[Prognostic markers for prostate cancer]

Careful consideration of therapy for prostate cancer needs an accurate analysis of prognostic markers to estimate success and benefit for the patient. Prognosis of prostate cancer is determined by the proportion of high grade cancer, many usually utilized prognostic characteristics were rejected by multivariate analysis as no independent prognostic information was delivered. For planning therapy it is crucial to estimate the proportion of high grade cancer as exact as possible. A standardized biopsy technique combined with a quantified analysis of the biopsy cores is most helpful to achieve this goal. The prognostic value of molecular biological and other factors is object of research, only a combination of some of these factors could be demonstrated so far to be superior to the estimation of the proportion of high grade cancer. However, at present their routine use in daily practise is precluded by a high technical and financial expense.

Molecular heterogeneity of free PSA in sera of patients with benign and malignant prostate tumors

OBJECTIVE

To analyze free prostate-specific antigen (f-PSA) in sera from patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and to detect possible differences in subtypes as potential diagnostic parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PSA was purified from sera by an immunoaffinity procedure developed on the basis of oriented antibody immobilization, and subjected to size exclusion chromatography (SEC), Western blotting, and N-terminal amino acid sequencing.

RESULTS

The novel procedure allowed the purification of PSA with high yield from sera containing PSA <10 ng/ml. SEC under nonreducing conditions as well as Western blots demonstrated the presence of several molecular forms of f-PSA. Three of the smaller polypeptides exhibited the N-terminal sequence of PSA while one represented the C-terminal fragment Lys(146)-Pro(237). Shortening of some polypeptides by the N-terminal amino acid Ile(1) suggestive of aminopeptidase action was also observed. No propeptide sequence could be detected, and none of the bands from patient sera reacted with antibodies raised against propeptide antigens. BPH sera expressed higher proportions of smaller PSA fragments per unit p33, and contained significant amounts of fragments <14,000 which appeared to be very low or absent from most PCa sera.

CONCLUSIONS

f-PSA as obtained from BPH and PCa sera represents a heterogeneous fraction. The major component (p33) is not in the nicked form and does not contain proPSA. Diagnostic potential could arise from the quantitative differences of the smaller PSA derivatives seen between PCa and BPH sera.

Early prostate-specific antigen relapse after radical retropubic prostatectomy: prediction on the basis of preoperative and postoperative tumor characteristics

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to distinguish between patients who will and will not benefit from a retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) for clinically localized prostatic carcinoma (PCa) on the basis of preoperative and postoperative tumor characteristics.

METHODS

Data of 318 consecutive patients who underwent RRP for clinically localized PCa were reviewed. Preoperative characteristics used included clinical stage, findings on transrectal ultrasonography, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values, Gleason grade, number of positive biopsies, number of biopsies containing any Gleason grade 4 and/or 5 cancer, and number of biopsies with predominant (>50% of cancerous tissue) Gleason grade 4 and/or 5 cancer. Postoperative characteristics included pathologic stage, Gleason grade, margin status, cancer volume, and volume of Gleason grade 4 and/or 5 cancer. The impact on biochemical relapse after RRP were calculated by Cox regression and CART (classification and regression tree) analysis to establish low, intermediate, and high risk of recurrence.

RESULTS

Of patients who underwent RRP, 66% showed no evidence of relapse after a follow-up of 42 months. All preoperative and postoperative characteristics showed a significant association with biochemical relapse. Cox regression of preoperative characteristics showed the number of positive biopsies with predominant Gleason grade 4 and/or 5 cancer to be the most accurate predictor of failure (p < 0.0001), followed by the number of positive biopsies and PSA. CART analysis distinguished between four risk groups on the basis of the same characteristics as in the Cox regression. The low-risk group consisted of 232 patients (75.1%) and the high-risk group of 17 patients (5.5%); corresponding Kaplan-Meier curves showed a 2-year PSA-free survival rate of 97% for the low-risk group and 20% for the high-risk group. Cox regression of postoperative characteristics recognized the volume of Gleason grade 4 and/or 5 as the characteristic with the strongest association with biochemical failure. CART analysis distinguished between four risk groups, using the volume of high-grade cancer as the most influential characteristic. The corresponding Kaplan-Meier curves showed for the low-risk group (n = 79; 29.6%) a PSA-free survival rate of 96% after 42 months and for the high-risk group (n = 47; 17.6%) a 21% PSA-free survival rate after 42 months.

CONCLUSION

For preoperative and postoperative estimation of biochemical recurrence after RRP, a quantitative analysis of high-grade cancer, expressed by the number of preoperative biopsy cores containing high-grade cancer and the volume of cancer, proved to be the best predictor of relapse. CART analysis might be useful in advising patients for their best therapy options. However, defined characteristics of risk groups should be evaluated with new prospective data before they are used routinely.

