[Abdominal echography to determine the weight of the prostate]

The relationship of post-operatively determined prostatic gland weight and that calculated prior the procedure, by means of abdominal ultrasound techniques using the "ellipsoid method", has been studied in 88 patients undergoing retropubic adenectomy. The regression line was nearly optimal, Y = 0.946 X + 2.295, and the correlation coefficient between both weight measures was r = 0.915. Abdominal ultrasound examinations are a simple, quick and safe means to evaluate prostate weight, prior to deciding the type of surgery (open adenectomy or transurethral resection) for prostate adenoma.

Agenesis of seminal vesicles in infertile males: ultrasonic diagnosis

We present the incidence of seminal vesicle agenesis and its association with deferens ductus agenesis in 141 males presenting with infertility. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed in every patient. Ten presented seminal vesicle agenesis (8 unilateral and 2 bilateral). Three had absence of the vas deferens on physical examination (3 of 7 with unilateral seminal vesicle agenesis and 1 of 2 with bilateral). Computed tomography confirmed the ultrasound findings. We emphasize the importance of the anomalies as a cause of infertility and the association with other genitourinary anomalies. Moreover, we state the necessity of transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis.

Renal cell carcinoma: late recurrence in 2 cases

We present 2 patients with late recurrence 16 and 11 years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Metastases were solitary and their location very uncommon (vastus externo muscle and colon). In the reviewed series of 5,758 patients with renal cell carcinoma only a temporal muscle metastasis and another in the colon were observed but none of them was solitary.

Urological complications associated to uterus didelphys with unilateral hematocolpos. A case report and review of the literature

Complete duplication of vagina, cervix and uterus, with imperforate hemivagina and renal agenesis is a rare condition with less than 120 cases published. In those articles, urological complications are uncommon with only a 10% of the total. We report 2 cases of uterus didelphys with unilateral hematocolpos and ipsilateral renal agenesis with urological clinical complications. One of them presented a very rare onset complaining of acute urinary retention. The other patient was referred for difficulty in micturition and abdominal pain which is the most common symptom of this entity. A description of both cases and a literature review of this congenital complex syndrome and its urological complications are reported.

[Perirenal hematoma caused by spontaneous upper calix rupture]

We report a case of perirenal hematoma from spontaneous rupture of the upper urinary tract associated with parenchymal rupture due to a calculus lodged in the pelvic ureter. The clinical features were pain confined to the renal fossa, leukocytosis and Hct of 36%. Diagnosis was made by percutaneous punction pyelography.

[Acute urinary retention caused by hematocolpos associated with uterus didelphys and ipsilateral renal agenesis]

Acute urinary retention from compressive hematocolpos is an uncommon form of presentation of the multi-malformation syndrome arising from failed fusion of the Müllerian ducts and is characterized by uterus didelphys, vaginal duplication (one with hematocolpos), and unilateral renal agenesis. A case is reported and the literature reviewed.

[Disseminated renal adenocarcinoma. Developmental study]

A study was undertaken on 57 patients diagnosed as having disseminated renal adenocarcinoma. The interval between the onset of symptomatology and diagnosis ranged from 1 to 48 months. The tumor frequently metastasized to lungs and bone. To evaluate survival, this patient population was divided into two groups: those who underwent nephrectomy, 17 patients (9 patients also underwent lymphadenectomy), and those who were put on drug therapy alone. No significant difference was observed with respect to survival for both patient groups.

[Transrectal echography in the infertile male. Statistical study]

We evaluated the transrectal echo patterns in 140 infertile men using the following parameters: the transverse and anteroposterior diameters of the prostate, the presence of periprostatic venus plexus, and the transverse diameter of the seminal vesicles. Patients were classified according to data gleaned from semen analyses following the criteria recommended by the WHO. Microbiological analyses using the Meares and Stamey technics, as well as semen analyses, were performed in those patients who presented with leukospermia. These were considered a separate, homogeneous group classified as "inflammatory". The following patient groups comprised the study: azoospermia (18 patients), oligospermia (4), astenozoospermia (43), oligoastenozosermia (48), and inflammatory (27). Statistical analyses of the ultrasound data for the infertile males and those of the control group were performed using the Mann-Whitney U. test and compared. Data were statistically significant for the following parameters: the transverse diameter for the infertile males with azoospermia, the anteroposterior diameter of the prostate for those patients with leukospermia, and the periprostatic plexus for those in the oligoastenozoospermia and inflammatory patient groups.

[Modification of the echographic pattern of carcinoma of the prostate treated with Lh-rh agonists]

We present the results of a study undertaken to assess the echo patterns and prostate size in 13 patients with prostatic carcinoma treated with Lh-rh agonists. The study revealed a gradual reduction of the anteroposterior and transverse diameters. After 12 months, these were 28% and 22% of their respective initial values. Furthermore, the prostatic echo patterns changed significantly in 66% of the patients, and infiltration of the seminal vesicle improved or became stable in 50%. These findings suggest that transrectal ultrasonography may be useful in the follow up of prostatic carcinoma patients receiving hormone therapy.

Immunoprophylaxis with Calmette-Guérin bacillus in recurrent superficial bladder tumors

26 patients with superficial bladder cancer underwent complete removal of tumors by transurethral resection and entered a prospective trial of immunoprophylaxis with Calmette-Guérin bacillus (BCG). The entire group had recurrent tumors that failed to respond to previous prophylaxis with thiotepa (13 patients) or other drugs (13 patients). Intravesical administration of BCG reduced the recurrence index and increased the disease-free interval. Side effects were mild and well tolerated. BCG seems to be effective in the prophylaxis of superficial bladder tumor recurrence after the failure of other drugs.

Retroperitoneal malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Five cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma located in the retroperitoneum are reported. Paraneoplastic syndrome, abdominal mass, tendency to local recurrence, laborious therapy and poor prognosis are the clinical characteristics of this tumor. Accuracy of actual diagnosis is evaluated and pathological features are analyzed.

Crossed chemoprophylaxis assay between adriamycin and cis-platinum in recurrent superficial bladder tumor

Of 146 patients with superficial bladder carcinoma, 66 (35 primary and 31 recurrent from failure of thiotepa chemoprophylaxis) relapsed following transurethral resection (TUR) and chemotherapy with adriamycin or cis-platinum. A new TUR was carried out. In case of progression in the number of tumors, size, stage or grade, treatment was begun with the other drug. If the tumor had the same characteristics, treatment was continued with the same drug. In both the primary and recurrent tumors with or without progression, cis-platinum controlled the tumor better than adriamycin, rescuing it from the latter and obtaining a recurrence index and disease-free interval as with cis-platinum alone. These results are more conclusive in primary tumors.