0.005% The cysts are usually congenital, a coexistence with Zinner syndrome being described (renal agenesis, ectopic ureteral orifice in the prostatic urethra or seminal vesicle and vas deferens stenosis). The aim of this paper is to present the management of a rare case of an acquired seminal vesicle cyst with normal upper urinary tract anatomy. Materials and Methods. A 33-yrs old male patient presented with chronic pelvic pain associated with dysuria and frequency. The ultrasound identified a right regular hypoechoic mass without Doppler signal. The imagistic diagnosis was sustained by computed tomography, revealing a high-volume (84/65/74 mm) inseparable mass from the right seminal vesicle, without contrast enhancement. The surgical approach was minimally invasive, represented by laparoscopic excision of the right seminal vesicle cyst. The patient was placed in Trendelenburg position and 4 trocars were inserted (a 12 mm optic trocar inserted 1 cm above the umbilical fold, 2 other trocars, one of 5 mm and one of 10 mm bilaterally between the umbilicus and the anterior iliac crest, and one of 5 mm on the midline below the umbilicus). A transperitoneal technique was used in order to identify the vas deferens, which guided the dissection to the cystic mass. Further, the right seminal vesicle and the cystic mass were detached from adjacent pelvic structures. The contents of the cyst were evacuated and the cystic wall was resected, the specimen removed through the 10 mm trocar. Results. The operation time was 100 minutes, with minimal blood loss. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the third postoperative day, with no complications during follow-up. The pathological analysis of the specimen emphasized hyalinized fibrous tissue, ducto-acinar and seminal epithelial structures, with no evidence of malignancy. Conclusions. The proper management of seminal vesicle cyst is represented by laparoscopic excision. Whenever possible, the minimal invasive approach should be used, due to better postoperative outcomes regarding morbidity and convalescence, in comparison with open techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]