CT and clinical features for distinguishing endophytic clear cell renal cell carcinoma from urothelial carcinoma

PURPOSE We aimed to characterize the clinical and multiphase computed tomography (CT) features of the distinguishing endophytic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ECCRCC) from endophytic renal urothelial carcinoma (ERUC). METHODS Data from 44 patients (35 men and 9 women) with ECCRCC and 21 patients (17 men and 4 women) with ERUC were retrospectively assessed. The mean patient age was 55 years (48.25- 59.50 years) and 68 years (63.00-73.00 years), respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors for ECCRCC and to construct a predictive model that comprised clinical and CT characteristics for the differential diagnosis of ECCRCC and ERUC. Differential diagnostic performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS The independent predictors of ECCRCC were heterogeneous enhancement (odds ratio [OR]=0.027, P=.005), hematuria (OR for gross hematuria=53.995, P=.003; OR for microscopic hematuria=31.126, P = .027), and an infiltrative growth pattern (OR=24.301, P = .022). The AUC of the predictive model was 0.938 (P < .001, sensitivity=84.10%, specificity=95.20%), which had a better diagnostic performance than heterogeneous enhancement (AUC=0.766, P=.001, sensitivity=81.82%, specificity=71.43%), hematuria (AUC=0.786, P < .001, sensitivity=81.82%, specificity=66.67%), and infiltrative growth pattern (AUC=0.748, P=.001, sensitivity=90.48%, specificity=59.09%). CONCLUSION The independent predictors, as well as the predictive model of CT and clinical characteristics, may assist in the differential diagnosis of ECCRCC and ERUC and provide useful information for clinical decision-making.

Donor-derived duodenal adenocarcinoma of a bladder-drained pancreas allograft

The subset of the population that received bladder-drained allograft pancreata during peak utilization of the technique in the 1990s is approaching 20-30 postoperative years. This time frame is salient, as it parallels the time in which patients in the urologic literature develop adenocarcinomas after bladder reconstruction using gastrointestinal segments. We present the case of a 57-year-old simultaneous pancreas/kidney recipient who presented with microhematuria twenty-four years after transplantation and was found to have an adenocarcinoma of the duodenum of his failed, bladder-drained pancreas. After allograft pancreatectomy/duodenectomy, he remains disease-free eleven months postoperatively. As this patient population ages, practitioners should consider pathology of the donor duodenum and pancreas in recipients who present with gross or microscopic hematuria.

Recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting with elevated triglyceride and positive antinuclear antibody in a girl aged 12 years

A girl aged 12 years and 2 months presented with recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting for more than 2 years and arthrodynia for 3 months. She was diagnosed with recurrent acute pancreatitis with unknown causes and had been admitted multiple times. Laboratory tests showed recurrent significant increases in fasting serum triglyceride, with elevated immunoglobulin and positive antinuclear antibody. The girl was improved after symptomatic supportive treatment. The girl developed arthrodynia with movement disorders 3 months before, and proteinuria, hematuria, and positive anti-double-stranded DNA antibody were observed. The renal biopsy was performed, and the pathological examination and immunofluorescence assay suggested diffuse lupus nephritis (type Ⅳ). She was finally diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus nephritis (type Ⅳ), and recurrent acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was suspected to be highly associated with SLE. She was treated with oral hydroxychloroquine sulfate and intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate and cyclophosphamide. Arthrodynia was partially relieved. She was then switched to oral prednisone acetate tablets. Intravenous cyclophosphamide and pump infusion of belimumab were regularly administered. Now she had improvement in arthrodynia and still presented with proteinuria and hematuria. It is concluded that recurrent acute pancreatitis may be the first clinical presentation of SLE. For pancreatitis with unknown causes, related immunological parameters should be tested, and symptoms of the other systems should be closely monitored to avoid delaying the diagnosis.

