Value of prolonged scrotal drainage after penile prosthesis implantation: a multicenter prospective nonrandomized pilot study

We aimed to understand the risks and benefits of post-inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation drainage and optimal duration. Our patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (n = 114) had no drain placed, Group 2 had a drain placed for 24 h (n = 114) and Group 3 had a drain placed for 72 h (n = 117). Postoperative scrotal hematoma and prosthesis infection rates were compared between the groups. The patients from Group 3 demonstrated a statistically significant lower incidence of hematoma on the 10th postoperative day: (n = 1, 0.9%) compared to Group 2: (n = 11, 9.6%) and Group 1: (n = 8, 7%), (p = 0.013). However, on the 3rd postoperative day, there was a statistically significant lower incidence of hematoma in both Groups 3 and 2: (0.9% and 6.1%, respectively) vs. Group 1: (11.4%), (p = 0.004). Hematoma rates followed the same group order after the first day of surgery: 1.7% (n = 2), 5.3% (n = 6), and 8.8% (n = 10), respectively, (p = 0.05). Five patients (4.4%) in Group 1 and four patients (3.5%) in Group 2 developed an IPP associated infection, opposed to only a single patient (0.85%) in Group 3, (p = 0.210). We concluded that prolonged scrotal drainage for 72 h after virgin IPP implantation significantly reduces hematoma and infection rates.

Bidirectional MMWoF-wireless convergence system based on a 1610 nm L-band quantum-dash laser

We report bidirectional 25/28 GHz millimeter wave (MMW)-over-fiber (MMWoF) and MMWoF-wireless (MMWoF-WL) transmission systems employing a single self-injection locked InAs/InP quantum-dash dual-mode laser (QD-DML) as a MMW source. Besides, we demonstrate the entire system exploiting the challenging mid-L-band wavelength window (1610 nm) to substantiate this source's potential, which exhibits tunability from C- to L-bands, in next-generation optical networks covering these wavelengths' window operations. While exhibiting 28 GHz mode spacing between the two optical carriers of QD-DML, a downstream (DS) transmission of 4.0 Gbaud (8 Gbits/s) quadrature-phase-shift-keying (QPSK) signal is conducted over this carrier. In addition, a simultaneous 2.0 Gbaud (8 Gbits/s) 16-level quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) upstream (US) transmission on a 25 GHz MMW beat-tone is also achieved by exploiting one of the DS optical tones. A rigorous transmission characterization of variable DS and US QPSK/16-QAM data rates over MMWoF (10 km SMF) and MMWoF-WL (10 km SMF and up to 4 m wireless) are performed, showing a strong influence of phase noise on the DS link and hence the receiver sensitivity.

Uterine sarcoma: 14 years experience in KCCC

AIM OF THE WORK

To asses the profile, pattern of failure and survival for patients with uterine sarcoma seen in KCCC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 23 records for patients with uterine sarcoma attending KCCC between July 1993 to May 2007 were available for review. The medical records were assessed for the profile of the disease, histological types, types of treatment, pattern of failure and survival. All cases were proven histologically. The majority of cases 15/23 (65.2%) were endometrial stromal sarcoma, 4/23 (17.4%) had leiomyosarcoma and 4/23 (17.4%) had carcinosarcoma. Twenty two out of 23 patients (95.6%) had surgery and 8/22 (36.4%) were given adjuvant post-operative pelvic radiotherapy. Three patients were treated with palliative intent by radiation. Five patients received palliative chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The mean age of all patients was 53.17+/-11.06 (range 34-80 years). The majority of patients 15/23 (65.2%) had stage I disease. High tumor grade was seen in 12/23 (52.2%) of patients. The pattern of failure was local in only 2 patients, systemic in 4 patients and both local and systemic in 5 patients. The overall DFS-5 years was 59.6%.The 5 y-DFS for patients treated by surgery & RT was 87.5% compared to 36.4% for those treated by surgery alone. Patients with early disease (stage I) had a 5 year DFS of 74% compared to 33.3% for those with advanced disease (stages III&IV). Patients with high grade tumors had a 5 year- DFS of 27% versus 100% for those with low grade tumors.

CONCLUSION

Stage and grade are important predictors of survival. Post-operative adjuvant pelvic irradiation is associated with improved 5-years DFS.

A comparative study between planar Ga-67, Tl-201 images, chest x-ray, and x-ray CT in inoperable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung

Seventy patients with newly diagnosed, pathologically proven inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had planar Ga-67, Tl-201, chest x-ray, and chest CT imaging performed. Tumor/Normal tissue background (T/B) ratio was calculated for 62 Ga-67 and 55 Tl-201 scintigraphy studies and comparisons were made between Ga-67 and Tl-201 imaging results regarding T/B ratios, site of lesion, and histologic type. The impact of the images on the initial knowledge of the extent of the tumor and on the radiotherapy (RT) planning was evaluated for each patient. For primary lesions, Ga-67 imaging results were positive in 94% (66 of 70 patients) versus 71% (50 of 70 patients) for Tl-201 scans (P < 0.005) and the T/B ratio was > 1.5 in 74% (46 of 62 patients) for Ga-67 versus 36% (20 of 55 patients) for Tl-201 (P < 0.0001). For centrally located lesions, sensitivity for Ga-67 was 100% (53 of 53 patients) versus 74% (39 of 53 patients) for Tl-201 (P < 0.0005) and the T/B ratio > 1.5 in 84% (38 of 45 patients) for Ga-67 versus 38% (15 of 40 patients) for Tl-201 (P > 0.001). For peripheral lesions, sensitivity of Ga-67 was 76% (13 of 17 patients) versus 64% (11 of 17) for Tl-201 (P > 0.05) and the T/B ratio was > 1.5 in 47% (8 of 17 patients) for Ga-67 versus 33% (5 of 15 patients) for Tl-201 (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Management of thymoma. A retrospective study

Thymoma is a relatively rare tumour. Twelve cases seen in Kuwait Cancer Control Centre over a period of 10 years were analyzed. Two patients had Myasthenia gravis at presentation, and one developed it after the treatment, during remission. Six patients had total resection and four had subtotal resection of the tumour; the remaining had only diagnostic biopsy. All the six patients who had total resection were alive, disease-free with three of them Stage III, whereas, of the four cases who had subtotal resection two are dead, one with local disease and the other with pulmonary metastases. Eight patients were given postoperative radiotherapy and none of them relapsed at the primary site. Of the three patients who had chemotherapy, two had partial remission, and the remaining one failed to show any response. Patients with predominantly epithelial type histology fared worse compared to predominantly lymphocytic type and mixed cell type. Histological subtypes, invasiveness of the tumour and completeness of resection and association of Myasthenia gravis as prognostic features are discussed. The role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as adjunctive treatment to surgery is reviewed.