An easy and safe approach to separating Denonvilliers' fascia from rectum during radical retropubic prostatectomy

PURPOSE

We describe a simple technique for excising Denonvilliers' fascia during nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After incision of the perirectal fascia Denonvilliers' fascia is bluntly mobilized off of the rectum digitally and by using an aortic clamp.

RESULTS

This technique was used successfully in 200 consecutive cases of nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy since 1994 with no rectal injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

This procedure guarantees simple and complete excision of Denonvilliers' fascia, which covers the posterior surface of the prostate during nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Rectourinary fistula repair using the Latzko technique

PURPOSE

We report our experience with the Latzko technique for rectourinary fistula repair after radical retropubic prostatectomy and cystoprostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed 7 fistula repairs in 6 patients. The 1-stage procedure was based on a technique for vesicovaginal fistula closure with denudation of the rectal mucosa and multilayer closure of the fistulous tract.

RESULTS

Closure was successful in all patients, although 1 had to undergo the procedure twice. There were no postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The Latzko procedure is effective for rectourinary fistula repair and associated with minimal morbidity.

An easy and safe approach to separating Denonvilliers' fascia from rectum during radical retropubic prostatectomy

PURPOSE

We describe a simple technique for excising Denonvilliers' fascia during nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After incision of the perirectal fascia Denonvilliers' fascia is bluntly mobilized off of the rectum digitally and by using an aortic clamp.

RESULTS

This technique was used successfully in 200 consecutive cases of nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy since 1994 with no rectal injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

This procedure guarantees simple and complete excision of Denonvilliers' fascia, which covers the posterior surface of the prostate during nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Ultrasensitive detection of prostate specific antigen in the followup of 422 patients after radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE

We validated our ultrasensitive prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay based on lyophilization and 4-fold concentration of patient sera with the clinical long-term followup and according to histopathological characteristics of 422 patients treated with radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Each serum sample was divided into 2 aliquots for standard and 4-fold concentrated (ultrasensitive) detection. Samples were analyzed by the same unmodified DPC-Immulite PSA assay. Biochemical relapse was defined as an increase of at least 0.10 ng./ml. in native serum (equivalent to 0.025 ng./ml. in concentrated serum). Mean followup was 449 days (range 29 to 2,057). Kaplan-Meier analysis of standard and ultrasensitive detection results was done, and findings were correlated with pathological stage, Gleason grade, total cancer volume, Gleason grade 4 cancer volume and margin status. Significance of earlier detection in ultrasensitive versus standard detection was calculated with the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test with p <0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS

Of 442 patients 88 (20.8%) experienced biochemical recurrence. Of this cohort 28 (31%) demonstrated early failure on the ultrasensitive assay which was later confirmed on the standard assay, 37 (42%) had failure simultaneously on both assays and 23 (26%) had failure on the ultrasensitive but remained disease-free on the standard assay. Average time for ultrasensitive assay detection of recurrence was 288 days (standard 555). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant advantages in earlier detection of recurrence with the ultrasensitive assay, and close correlation with pathological stage, Gleason grade, margin status and Gleason grade 4 cancer volume. Time advantages of ultrasensitive versus standard detection were greater for advanced cancers (pT3a/b or greater, Gleason 3 + 4 or greater) than for small, low grade tumors. All patients who had positive results on the standard assay had a previous (28) or simultaneous (37) positive ultrasensitive result. With standard detection 25% of all relapses were evident within the first year of surgery and with ultrasensitive detection the percentage increased to 85.7%. On both assays 334 patients remained free of biochemical recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our ultrasensitive PSA assay is useful for early detection of biochemical relapse after radical retropubic prostatectomy. It not only provides the same accuracy as conventional PSA assays but also offers the advantage of detecting recurrence about 300 days earlier. Thus, long-term results of radical retropubic prostatectomy series can be calculated sooner. The clinical impact of this assay will be obvious once curative treatment options are available if applied at the earliest time of evident tumor recurrence.

[Ureterorenoscopy (URS) in treatment of ureteral calculi. II. Ureteroscopic treatment of calculus debris after ESWL]

We were interested in the efficacy and morbidity of the ureteroscopy (URS) in the treatment of "steinstrasse" after ESWL. From 1991 to 1996, 27 patients with "steinstrasse" were treated with a total of 32 ureteroscopic procedures. The URS alone had a stonefree success rate of 43.7% (n = 14). URS combined with ESWL was effective in 43.7% (n = 14), leading to an overall success rate of 87.4%. In 4 cases (12.6%) a second therapy was necessary (in 3 cases a second URS + ESWL and in one patient a nephrectomy due to septic pyonephrosis. The overall rate of auxiliary ESWL after URS was 53.1%. Mean operating time was 72 minutes (20-180 min). The rate of complications was 21.8% (n = 7) and mainly due to ureteral perforations or postoperative fever but none suffered from late complications like ureteral stricture. All treated patients received a double-J-stent and antibiotics. The treatment of "steinstrasse" in the middle portion of the ureter proved to be more difficult due to the anatomical position of the ureter and lasted in a longer operating time as the upper or distal "steinstrasse". The stone extraction and the lithoclast-lithotripsy alone or in combination were the most frequent used ureteroscopic procedures to eliminate stone fragments. The URS alone or in combination with the ESWL for the treatment of "steinstrasse" is a highly effective and safe approach.