Histological Spectrum of Clinical Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with special Reference to nonalbuminuric Diabetic Nephropathy: A Kidney Biopsy-based Study

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an important and catastrophic complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Kidney disease has heterogeneity in histology in diabetes patients and includes both diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (albuminuric or nonalbuminuric) and nondiabetic kidney disease (NDKD) either in isolation or in coexistence with DN. Diabetic nephropathy is hard to overturn. While NDKD is treatable and reversible.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled a total of 50 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with clinical kidney disease, of both genders and age &gt;18 years, who underwent kidney biopsy from October 2016 to October 2018. Patients with proteinuria &lt;30 mg per day were excluded from the study. The indications of the renal biopsy were nephrotic syndrome (NS), active urinary sediment, rapid decline in renal function, asymptomatic proteinuria, and hematuria.

RESULT

A total of 50 (males: 42 and females: eight) patients with T2DM who underwent kidney biopsy were enrolled. The clinical presentation was: NS 26 (52%), chronic kidney disease (CKD) 11 (22%), asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria six (12%), acute kidney injury (AKI) four (8%), and acute nephritic syndrome (ANS) three (6%). Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was noted in 19 (38%) cases. Kidney biopsy revealed isolated DN, isolated NDKD, and NDKD superimposed on DN in 26 (52%), 14 (28%), and 10 (20%) cases, respectively. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) (4) and amyloidosis (2) were the most common forms of NDKD, whereas diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN) was the main form of NDKD superimposed on DN. Diabetic nephropathy was observed in 15 (79%) cases in presence of DR and also in 11 (35.5%) cases even in absence of DR. Of eight patients with microalbuminuria four (50%) cases have biopsy-proven DN.

CONCLUSION

About 48% of patients had NDKD either in isolation or in coexistence with DN. Diabetic nephropathy was found in absence of DR and in patients with a low level of proteinuria. The level of proteinuria and presence of DR does not help to distinguish DN vs NDKD. Hence, renal biopsy may be useful in selected T2DM patients with clinical kidney disease to diagnose NDKD.

Concordance with urgent referral guidelines in patients presenting with any of six 'alarm' features of possible cancer: a retrospective cohort study using linked primary care records

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines advise GPs in England which patients warrant an urgent referral for suspected cancer. This study assessed how often GPs follow the guidelines, whether certain patients are less likely to be referred, and how many patients were diagnosed with cancer within 1 year of non-referral.

METHODS

We used linked primary care (Clinical Practice Research Datalink), secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics) and cancer registration data. Patients presenting with haematuria, breast lump, dysphagia, iron-deficiency anaemia, post-menopausal or rectal bleeding for the first time during 2014-2015 were included (for ages where guidelines recommend urgent referral). Logistic regression was used to investigate whether receiving a referral was associated with feature type and patient characteristics. Cancer incidence (based on recorded diagnoses in cancer registry data within 1 year of presentation) was compared between those receiving and those not receiving referrals.

RESULTS

48 715 patients were included, of which 40% (n=19 670) received an urgent referral within 14 days of presentation, varying by feature from 17% (dysphagia) to 68% (breast lump). Young patients (18-24 vs 55-64 years; adjusted OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.42, p<0.001) and those with comorbidities (4 vs 0 comorbidities; adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.94, p<0.001) were less likely to receive a referral. Associations between patient characteristics and referrals differed across features: among patients presenting with anaemia, breast lump or haematuria, those with multi-morbidity, and additionally for breast lump, more deprived patients were less likely to receive a referral. Of 29 045 patients not receiving a referral, 3.6% (1047) were diagnosed with cancer within 1 year, ranging from 2.8% for rectal bleeding to 9.5% for anaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Guideline recommendations for action are not followed for the majority of patients presenting with common possible cancer features. A significant number of these patients developed cancer within 1 year of their consultation, indicating scope for improvement in the diagnostic process.

Investigation of urinary volatile organic compounds as novel diagnostic and surveillance biomarkers of bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis and surveillance of urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) require cystoscopy. There is a need for biomarkers to reduce the frequency of cystoscopy in surveillance; urinary volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis could fulfil this role. This cross-sectional study compared the VOC profiles of patients with and without UBC, to investigate metabolomic signatures as biomarkers.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected from haematuria clinic patients undergoing diagnostic cystoscopy and UBC patients undergoing surveillance. Urinary headspace sampling utilised solid-phase microextraction and VOC analysis applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; the output underwent metabolomic analysis.

