Video urodynamics using transrectal ultrasonography for lower urinary tract symptoms in women

AIMS

To understand the properties of lower urinary tract disorders in women, we evaluated 60 female patients with lower urinary tract disorders or symptoms of recurrent cystitis by free uroflowmetry and video urodynamics using transrectal ultrasonography (VU-TRUS).

METHODS

Results of urodynamic studies or symptoms of stress incontinence were used to divide 60 women into 7 normal controls and 53 with voiding dysfunctions.

RESULTS

In normal controls, VU-TRUS showed that the mean posterior urethrovesical angle and anteroposterior diameter of the proximal urethra at maximum flow was 151.4 degrees and 4.9 mm, respectively. In patients with voiding dysfunction, VU-TRUS during voiding revealed various urethral abnormalities, including 16 detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, 4 detrusor bladder neck dyssynergia, and 13 insufficient opening of the entire urethra. VU-TRUS also showed pelvic floor abnormalities, including 24 urethral hypermobilities (group 1) and 11 cystoceles (group 2). Eighteen patients had neither urethral hypermobility nor cystocele (group 3). Major pressure-flow abnormalities in the 53 patients with voiding dysfunctions were weak detrusor (72%) and/or bladder outlet obstruction (25%). There were no significant differences in the distribution of the pressure-flow abnormalities among the three groups. However, the mean values of abdominal pressure at maximum flow of group 1 (20.9 cm H(2)O) and group 2 (17.9 cm H(2)O) were significantly higher than that of group 3 (6.3 cm H(2)O; each P < 0.05). The mean values of residual urine volume of group 2 (60.8 mL) and group 3 (77.6 mL) were significantly higher than that of group 1 (23.5 mL; each P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The symptoms of women with lower urinary tract disorders were frequently accompanied by urethral and/or pelvic floor abnormalities during voiding that were clearly detected by VU-TRUS. VU-TRUS is useful for objective evaluation of female lower urinary tract symptoms.

[High intensity focused ultrasound for liver cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for liver cancer.

METHODS

HIFU treatment was performed in 44 liver cancer patients under general anesthesia and ultrasound positioning. Before and after HIFU treatment, the clinical symptoms, liver functional tests, AFP and MRI were evaluated.

RESULTS

After HIFU treatment, the remission rate of clinical symptoms was 87.5% (28/32), with the scanty ascites in 3 patients disappeared. ALT (79.73 +/- 12.31 U/L) and AST (103.47 +/- 24.55 U/L) before HIFU were reduced to normal in 84.6% (22/26) and 73.5% (25/34) patients. AFP in 64.3% (18/28) patients decreased > or = 50% of the original value. After HIFU, MRI showed coagulative necrosis and blood supply reduction or disappearance of tumor in the target region.

CONCLUSION

HIFU treatment pocesses good effect on liver cancer, which will offer a considerable weight in noninvasive local treatment of hepatic tumor.

[High intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of primary malignant bone tumor]

OBJECTIVE

To develop a new noninvasive limb-salvaging method in the treatment of primary malignant bone tumor in the extremities.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with primary malignant bone tumor were treated by extracorporal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) with or without chemotherapy, with a mean follow-up of 17.6 months.

RESULTS

The overall survival and complication rates were 84.1% and 18.2%. In 34 patients with stage II b disease, 30 were disease-free, with 2 died of tumor metastasis to brain and lung and 3 developed local recurrence. In 10 patients with stage III b disease, 5 survived with tumor, with 1 developed local recurrence and 5 died of lung metastasis. Thirty-six of 44 patients were > or = 15 points by Enneking system.

CONCLUSION

High intensity focused ultrasound combined with chemotherapy for primary malignant bone tumor in the extremity is proved to be effective and safe, preserving good function in the limbs. HIFU may possibly become a new limb-salvaging treatment for this tumor.

A prospective randomized trial comparing lidocaine and lubricating gel on pain level in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy

PURPOSE

To compare patient reported pain during TRUS guided biopsies using intrarectal lidocaine gel versus lubricating gel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From May 2000 to May 2001, 360 men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized into two groups. In group 1, 180 patients received 10 cc of 2% intrarectal lidocaine gel (Xylocaine 2% jelly, Astra Pharma Inc.) 5 to 10 minutes before the procedure and in group 2, 180 patients received 10 cc of lubricating gel. No other sedation or analgesia was given. Pain level immediately after the last biopsy was assessed using a 10-point linear visual analog pain scale.