[Ureterorenoscopy (URS) in treatment of ureteral calculi. I. Safety and effectiveness of URS as auxiliary treatment after ESWL]

We were interested in the effectivity and morbidity of URS as an auxiliary treatment in patients who underwent ESWL for ureteral (n = 71) and kidney stones (n = 31). Between 1991 and 1995, 102 URS were performed for treatment of ureteral fragments. 28 (27.5%) were located in the proximal, 24 (23.5%) in the middle and 50 (49%) in the distal ureter. In 25 cases, fragments were found as "Steinstrasse". In the same period of time, 2554 patients with ureteral stones were treated with ESWL alone, therefore the overall rate of URS was low (4%). URS alone had a stonefree success rate of 58.9%. The success rate depended on the location of the ureteral stone: proximal 25%, middle 50% and distal 82%. URS combined with ESWL showed an overall success rate of 97.9%. Finally, only 2 patients (2.1%) required an open surgery. 29.3% of the stones were treated by extraction only. The extraction of stone was the most frequent procedure to remove the fragments after ESWL. The rate of complications were 6.9%. None of the patients suffered from late complications like stricture of the ureter. The URS for the treatment of stone fragments after ESWL has been shown to be an effective and safe procedure with a low rate of complications.

The value of the ratio of free-to-total prostate specific antigen for staging purposes in previously untreated prostate cancer

PURPOSE

We analyzed the use of the ratio of free-to-total prostate specific antigen (PSA), also termed percentage of free PSA, for predicting tumor stage, volume and grade in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 515 consecutive patients underwent further prostate evaluation due to elevated PSA (greater than 4.0 ng./ml.) or abnormal digital rectal examination. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 307 patients (59.6%), including 170 (55.4%) who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. Data on pathological stage, Gleason grade, and total and Gleason grade 4 cancer volume were available in all patients. In the remaining 208 men (40.4%) benign prostate hyperplasia was diagnosed. Total and free PSA was measured in preoperative serum.

RESULTS

Total PSA was significantly higher (p <0.0001) in the 71 men with stage pT3 tumors than in the 91 with pT2 disease. Eight patients had stage pT4 tumors. Cancer volume correlated well with advancing pathological stage (p <0.0001) and total PSA (p <0.0001). The free-to-total PSA ratio was not significantly different (p = 0.93) in stages pT2 and pT3 tumors, and it did not correlate with total (p = 0.71) or pure Gleason grade 4 (p = 0.94) cancer volume. However, the ratio of free-to-total PSA tended to decrease (p = 0.07) in tumors of increasing Gleason grade.

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of free-to-total PSA does not help in the preoperative prediction of final tumor stage and volume. However, disease grading may alter the free-to-total PSA ratio.

[Development of tumor selection based on pathological stage in clinically localized prostate carcinoma]

Four hundred and eighty-eight radical retropubic prostatectomies (RRP) were performed on clinically localized prostate cancer at one institution within 5 years (1992-1996). These were then analyzed regarding the migration of pathological tumor stages towards more localized stages. Within the observation period, the annual rate of RRP increased by 81% from 69 to 125 cases. The authors noted a decline in the occurrence of advanced tumor stages (65.0% to 39.2%) and small cancers (< 0.5 cc: 7.2% to 1.6%) and an increase in pathological T2 tumors (30.4% to 55.2%). The rate of positive surgical margins declined from 34.7% to 12.8% (for all pathological stages). These data confirm trends which were observed in the USA with increasing detection and treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Incidence of positive surgical margins after biopsy-selected nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES

The selection criteria for a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) are not thoroughly investigated and are based mainly on preoperative digital rectal examinations and intraoperative findings. At our institution NSRP is performed only on patients whose preoperative systematic sextant biopsy of the prostate showed only unilateral cancer. To prove the safety of these criteria, we analyzed the incidence of positive surgical margins and tumor progression rate in patients who were selected for an NSRP only by the result of the biopsy.