RESULTS

The median participant age was 70 years, 66.2% were male. Of the haematuria patients, 21 had a new UBC diagnosis, 125 had no cancer. In the surveillance group, 75 had recurrent UBC, 84 were recurrence-free. A distinctive VOC profile was observed in UBC patients compared with controls. Ten VOCs had statistically significant abundances useful to classify patients (false discovery rate range 1.9 × 10-7-2.8 × 10-2). Two prediction models were evaluated using internal validation. An eight-VOC diagnostic biomarker panel achieved AUROC 0.77 (sensitivity 0.71, specificity 0.72). A six-VOC surveillance biomarker panel obtained AUROC 0.80 (sensitivity 0.71 and specificity 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary VOC analysis could aid the diagnosis and surveillance of UBC.

A case of anti-GBM nephritis following centipede bites and COVID-19 vaccination

A case of newly developed anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis (GN) following centipede bites and COVID-19 vaccination is presented. A 70-year-old woman presented for investigation of mild fever, generalized fatigue, and macroscopic hematuria with no past history of renal disease. One year earlier, she had been bitten by a centipede. Based on the governmental policy, she was given the first COVID-19 vaccination, and the second injection was planned 3 weeks later. Accidentally, she was again bitten by a centipede, and the injured site had swollen severely. Based on a physician's judgment, the interval between vaccinations was extended to 8 weeks. One week after the second vaccination, macroscopic hematuria occurred suddenly, coincident with mild fever. Her serum anti-GBM titer was above the upper limit. There was no pulmonary involvement. Renal pathology showed anti-GBM GN, and she was treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy followed by sequential plasmapheresis. She had advanced renal dysfunction, but was independent of dialysis therapy during the one month of the remission induction therapy phase, and she is being treated with immunosuppressant therapy. Both vaccination and animal bites skew towards Th1 immunity, a key mechanism involved in the development of necrotizing GN evoked by anti-GBM antibody. Though there is no direct evidence for causality linking centipede bites, vaccination, and anti-GBM GN, the risk of anti-GBM GN appears to be increased by excessively induced Th1 immunity.

Post-traumatic Renal Arteriovenous Malformation Discovered after 2 Years of Blunt Trauma: Diagnosis and Management

Blunt trauma to the kidney is usually minor and self-limiting. In some cases, the patient may present with intractable hematuria or persistent flank pain and discomfort, which necessitates aggressive management. It is very rare and unusual to find a renal arterio-venous malformation following blunt trauma. This unusual presentation should be kept in mind when a patient presents with hematuria and history of blunt abdominal trauma. We report the case of a young male who suffered blunt abdominal trauma two years back, and continued to have on-and-off hematuria. After extensive work up, a diagnosis of renal arterio-venous malformation was made. His case was managed promptly with renal angio-embolization. Key Words: Blunt trauma, Arterio-venous malformation (AVM), Angio-embolisation, kidney.

[Acute interstitial nephritis: clinical presentation and diagnosis]

Acute interstitial nephritis is characterized by renal inflammation and interstitial edema. The clinical presentation is pauci-symptomatic and often non-specific. Acute interstitial nephritis typically presents with acute renal failure, alone or with fever, eosinophilia, hematuria, sterile pyuria and small range proteinuria. An early diagnosis is crucial to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with renal function decline. The most frequent etiology of this disease is drug-induced. A kidney biopsy is not systematically required to establish the diagnosis. It should be considered in the absence of renal function improvement 5 to 7 days after withdrawal of the causal agent. Although the benefits of glucocorticoid treatment have not been proven to date, its use may be associated with a better kidney function recovery.

IgA Vasculitis in an Oldest-old Patient Successfully Treated with Glucocorticoid

A 94-year-old man was diagnosed with immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV), and losartan was initiated. His renal function rapidly deteriorated over a month; therefore, methylprednisolone was administered intravenously for three days followed by oral prednisolone. Renal function improvement and both proteinuria and hematuria remission were observed within six months. Prednisolone tapering was completed at eight months. In this case, we monitored the patient carefully and started glucocorticoids as soon as the patient's renal function deteriorated. We were thus able to treat the patient with a relatively small dose of glucocorticoids in a short treatment period without any adverse events due to glucocorticoids.

