Extrauterine Retroperitoneal Leiomyomas: 3 Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Leiomyomas are benign mesenchymal tumors which originate from smooth muscle cells. Extrauterine leiomyomas are rare and they may arise where smooth muscle cells are found. Their diagnosis is challenging due to their heterogeneous ways of presentation. Histological analysis may reveal areas of sarcomatous differentiation; therefore, complete resection of the entire tumor is the only curative treatment. There is no adjuvant therapy proved to increase overall survival. It is essential to develop a standardized protocol, detailing how to follow up these patients since it is not reported in the literature to date; however, it is advisable to follow them because the local recurrence rate is high if small implants remain. In this review, we present 3 cases of extrauterine leiomyomas diagnosed and treated in our hospital. The management was different in each case, highlighting the heterogeneity of this condition. According to the literature, there are no solid guidelines on their management. We compare our experience with the data available to date in order to support the existing knowledge and provide our expertise for future studies.

[Late kidney transplant complications treatment.]

OBJECTIVES

Late kidney transplant complication might compromise graft durability, thus the need for early detection and treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A PubMed review including the following MeSH terms was included: kidney transplant¨, ¨complications¨, ¨vascular complications¨,¨transplant renal artery stenosis¨, ¨ureteral obstruction¨,¨urologic complications¨, ¨forgotten stent¨, ¨vesicoureteralreflux¨, ¨urinary lithiasis¨ e ¨incisional hernia¨. Metanalysis and systematic review in spanish and English were included from January 2015 till February 2021, as well as relevant selected manuscripts. RESULTS: We defined as late complications those appearing at 3 months from kidney transplant. Those include vascular complications (renal artery stricture), urinary tract (ureteral stricture, permanent double Js, pyelonephritis due to reflux, urinary stones) and abdominal wall (incisional hernia).

CONCLUSIONS

Late kidney transplant complications remain high still with advancement on surgical technique and immunotherapy. Those complication might compromise the graft durability and so early detection is or primary importance.

[Hormonal treatment in biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy]

To date, the role of hormonal therapy (HT) after biochemical failure, when to initiate it, the therapeutic scheme and duration remains controversial due to the absence of well designed randomized trials analyzing the overall survival of patients. In clinical practice, the most widely spread treatment in this scenario is hormonal therapy with LH-RH analogues. However, the scientific support for this issue is very weak. We are extrapolating the benefits proven for early vs delayed HT in advanced prostate cancer, to asymptomatic patients presenting just an increase in PSA. These patients usually have a long time disease-history until development of metastasis. It should also be noticed the harmful secondary effects acquired with the time of employment of hormotherapy. Probably patients suffering a Gleason score >8 and PSA doubling time <12 months could obtain a benefit from an early castration treatment, even more if they are young (grade 2c). Except in selected cases of local treatment as radiotherapy, the decision for early or delayed hormonal therapy should be taken carefully with patient consensus. The alternatives for hormonal treatment to preserve sexual function, as intermittent treatment, antiandrogen monotherapy, or antiandrogen plus 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, are very attractive in this scenario. However due to the short time experience with these modalities of treatment should be evaluated with caution.

[Penile tunica albuginea plication for the treatment of penile curvature secondary Peyronie's disease]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate, in a retrospective analysis, our long-term results of patients undergoing the Essed plication procedure for the correction of penile curvature due to Peyronie's disease.

METHODS

Between January 1998 and June 2003, 83 patients with acquired penile deviation were treated with the Essed technique in our hospital. We analyse the following data: age, main complaint, type of deviation, erection before and after the surgery, physical exploration, ecographic data, complications and results.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 36 months. Main complaint was penile curvature in 96.3% of patients. The most frequent types of deviation were dorsal (55.4%) and left lateral (48.1%). Erection before surgery was sufficient for sexual intercourse in 74.7%. Physical exploration revealed a plaque in 79.5% of the patients. 93% of the cases reported complete penile curvature correction or residual deviation < 10 degrees. 65.1% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the result of the operation and 64% were able to perform sexual intercourse.

CONCLUSIONS

The Essed plication is a simple and minimally invasive method for correcting acquired penile deviation. Although functional results seem to be satisfactory, in our experience the degree of satisfaction with the outcome is not as good, among the patients, as it could be expected.

[The effect of seminal leukocytes on semen quality in subfertile males with and without varicocele]

OBJECTIVES

To compare the concentration of leukocytes and round cells in semen samples of subfertile males (SM), men with varicocele (VM), and fertile males (FM) to establish a possible relationship between leukocyte concentration, semen parameters (pH, concentration, mobility, spermatic morphology) and lipidic peroxidation of the spermatozoid.

METHODS

We evaluated 298 semen samples from: 42 fertile males, 170 subfertile males, and 86 men with varicocele. Sperm tests were performed following WHO criteria. All samples with leukocyte counts higher than 1 million/ml were submitted for oxidative stress study (malonyldialdehyde in seminal plasma).