METHODS

Preoperative systematic sextant biopsies revealed unilateral cancer in 69 preoperatively potent men of 289 consecutive prostatic cancer patients (23.9%); contralateral NSRP was performed on these 69 patients. The prostate specimens were investigated by using a 3-mm step-section technique to identify positive surgical margins. Tumor progression was defined as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level greater than 0.4 ng/mL in the native and greater than 0.025 ng/mL in the suprasensitive postoperative blood test. Mean follow-up was 15 months (range 6 to 24).

RESULTS

In 69 patients who underwent NSRP, 11 positive margins (15.9%) were found. Only 3 patients (4.3%) had a positive margin on the nerve-sparing side. In 220 patients who underwent non-NSRP 59 positive margins (26.8%) were detected. PSA recurrence rate after 12 months was similar in patients with NSRP and non-NSRP. Analysis of systematic sextant biopsies gives safe selection criteria because in approximately 95% the surgical margin on the nerve-sparing side will be negative.

CONCLUSIONS

Basing the indication for an NSRP on the results of preoperative systematic biopsies was safe according to margin status and postoperative PSA, when all patients with tumor in one of the three biopsy cores of each side of the prostate were excluded from an NS technique on that side. Such a strict approach will exclude approximately 30% of patients from NSRP unnecessarily because of tumor findings on a prostate side where the cancer is still organ-confined. Less strict criteria, including patients with only well-differentiated cancer and a maximum of one positive biopsy on the evaluated side, seem to be as safe as the described selection. However, data on these patients need further evaluation.

Prostatic volume and ratio of free-to-total prostate specific antigen in patients with prostatic cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia

PURPOSE

We correlated prostatic volume with the ratio of free-to-total prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum from patients with prostatic cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to evaluate how prostatic volume influences the ratio.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated sera from 395 patients (mean age 65 years, range 45 to 88) with prostate cancer (239) or BPH (156) for total PSA, free PSA and ratio of free-to-total PSA. For detection of total and free PSA we used an Immulite free and total PSA assay. Prostatic volume was determined with transrectal ultrasonography. Prostatic volume in BPH and prostate cancer patients was divided into 10 ml. groups, and mean ratio of free-to-total PSA was calculated for each volume group and both diseases. For statistical analysis Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed in addition to calculation of sensitivity and specificity, and receiver operator curves for prostates 60 ml. or less and greater than 60 ml.

RESULTS

For BPH patients the mean ratio of free-to-total PSA was 14.64 to 25.14% without a close relation to prostatic volume. In prostate cancer patients a proportional increase from 8.45 to 19.37% in the ratio of free-to-total PSA with volume was found. Mann-Whitney U analysis revealed significant differences in prostate cancer versus BPH only in patients with prostates of 60 ml. or smaller (p = 0.0008 to 0.029). No significant differences were seen when prostate cancer and BPH patients with prostates larger than 60 ml. were compared (p = 0.082 to 0.868). Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed independence of the ratio of free-to-total PSA from prostatic volume in BPH patients (p = 0.285) but dependence in prostate cancer patients (p <0.0001). Sensitivity was higher in patients with prostates 60 ml. or smaller (86.72%) than in patients with prostates larger than 60 ml. (66%), and specificity was lower at 45.78 and 56.16%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown that the ratio of free-to-total PSA is influenced by prostatic volume in patients with prostate cancer. The ratio of free-to-total PSA provides useful information for differentiate BPH from prostate cancer in patients with small prostates but it is less useful in patients with larger prostates, probably because of the larger proportion of benign hypertrophic tissue.

Early complication of anatomical radical retropubic prostatectomy: lessons from a single-center experience

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to report the rate of early complications in 316 of 600 patients who underwent anatomical radical retropubic prostatectomy for localized prostatic cancer from June 1988 to July 1996 and to measure the effect of increasing experience in a single institution.

METHODS

From January 1992 to August 1995, 316 patients with prostatic cancer underwent anatomical radical retropubic prostatectomy at our medical institution. Early complications were recorded prospectively and the rate of complications of the first 166 patients was compared with the rate in the next 150 patients.

RESULTS

Comparison of the 2 groups showed a significant decrease in blood loss with time (mean 1,397 vs. 967 cm3, p = 0.0011). The rates of anastomotic urinary leakage (21.7 vs. 10%, p = 0.0056), lymphoceles (22.3 vs. 2%, p < 0.0001), rectal injury (7.8 vs. 2%, p = 0.02), reoperation (10.2 vs. 4%, p = 0.049), and thromboembolic complications (7.8 vs. 2.7%, p = 0.0479) also decreased significantly. Only ureteral transsection showed an increase in the later group (0 vs. 4.7%, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

The low percentage of early complications suggests that anatomical retropubic radical prostatectomy is a safe approach. Our single-center study showed a learning pattern that appears unavoidable when this operation is as radical as possible so as to keep the percentage of positive margins low especially in patients with advanced tumors (> pT2).