Recurrent hematuria and painful necrotic purpura induced by acquired Protein S deficiency associated with monoclonal immunoglobulin

Protein S deficiency is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, which may be caused by hereditary deficiency and several physiological and pathologic conditions, such as pregnancy, contraceptive use, liver diseases, inflammatory disease, and certain viruses infections. However, monoclonal immunoglobulin-mediated Protein S deficiency is rarely reported. Here we described a 49-year-old woman with a history of recurrent painful swelling in both lower extremities due to venous thrombosis for 7 years, accompanied by recurrent gross hematuria and multiple painful necrotic purpuras for 5 years, who was then diagnosed with acquired Protein S deficiency induced by the monoclonal immunoglobulin. Then she was successfully treated with rituximab combined with anticoagulation therapy. This case highlights the rare manifestations of Protein S deficiency and the influence of the monoclonal immunoglobulin produced by monoclonal B lymphocytes and monoclonal plasma cells on the activity of Protein S, which can be treated effectively with rituximab combined with anticoagulation therapy.

Abrupt worsening of occult IgA nephropathy after the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

Here, we report a case of abrupt onset of gross hematuria and nephrotic range proteinuria after the first dose of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination, which led to a diagnosis of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). A Japanese woman in their forties with a significant medical history of occult blood by urine dipstick test (over the past 3 years) presented with fever, chills, shivering, marked thrombocytopenia, and gross hematuria 9 days after the first dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Pfizer) against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) was first suspected as the cause of the severe thrombocytopenia, TMA was clinically excluded after two sessions of plasma exchange were performed. Renal biopsy was performed as the patient's platelet count improved. We made a diagnosis of acute worsening IgAN, triggered by the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In this case, we speculated that vaccine-induced immune activation may be involved in the exacerbation of occult IgAN, leading to the definite diagnosis. We should pay more attention to the development/worsening of clinically significant kidney disease after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination not only in those with known glomerular disease but also in those with only mild urinary abnormality.

[Late-onset refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia following autologous hematologic recovery after allo-HSCT in aplastic anemia-PNH syndrome]

A 31-year-old man underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for the treatment of transfusion-dependent aplastic anemia (AA) after conditioning with a regimen including fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin. The patient developed a late graft rejection on day 103 and showed autologous hematologic recovery not requiring transfusions on day 76. Peripheral blood leukocytes were of 100% recipient origin on day 103, and paroxysmal nocturnal hematuria (PNH)-type granulocytes were detected 5 months after BMT. The patient suddenly experienced hemolytic symptoms triggered by cold stimulation, and was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) 37 months after BMT. Although anemia was ameliorated by prednisolone (PSL), hemolytic attacks repeatedly occurred, which became refractory to corticosteroids. Moreover, the patient underwent a splenectomy for the steroid-resistant AIHA and achieved AIHA remission without the need for PSL at 53 months after BMT. The immune tolerance breakdown to erythrocyte antigens was thought to have occurred due to various factors including immune AA, medication, cold stimulation, and infection, leading to AIHA development in this case.

Comparison of administration of single- and triple-course steroid pulse therapy combined with tonsillectomy for immunoglobulin A nephropathy