RESULTS

Leukocyte concentration was higher in subfertile males and men with varicocele (2.5 +/- 2.1 x 10(6)/ml and 2.3 +/- 2.1 x 10(6)/ml) than in fertile males (1.1 +/- 0.1 x 10(6)/ml) (p 0.0001). In the same way concentration of round cells was higher in the SM group (6.5 +/- 0.3 x 10(6)/ml) and VM group (6.1 +/- 0.4 x 10(6)/ml) than in FM (4.5 +/- 0.4 x 10(6)/ml) (p 0.05). Spermatozoid concentration was lower in SM (42.1 +/- 2.4 x 10(6)/ml) and VM (9.9 +/- 3.5 x 10(6)/ml) than in FM (82.4 +/- 5.7 x 10(6)/ml) (p 0.0001). The percentage of spermatozoa with type "a" mobility was lower in the SM (14.1 +/- 0.9) and VM (19.9 +/- 1.4) groups than in the FM group (50.0 +/- 1.3) (p 0.0001). In the same way, "a + b" mobility was lower in the SF group (26.7 +/- 1.4) and VM group (34.1 +/- 1.9) than in the FM group (50.0 +/- 1.3) (p 0.0001). The SM group showed a lower percentage of normal forms (43.3 +/- 1.5) than the VM (50.0 +/- 1.6) and FM (60.6 +/- 1.3) groups (p 0.0001). When grouping by concentration of peroxidase positive cells, there were not statistical differences in the spermatic variables in SM, with the exception of progeny cells. Type "a" mobility in the VM group was lower in the peroxidase positive group than in the peroxidase negative group (p 0.005); "a + b" mobility was also lower in the peroxidase positive men than in peroxidase negative (p 0.01); in the progeny cells they were higher in the peroxidase positive males (4.2 +/- 0.4 x 10(6)/ml) than in peroxidase negative males (3.0 +/- 0.3 x 10(6)/ml). Malonyldialdehyde concentrations were significantly higher in seminal plasma of subfertile and varicocele males than in fertile males (p 0.006, and p 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased number of semen lymphocytes is more frequent in subfertile and varicocele males than in fertile males. The increase of semen leukocytes is associated with deterioration of seminal parameters. Oxidative stress has a negative influence on seminal parameters in subfertile males of unknown etiology.

[The treatment of varicocele in the infertile male I: results on semen quality]

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of interventionist treatment of varicocele, either open surgery or endovascular radiological occlusion, on seminal parameters, and to identify which factors are associated with their normalization.

METHODS

Between 1975 and 2000, 631 patients with the diagnosis of idiopathic varicocele were evaluated in our hospital; 238 of them were part of an infertile couple. Among them, finally, 183 underwent studies; they complied with the following criteria: 1) Infertility for more than one year; 2) seminal parameters below normality following WHO criteria (1992); 3) absence of other pathologies or diseases which could explain male infertility; and 4) absence of evident causes of male infertility. 131 patients were treated by radiological occlusion and 26 by conventional surgery. The remaining 26 patients did not undergo the treatment indicated. Two parameters were evaluated on follow-up: 1) achievement of pregnancy (these results will be analyzed in a next article), and 2) normalization of seminal parameters.

RESULTS

48% and 39% of the patients respectively achieved normalization of the number of spermatozoids per ml (=20 million spermatozoids per ml) and spermatic morbidity (=50%). The association between normalization of seminal parameters and age, clinical grade, or type of treatment was not demonstrated. Only baseline degree of severity in the alteration of seminal parameters showed statistically significant differences in the evaluation of semen quality after treatment of varicocele (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of previous seminal alteration--oligospermia and asthenospermia--was the factor with greatest prognostic value in relation with normalization of seminal parameters.

[The treatment of varicocele in the infertile male II: results on fertility]

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the efficacy of varicocele treatment, either surgical or endovoscular radiological occlusion, on pregnancy rates of infertile couples in which the male had clinically. patent left varicocele, and to identify which factors are associated with the probability of obtaining pregnancy in such cases.

METHODS

This study is part of a more ample one described in previous article: "The treatment of varicocele in the infertile male I: Results on semen quality". Overall, 183 couples were included. 157 males received treatment (131 radiological occlusion and 26 open surgery), the remaining 26 did not received the treatment indicated. Couples underwent periodic follow-up during the first year, evaluating two parameters: 1) normalization of semen analysis parameters, and 2) pregnancy during the following 12 months after indication of treatment.

RESULTS

Overall, 41 couples (22.4%) achieved pregnancy during first year, 35/157 (22%) in the group of treated patients, and 6/26 (23%) in the non treatment group. In the treatment group, surgical ligature achieved higher pregnancy rates than radiological occlusion (35% vs. 20%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.255). No association was demonstrated between male age, female age, varicocele clinical grade, degree of semen quality abnormalities, or duration of infertility and pregnancy rates. The FSH value was significantly lower (p 0.0006) in patients who achieved pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of semen quality abnormality, which so closely correlated to normalization of seminal parameters, locked of prognostic significance in terms of achievement of pregnancy. The FSH value was the only factor with certain prognostic value, although it did not reach significance in logistic regression analysis.