Isolation and characterization of free form prostate specific antigen (f-PSA) in sera of men with prostate cancer

PURPOSE

The free uncomplexed form of prostate specific antigen (f-PSA) from prostate cancer sera was partially isolated and characterized because the molecular form of f-PSA in the serum is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

230 ml. of sera from 59 men with bone metastasis and individual PSA values of >2000 ng./mL were combined and centrifuged for 60 minutes at 30,000 RPM (4C). The sera were fractionated by gel filtration column chromatography (Sephacryl S-200, 2.5 cm. x 92 cm.). Free and complexed PSA in the eluted fractions were isolated by measuring immunoreactivity of PSA (Tosoh AIA-600 assay); f-PSA from 23 separate runs were combined, concentrated and re-chromatographed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to immobilize the isolated proteins onto a nitrocellulose membrane and a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Monoclonal antibody (F5) was used to probe PSA on nitrocellulose membrane and the PSA band was detected by Emission Chemoluminescence (ECL) kit. Amino terminal sequence analysis of the isolated f-PSA was performed with a gas-phase sequentor (Applied Biosyntens 4760 A) using the program designed by the manufacturer.

RESULTS

0.5 cc of f-PSA (27,000 ng./mL) was obtained from serums after rechromatography. SDS-PAGE showed one double band around 30 kDa; with ECL technique, one major band at 30-kDa was identified as PSA. The amino terminal sequence analysis of this band showed residue 1 through 9 and 146 through 152.

CONCLUSIONS

In our preliminary experiment, the free form of serum PSA is partially isolated directly from human sera. Amino terminal sequence analysis has shown that serum f-PSA is not a pre-mature or zymogen form of PSA because serum f-PSA has a N-terminus identical to that of seminal fluid PSA. A nicked form of f-PSA is also found in these patient sera.

[The necessity for perioperative cortisol substitution. Spontaneous and stimulated ACTH and cortisol secretion during unilateral adrenalectomy for renal cell carcinoma]

Impaired adrenal function during perioperative stress carries the risk of acute cortisol (Cs) deficiency (Addisonian crisis), which may be critical without Cs supplementation. Thus, with evidence of dysfunction of the adrenal glands perioperative substitution is indicated. However, it is unclear whether unilateral adrenalectomy may attenuate the adrenocorticoid response. Glucocorticosteroids are potent agents with several well-known side effects. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if routine Cs supplementation is justified and necessary in patients undergoing adrenalectomy during nephrectomy for renal-cell cancer.

METHODS

Ten consecutive patients with renal-cell cancer (5 male, 5 female; age 58 +/- 10 years; ASA class I-II) who underwent adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy were included in this study. None of them had received steroids for at least 5 years prior to the current surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl, and vecuronium and maintained with isoflurane (PetIso: 0.8 +/- 0.3 vol.%) in nitrous oxide (66%) and oxygen. The patients did not receive any Cs treatment perioperatively. Monitoring included heart rate (beats/min), mean arterial pressure (mm Hg), central venous pressure (mm Hg), O2 saturation (%), and body temperature (degrees C, rectal). Plasma analyses included Cs (Cs radioimmunoassay IBL; normal 120-250 ng/ml), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (ACTH-II IRMA; normal (10-50 pg/ml), glucose, and electrolytes determined as follows: preoperatively (8 a.m.); 1-6 h (60-min intervals) after surgery; pre-corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) (Corticobiss: 2 micrograms/kg i.v.) administration (1st postop. day at 8 a.m. and after 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. The study was completed with plasma analyses on postoperative days 2 and 3 (8 a.m.).

RESULTS

None of the patients showed any clinical signs of plasma parameter of adrenal insufficiency due to the unilateral adrenalectomy. Serum levels (median: 25%/75% percentiles) of Cs (maximum [max.]:253 [217/288] ng/ml) and ACTH (max.:347 ([68/405] pg/ml) were elevated above the normal range postoperatively). After intravenous stimulation with CRH (1st postoperative day), Cs (max.:273 [248/310] ng/ml) and ACTH (max.: 107 ([75/275] pg/ml) were also increased above normal. During postoperative days 2 and 3 (8 a.m.) Cs and ACTH remained in the high-normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from this study indicate that unilateral adrenalectomy was associated with adequate spontaneous Cs secretion by the remaining adrenal gland. Moreover, stimulation with CRH demonstrated adequate reactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis. None of the patients showed any signs of Cs deficiency by clinical or serum parameters. Therefore, we do not recommend routine Cs supplementation in patients undergoing adrenalectomy during tumor nephrectomy, nevertheless, Cs supplementation remains necessary for patients with primary hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction (Addison's disease) or hyperfunction (Cushing's disease).