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a form of chronic glomerulonephritis that can cause end-stage renal disease. Recently, tonsillectomy combined with corticosteroid pulse (TSP) has been shown to be effective for achieving clinical remission and favorable renal outcome in patients with IgAN. However, the standard regimen of corticosteroid use in TSP has not been established. Herein, we compared the effect of single- or triple-course steroid pulse therapy combined with tonsillectomy in patients with IgAN.This retrospective, observational cohort study included 122 patients with IgAN enrolled from January 2004 to December 2018 at 2 independent institutions. We divided the patients into 2 groups; single-course (TSP1: n = 70) and triple-course (TSP3: n = 52) of corticosteroid pulse therapy (1 course comprised 3 consecutive days' infusion of 0.5 g methylprednisolone) combined with tonsillectomy. The primary outcome for renal survival was defined as the first occurrence of ≧30% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of clinical remission and recurrence of the disease.Regarding clinical parameters and findings at baseline, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. The 8-years renal survival in the 2 groups was not significantly different according to Kaplan-Meier curves (TSP1; 82.5% vs TSP3; 69.2%, log-rank test P = .39). The cumulative incidence rates of remission of hematuria (94.4% vs 85.4%, P = .56) and clinical remission (85.0% vs 64.8%, P = .07) were comparable in both groups, while those of proteinuria showed higher rates in TSP1 than TSP3 (88.4% vs 65.4%, P = .02). The cumulative incidence of relapse of hematuria (5.6% vs 2.3%, P = .42) and proteinuria (7.1% vs 3.3%, P = .41) showed no significant differences in the 2 groups. Cox regression analyses showed that the number of courses of corticosteroid pulse therapy was not significantly associated with renal outcome (TSP1 vs TSP3; Hazard ratios 0.69, 95% confidence intervals 0.29-1.64, P = .39).The effect of single-course corticosteroid pulse therapy is not statistically, significantly different from triple-course in TSP protocol for improving renal outcome and preventing relapse in patients with IgAN. Single-course corticosteroid pulse therapy may become a treatment option for patients with IgAN.

Too bad to be true: pseudo-AKI due to traumatic bladder rupture

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is described as a rapid decline in Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), reflected by an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) and/or contraction of diuresis. The traditional paradigm considers pre-renal, renal and post-renal causes of AKI. However, there are some settings in which an elevated SCr does not reflect a real decline in GFR. Here we describe the case of a pseudo-AKI, consequence of a massive intraperitoneal urinary leakage due to a traumatic bladder rupture. Besides the pathophysiological considerations, we want to raise awareness about this condition, especially in relation to patients presenting with oliguria, hematuria, apparent AKI, abdominal pain and ascites, particularly after trauma; we do this not only to prevent late diagnosis complications, but also to avoid costly and risky overtreatment.

Pneumocystis pneumonia secondary to intensive immunosuppression treatment for anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

The estimated incidence of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease complicated with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is minimal, there have only been 15 cases (including this case) reported in the literature, and only 5 (33.33%) of them showed significant improvement in renal function after treatment. Pneumocystis pneumonia is a severe opportunistic pulmonary infection of pneumocystis jiroveci in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of pneumocystis pneumonia secondary to intensive immunosuppression treatment for anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy, with no similar reports or studies published before to our knowledge.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient was admitted to our hospital with a 1-week diagnosis of crescent glomerulonephritis who had been suffered from hematuria and foamy urine for more than 1 month. Before admission, the patient received pulse dose intravenous methylprednisolone and immunosuppression with rituximab, but the renal function and titer of pathogenic antibody did not improve significantly.

DIAGNOSIS

Crescentic glomerulonephritis, anti-glomerular basal membrane disease complicated with IgA nephropathy (Type I+II) was pathologically confirmed by renal biopsy. Secondary pneumocystis pneumonia was diagnosed by acute progressive respiratory failure, chest computed tomography and metagenomic next-generation sequencing of transbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

INTERVENTIONS

The key to successful treatment was to make the pathogenic antibody turn negative quickly by combining pulse dose intravenous methylprednisolone, immunosuppression with rituximab, and plasma exchange therapy. Early identification of pneumocystis pneumonia, accurate etiological identification, and active anti-infective treatment were also crucial.

OUTCOMES

The patient was discharged after 16 days of anti-infection with secondary infection controlled and dialysis catheter removed. Up to now, the patient has been followed for a period of 28 weeks, results showed renal function had been repaired even hematuria and proteinuria were basically alleviated.

LESSONS

Our case provided experience in the treatment of anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy, further proposed the potential therapeutic effects of rituximab, also illustrated low dose hormone combined with tacrolimus can be used as sequential therapy after plasma exchange and intensive immunosuppression. Our research also suggested that resulting in severe immune suppression, a high risk of secondary pneumocystis opportunistic infection should be aware of. metagenomic next-generation sequencing might increase the detection rate of the pathogen.