RESULTS

The median pain score during transrectal prostate biopsy was 2 (range 0 to 8) and 3 (range 1 to 10) in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.0001). Only minor complications occurred and complication rates were not significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Rectal administration of lidocaine gel is safe, simple and effective for reducing the pain level associated with transrectal prostate biopsy.

[Development and application of ultrasound technology for hyperthermia]

It has been a long time since ultrasound hyperthermia began to be used in the clinical management of cancers and benign diseases. Numerous biological and clinical investigations have demonstrated that: hyperthermia in the range of 41-45 degrees C can significantly enhance clinical response to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and high-temperature hyperthermia (greater than 65 degrees C) alone is now being used as an alternative to conventional invasive surgery for selective tissue destruction, causing tumor coagulation and necrosis. As a promising noninvasive and effective local therapy, HIFU has attracted great attention. China is advanced in the clinical applications of HIFU. This article gives an introduction of the development and applications of ultrasound hyperthermia technology, and also provides a general review of a selection of ultrasound hyperthermia systems both in clinical use and under development.

[High intensity focused ultrasound alone for malignant solid tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and side-effects of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of malignant solid tumors.

METHODS

Thirty such patients who refused surgery and or refractory to chemotherapy, were treated by HIFU alone, with the efficacy and side effects monitored in terms of vital organ signs observation, functional assay of important organs, imaging examinations: digital subtraction angiography (DSA), CT, MRI, single photoemission computed tomography (SPECT), large core needle biopsy, complications or metastasis.

RESULTS

After HIFU therapy, the vital signs remained stable and the function of heart, lung, kidney and liver was also normal. DSA images showed that small or larger arteries were not damaged. After a follow-up of 10 - 38 months (23.1 months), 26 patients (87%) have been alive. The volume of the tumor underwent complete regression in 10 patients. Shrinkage of tumor volume >/= 50% was observed in 13. Eight of 13 patients were examined by large core needle biopsy, all showing necrosis and/or fibrosis though 3 patients (10%) had local recurrence. Two of these were retreated again by HIFU and the locally recurrent tumor became well controlled. New metastases developed in 5 patients after HIFU therapy. Two patients suffered from peripheral nerve injuries, most of which have recovered during the follow-up. However, one patient developed skin injury.

CONCLUSION

High intensity focused ultrasound alone is effective and safe in the treatment of malignant solid tumors.

Three-dimensional visualization and analysis in prostate cancer

Current and emerging three- and four-dimensional medical imaging modalities, along with development of efficient 3-D computer rendering and modeling of multidimensional volume image data and image-guided navigation, are significantly advancing our capabilities for improved and minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, obviating the need for exploratory surgery, physical dissection, blind biopsies and mental reconstruction of anatomy and pathology. Currently, both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures require x-ray fluoroscopy, transrectal ultrasound, CT and/or MRI for assessing the condition of the prostate and/or the outcome of any therapeutic procedure. New imaging approaches based on three-dimensional ultrasound transducers placed on catheters for easy insertion into the urethra are demonstrating significant promise for improved diagnosis and treatment of prostate disease. Microwave thermal ablation shows promise for reduction of prostate size and tumor volume, and preliminary data from cryosurgery suggests improvements in tumor reduction and/or management while minimizing the risk of serious complications. Prostate brachytherapy is becoming a more popular and effective alternative to surgery. All of these methods, either independently or combined through image fusion, are providing an exciting and rapid evolution in capabilities for visualizing the prostate and its anatomic environment, extending from physical to functional forms and from macro to micro orders of scale. Traversing the scale distances between these imaged objects within the prostate and its environs will be made automatic and instantaneous in the near future with the expected advances in miniaturization of powerful computing and electronic sensing elements. Imaging devices will continue to improve in resolution, speed and affordability and will be deployed harmlessly within the body, as well as outside of it. Diagnosis and therapy of prostate disease will become fully noninvasive and synchronous.