[Experiences with local collagen injection in male stress incontinence]

Nineteen men with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence grade II and III (mean follow-up 12.7 months) underwent periurethral injections of collagen. In all, 37 procedures were performed; 58% of the patients underwent the procedure at least twice. A mean of 16 ml collagen was injected. The results were successful directly after injections, leaving all patients continent; however, after 3 months the treatment failed and all patients returned to their incontinence status as seen preoperatively. No perioperative complications were noted. Despite the simple and safe nature of this procedure, men with severe postoperative stress incontinence do not benefit from periurethral collagen injections.

Surgical therapy for localized prostatic carcinoma

The intraoperative, immediate postoperative, and late postoperative morbidity and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in 511 consecutive patients with clinical T1b, T1c, and T2 tumors, who underwent anatomical radical retropubic prostatectomy, have been discussed. Between 1988 and 1995, prostatic cancer was diagnosed in 511 patients on the basis of PSA and prostate biopsy, when life expectancy was more than 10 years and frozen sections of obturator lymph nodes were negative. All specimens were cut into 3 mm sections by the step-section technique, after the surgical margin had been inked with formalin-resistant dye to identify the margin status. The mean age of the 511 patients was 63.4 years. Blood loss during the operation decreased to 986 ml in the last 2 years. Of the patients, 4.3% had intraoperative rectal perforation; only 5 required a second operation, which was done with a simple rectal approach. Ureteral injury occurred in 1.4% and this was repaired during the operation; 11% had prolonged lymphocele; all were treated conservatively. Deep-venous thromboses were seen in 3.7%; 5 patients (1%) had pulmonary embolism, which was lethal in 3 patients (0.6% of the whole group). There were no intraoperative deaths. No patient death was observed in the last 3 years, when all lymphoceles were diagnosed with thorough ultrasonographic evaluation and drained immediately. Complete continence after 1 year was achieved in 92% of the patients; 5.8% of the patients had anastomotic stricture; most were treated with a single calibration. Twelve months after the operation, 80% of the patients had no measurable PSA. There was a clear correlation of PSA negativity to tumor stage. Anatomical radical prostatectomy is safe and can cure about 70% of patients with clinical T1b, T1c, and T2 prostatic tumors.

Limitations of transition zone needle biopsy findings in the prediction of transition zone cancer and tissue composition of benign nodular hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

The transition zone of the prostate is the origin of 30% of all prostate cancers and of almost all benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We compared histologic findings in transition-zone biopsies to tissue composition of the transition zone from radical prostatectomy specimens from the same patients to determine the efficacy of needle biopsies to evaluate either cancer or BPH.

METHODS

A quantitative evaluation of the transition zone for both cancer and BPH in 21 retrospective and 11 prospective radical prostatectomy specimens was made. All retrospective cases had transition-zone biopsies prior to radical prostatectomy; all prospective specimen transition zones were biopsied after surgical removal with an ink-filled needle to trace the needle tracks after specimen processing. For all 32 specimens, total prostate weight, width of transition zone, transition-zone tissue composition, and epithelial/stromal (E/S) ratio of nodular and internodular BPH tissue were noted; the corresponding biopsies were evaluated for the amount of cancer and the composition of nodular and internodular tissue.

RESULTS

Eight carcinomas larger than 5.0 cc were detected at biopsy, whereas 5 cancers smaller than 2.0 cc were undetected. Biopsies did not reliably predict BPH tissue composition or epithelial density of prostatectomy specimens; both were markedly underestimated. Dyed needle tracts showed selective sampling of internodular tissue versus nodules by biopsy as an explanation for low correlations.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition-zone needle biopsies efficiently detect cancers larger than 5.0 cc and miss cancers smaller than 2.0 cc. Biopsies do not reliably predict BPH tissue composition because of selective sampling of the internodular tissue.

Effect of flutamide and flutamide plus castration on prostate size in patients with previously untreated prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES

Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) was used in previously untreated men with prostate cancer undergoing hormonal therapy to provide objective observations on the decrease in prostate size and to assess the usefulness of prostate size in estimating treatment response.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 31 patients with previously untreated prostate cancer (Stage T1c to D2) who received hormonal therapy (flutamide, n = 18; flutamide plus castration, n = 13) were followed with serial estimations of prostate size by TRUS and by serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

RESULTS

In both treatment groups, the major decreases in prostate size were noted within the first 6 months of therapy, whereas further follow-up examinations failed to show statistically significant changes. Prostate size decreased by 48% in men treated with flutamide, whereas those treated with flutamide plus castration showed a statistically significant greater decrease, mean of 56% (P < or = 0.01). Six patients (33%) in the flutamide group and 5 (38%) men in the total androgen deprivation group ultimately failed therapy as indicated by a rising PSA level. Only 55% (n = 6) of the patients who progressed showed an increase in prostate size.