Cardiogenic shock caused by Takotsubo syndrome complicated with severe anxiety: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient and reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which are often associated with acute physical or emotional stressors. Cancer is one of the comorbidities in TTS, and TTS is even considered as a paraneoplastic syndrome, but its mechanism remains unclear. We report a patient in whom cancer and untreated mental disorders triggered TTS.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 59-year-old man was transferred to the Department of Cardiology because of acute onset of severe chest pain and dyspnea before cystoscopy. He presented with hematuria, had been diagnosed with a high-grade urothelial bladder cancer, and underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors 4 months previously. He had severe anxiety regarding recurrence and death from cancer, especially after the hematuria recurred.

DIAGNOSIS

TTS and severe anxiety.

INTERVENTIONS

The results of coronary angiography, a left ventriculogram, echocardiography, and the clinical outcome led to the diagnosis of TTS. The patient was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, mechanical ventilation, and drugs for heart failure and anxiety.

OUTCOMES

Echocardiography showed normal wall motion on day 6 of symptom onset. Six months after symptom onset, the anxiety score was reduced from 12 to 11, and the patient had no episodes of any discomfort, and no evidence of cancer recurrence was observed.

LESSONS

Patients with cancer and TTS have a higher level of stress, and physicians need to pay more attention to early screening and early treatment of mental disorders in these patients. Prompt and effective multidisciplinary treatment, including psychological counseling and antianxiety drugs, can improve the prognosis in such cases.

[UPPER TRACT UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA]

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma is a relatively rare malignancy, but with an increasing prevalence. The main risk factor for the disease is smoking. The most common presentation is hematuria or flank pain. Workup is made by imaging of the upper tract - CTU/MRU (Computed Tomography-Urography/Magnetic resonance (MR) urography) and diagnostic uretero-nephroscopy with biopsy. In the past several years there is major advancement in our understanding of the disease and how to treat it, mainly in nephron-sparing treatments. A risk-stratification is usually conducted according to parameters such as tumor size, distribution, and pathologic diagnosis. The low-risk group is usually offered nephron-sparing treatments such as segmental ureterectomy, endoscopic treatments, and lately - local chemotherapy. The high-risk group is usually offered radical resection of the kidney and ureter, with the possible addition of new-adjuvant and adjuvant treatments. In this article we will review the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of this malignancy, with a distinction between the risk groups.

Urogenital schistosomiasis infection prevalence targets to determine elimination as a public health problem based on microhematuria prevalence in school-age children

BACKGROUND

Recent research suggests that schistosomiasis targets for morbidity control and elimination as a public health problem could benefit from a reanalysis. These analyses would define evidence-based targets that control programs could use to confidently assert that they had controlled or eliminated schistosomiasis as a public health problem. We estimated how low Schistosoma haematobium infection levels diagnosed by urine filtration in school-age children should be decreased so that microhematuria prevalence was at, or below, a "background" level of morbidity.

METHODOLOGY

Data obtained from school-age children in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Tanzania, and Zambia who participated in schistosomiasis monitoring and evaluation cohorts were reanalyzed before and after initiation of preventive chemotherapy. Bayesian models estimated the infection level prevalence probabilities associated with microhematuria thresholds ≤10%, 13%, or 15%.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

An infection prevalence of 5% could be a sensible target for urogenital schistosomiasis morbidity control in children as microhematuria prevalence was highly likely to be below 10% in all surveys. Targets of 8% and 11% infection prevalence were highly likely to result in microhematuria levels less than 13% and 15%, respectively. By contrast, measuring heavy-intensity infections only achieves these thresholds at impractically low prevalence levels.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

A target of 5%, 8%, or 11% urogenital schistosomiasis infection prevalence in school-age children could be used to determine whether a geographic area has controlled or eliminated schistosomiasis as a public health problem depending on the local background threshold of microhematuria.

Assessment of Diagnostic Yield of Cystoscopy and Computed Tomographic Urography for Urinary Tract Cancers in Patients Evaluated for Microhematuria: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Microhematuria (MH) is a common finding that often leads to further evaluation for urinary tract cancers. There is ongoing debate about the extent to which patients with MH should be evaluated for cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic yield for detection of urinary tract cancers, specifically bladder cancer, upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), and kidney cell carcinoma, among patients evaluated for MH using cystoscopy and computed tomographic (CT) urography.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase were systematically searched for eligible studies published between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

Original prospective and retrospective studies reporting the prevalence of cancer among patients evaluated for MH were eligible. Two authors independently screened the titles and abstracts to select studies that met the eligibility criteria and reached consensus about which studies to include. Among 5802 records identified, 5802 articles were screened using titles and abstracts. After exclusions, 55 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, with 39 studies selected for systematic review.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Studies were quantitatively synthesized using a random-intercept logistic regression model.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was diagnostic yield, defined as the proportion of patients with a diagnosis of urinary tract cancer (bladder cancer, UTUC, or kidney cell carcinoma) after presentation with MH. Studies were stratified by the percentage of cystoscopy and CT urography use and by high-risk cohorts. The diagnostic yields of CT urography and cystoscopy were calculated for each cancer type.

RESULTS

A total of 30 studies comprising 24 366 patients evaluated for MH were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled diagnostic yield among all patients was 2.00% (95% CI, 1.30%-3.09%) for bladder cancer, 0.02% (95% CI, 0.0%-0.15%) for UTUC, and 0.18% (95% CI, 0.09%-0.36%) for kidney cell carcinoma. Stratification of studies that used cystoscopy and/or CT urography for 95% or more of the cohort produced diagnostic yields of 2.74% (95% CI, 1.81%-4.12%) for bladder cancer, 0.09% (95% CI, 0.01%-0.75%) for UTUC, and 0.10% (95% CI, 0.04%-0.23%) for kidney cell carcinoma. In high-risk cohorts, the diagnostic yields increased to 4.61% (95% CI, 2.34%-8.90%) for bladder cancer and 0.45% (95% CI, 0.22%-0.95%) for UTUC.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study's findings suggest that, given the low diagnostic yield of CT urography and the associated risks and costs, limiting its use to high-risk patients older than 50 years is warranted. Risk stratification, as recommended by the recent American Urology Association guidelines on MH, may be a better approach to tailor further evaluation.

Flank pain and hematuria is not always a kidney stone

BACKGROUND

Patients with flank pain and hematuria are common emergency department presentations of nephrolithiasis. We may anchor on this etiology and potentially miss other less common differentials. We present a case of a patient with hematuria and flank pain typical of nephrolithiasis who was diagnosed with a Page kidney causing secondary hypertension. A 50 year-old male with no significant past medical history presented to the Emergency Department with severe left-sided flank pain, vomiting, and blood-tinged urine. We pursued a diagnosis of nephrolithiasis and found a left renal subcapsular hematoma on non-contrast CT. A CTA was done with no active hemorrhage found. The patient had no history of recent trauma and was found to be hypertensive on evaluation. Urology was consulted and management for the patient's hypertension was initiated. He was diagnosed with Page Kidney and admitted to medicine for observation and hypertension management with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Page Kidney is a diagnosis that describes compression of the renal parenchyma by a hematoma or mass causing secondary hypertension through the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Causes may include traumatic subcapsular hematoma, renal cyst rupture, tumor, hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation, among others. Treatment may involve conservative measures including hypertension management, or more invasive measures like evacuation or nephrectomy. We describe the case of a patient presumed to have nephrolithiasis presenting with typical left-sided flank pain, diagnosed with Page kidney, and treated conservatively.

[Hematuria as the first sign of pelvic chondrosarcoma]

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor which often affects the pelvic ring and its symptomathology is non-specific and insidious. We display a case of a right iliopubic branch chondrosarcoma in a 62-year-old male whose first sing was a four-year history of sporadic macroscopic haematuria, related to efforts. After being studied by the Urology Department by cystoscopy and biopsy of bladder tumor, chondral cells were appreciated. Further study with imaging tests diagnosed low-grade chondrosarcoma with bladder infringement. The case is assessed by Musculoskeletal Tumors Committee and a multidisciplinary approach is carried out through en bloc resection and pelvic floor reconstruction. Currently the patient remains asymptomatic.