CONCLUSIONS

Total androgen deprivation in comparison to flutamide alone caused a larger reduction in prostate size. As a marker of hormonal failure, a rising PSA was more sensitive than an increase in prostate size.

Histological characteristics of radical prostatectomy specimens in men with a serum prostate specific antigen of 4 ng./ml or less

PURPOSE

Of most reported radical prostatectomy series 20% consist of men with a serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) of 4.0 ng./ml. or less. Since our series is not only prospective but all prostates are reconstructed at 3 mm. intervals, we determined the clinical and histological findings in this important subset of men undergoing radical prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Of 911 consecutive men undergoing radical prostatectomy 187 (21%) had a preoperative serum PSA of 4.0 ng./ml. or less (values equivalent to those of the Hybritech Tandem-R assay).

RESULTS

Mean tumor volume was 2.3 cc. Of the 187 cancers 156 (83%) were in the peripheral zone and 31 (17%) in the transition zone, while 137 (73%) were organ-confined and 50 (27%) showed capsular penetration. No patient had positive pelvic lymph nodes, only 5 had seminal vesicle invasion and positive surgical margins were present in 14%. Cancer volumes less than 0.5 cc were noted in 9% of the patients and were probably insignificant. At an average followup of 37 months, only 16 men (9%) had a detectable serum PSA. These 16 patients had a larger tumor volume (3.7 cc versus 2.2 cc, p < 0.05), and a greater percent of Gleason grade 4 and/or 5 disease than the 171 with undetectable PSA.

CONCLUSIONS

Men with prostate cancer and a serum PSA of 4.0 ng./ml. or less are excellent candidates for radical prostatectomy if the 9% with clinically insignificant tumors can be avoided. Since 70% of all men had a suspicious prostate on digital rectal examination, this evaluation is important for men with a serum PSA of 4.0 ng./ml. or less.

Limitations of serum prostate specific antigen in predicting peripheral and transition zone cancer volumes as measured by correlation coefficients

PURPOSE

We reexamined the relationship between preoperative serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate cancer volume in 290 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples from 290 consecutive patients were remeasured with the automated monoclonal-monoclonal Tosoh AIA-600 assay. These values were correlated with individual cancer volume by measuring Pearson correlation coefficients (r).

RESULTS

Cancer was noted in the transition zone in 31 patients and in the peripheral zone in 259. Of the peripheral zone cancers 133 (51.4%) were organ confined and 126 (48.6%) were nonorgan confined, including 12 (9.5%) with histologically confirmed lymph node metastasis (stage D1). The 259 peripheral zone cancers had a correlation coefficient with PSA (r = 0.499, p < 0.0001). After distributing the 259 cases into cancer volume groups we found a large overlap in mean preoperative serum PSA, including 65 with 50% or greater Gleason grade 4 or 5 disease (r = 0.508). The correlation coefficients of cancer volume with PSA in 133 organ confined cancers, 114 nonorgan confined cancers without lymph node metastases and 12 nonorgan confined cancers with positive lymph nodes were 0.382, 0.438 and 0.363, respectively. The 31 transition zone cancers showed a correlation coefficient with PSA (r = 0.81). After excluding 2 cases with extreme PSA and cancer volume the correlation coefficient decreased (r = 0.077).

CONCLUSIONS

Even when remeasured with an automated monoclonal-monoclonal assay serum PSA alone is unable to predict preoperatively cancer volume or distinguish between organ and nonorgan confined cancer in peripheral and transition zone tumors of the prostate.

Autologous blood transfusion in radical prostatectomy: results in 263 patients

The principal benefit of using autologous blood is avoidance of complications associated with conventional homologous blood transfusion such as viral infections, immunosuppression, and allogenic immunization. Since December 1991, a ruling of the Federal Supreme Court has obliged physicians to disclose to their patients the risk of contracting an infection from an intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusion and the possibility of donating their own blood for transfusion into them later. Of 263 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy, 194 (73.8%) elected to have their blood collected for possible transfusion. Of the patients who needed transfusion, 80.7% received only autologous blood and haemodilution for substitution of haemoglobin. Nearly all patients with blood loss below 1,500 ml used only autologous blood transfusions during their operations. Increasing the number of units of autologous blood collected decreases the likelihood that homologous blood will be needed and thus the risks associated with transfusion of homologous blood.

Dyeing: a simple method for detecting positive or negative surgical margins

Artists' pigments have been used in more than 150 radical prostatectomy specimens and many other malignant surgical specimens for detecting positive surgical margins. Their advantages are rapid drying, resistance to tissue processing, and the ability to mark many planes of excision simultaneously with different colors.

[Multilocular, giant angiomyolipoma of the kidney, adrenal gland and para-aortic lymph nodes. Case report of a 9-year-old boy with tuberous sclerosis]

The symptoms and therapy of a multicentric angiomyolipoma of the kidney, adrenal gland, paraaortic lymph nodes and renal fat tissue in a 9-year-old boy with tuberous sclerosis are reported. Angiomyolipomas are benign mesenchymal tumours that often occur together with tuberous sclerosis. Renal cell carcinoma in an angiomyolipoma is rare. Multicentricity and lymph node involvement is not a sign of malignancy or metastatic disease. Radiological characteristics in CT and plain X-ray may help in the diagnosis. Characteristically, the renal lesions are asymptomatic. Patients with incidental symptom-free angiomyolipoma should be followed. In other patients with pain in the loin, or when a solid tumour cannot be confidently excluded, conservative surgery or nephrectomy should be performed.

[Early complications of radical prostatectomy. Pelvic vein compression caused by wound drainage]

Deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolism is a common complication following urologic pelvic surgery, with incidences up to 80% being reported. We report on a 71-year-old patient with prostate cancer, who showed clinical and radiological signs of pulmonary embolism with no evidence of a deep vein thrombosis 14 days after radical prostatectomy. Phlebography revealed compression of the left external iliac vein by the drainage tube as the potential cause of the pulmonary embolism. The drainage tube was repositioned under CT control. The ultrasound Doppler technique confirmed unimpaired flow in the left external iliac vein after repositioning. Drainage tubes should be positioned far enough medially to avoid compression of the iliac vessels.

[Erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism. Is routine endocrine screening necessary?]

Erectile dysfunction is rarely caused by hypogonadism. We distinguish between primary and secondary hypogonadism. Among 70 consecutive men treated for impotence within 1 year in the authors' clinic, the rate of endocrinopathy was 4.3%. The exact role of testosterone in male sexual function is unclear. Testosterone replacement may be helpful only in patients with low serum testosterone and decreased libido. Endocrine screening is necessary in impotent patients with clinical signs of hypogonadism. Patients with decreased libido and no signs of hypogonadism should also be undergo endocrine evaluation. Routine endocrine testing for all patients with erectile dysfunction is expensive and not productive.

[Vasovasostomy after vasectomy. The surgical results 1986-1989]

The frequency of vasovasostomy has increased dramatically in recent years. A significant percentage of men who have previously undergone vasectomy are now seeking restoration of their fertility. The most common reason for requesting a reversal is remarriage. There were 90 bilateral vasovasostomies performed in 90 patients between 1986 and 1989. The procedure was done according to the technique described by Howards, in a single layer with 7 x 0 prolene and under fourfold magnification. The success rate was 87% for presence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, 48% for pregnancy. The fertility rate decreases slowly with increasing interval between vasectomy and reanastomosis. These results are statistically significant. In cases of good anatomical and andrological conditions, the chance of restoration of fertility is good. The experience of the urologist is often more important than the details of the technique.

[Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder. Diagnosis and therapy based on a case report]

Micturition difficulties associated with unstable hypertension, tachycardia and profuse sweating could be a sign of pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder. Of all pheochromocytomas, 10-36% are located extradrenally, in which case they are also referred to as paragangliomas, and 1-3% are found in the urinary bladder. The case history of a 44-year-old female patient with typical symptoms is described. Diagnosis required not only CT, NMR, excretory urography and MIBG scintigraphy, but also hormonal analyses. Histology reveals malignancy in up to 20%; it is thought that focal invasions of tumor into vessels and destruction of connective tissue might be pathognomonic. A precise history and careful diagnosis are necessary before a pheochromocytoma of the bladder can be disclosed and treated.

Sellar lesions associated with isolated hyperprolactinaemia. Morphological, immunocytochemical, hormonal and clinical results

In 204 patients with sellar lesions and isolated hyperprolactinaemia we analysed and compared many different morphological, immunocytochemical, hormonal, and clinical data for a differentiation of primary (Prl produced by a tumour) and secondary (Prl elevation by PIF inhibition) hyperprolactinaemia. We found Prl-positive pituitary adenomas with primary hyperprolactinaemia in 62.7% and a secondary Prl elevation with different alterations in 37.3% (Prl-negative adenomas 28.9%, craniopharyngeomas 5%, and non-tumourous conditions 3.4%). In secondary hyperprolactinaemia the Prl values did not exceed 130 micrograms/l, higher levels indicated Prl-producing adenomas with a high probability. In patients with Prl elevation below 130 micrograms/l the clinical and sometimes the morphological analysis were not sufficient for a differentiation. Here immunocytochemical studies are necessary for a clear classification of hyperprolactinaemia.