Cluster randomized trial to evaluate the impact of team training on surgical outcomes

Background

The application of safety principles from the aviation industry to the operating room has offered hope in reducing surgical complications. This study aimed to assess the impact on major surgical complications of adding an aviation-based team training programme after checklist implementation.

Methods

A prospective parallel-group cluster trial was undertaken between September 2011 and March 2013. Operating room teams from 31 hospitals were assigned randomly to participate in a team training programme focused on major concepts of crew resource management and checklist utilization. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of any major adverse event, including death, during the hospital stay within the first 30 days after surgery. Using a difference-in-difference approach, the ratio of the odds ratios (ROR) was estimated to compare changes in surgical outcomes between intervention and control hospitals.

Results

Some 22 779 patients were enrolled, including 5934 before and 16 845 after team training implementation. The risk of major adverse events fell from 8·8 to 5·5 per cent in 16 intervention hospitals (adjusted odds ratio 0·57, 95 per cent c.i. 0·48 to 0·68; P < 0·001) and from 7·9 to 5·4 per cent in 15 control hospitals (odds ratio 0·64, 0·50 to 0·81; P < 0·001), resulting in the absence of difference between arms (ROR 0·90, 95 per cent c.i. 0·67 to 1·21; P = 0·474). Outcome trends revealed significant improvements among ten institutions, equally distributed across intervention and control hospitals.

Conclusion

Surgical outcomes improved substantially, with no difference between trial arms. Successful implementation of an aviation-based team training programme appears to require modification and adaptation of its principles in the context of the the surgical milieu. Registration number: NCT01384474 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

[Evolution of the number of incident cases of prostate cancer in France from 2001 to 2012 from 5 hospital centers]

OBJECTIVES

The main objective is the study of the evolution of the number of incident cases of prostate cancer in France from 2001 to 2012 from 5 hospital centers of urology. The secondary objective is to describe the characteristics of the incident cases and to compare them to those of the patients of the national registers of cancer for the period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective observational multicentric study from 01/01/2001 to 31/12/2012 of databases in 5 French, public and private hospital centers of urology. The inclusive centers were selected outside departments with cancer register. The collected data were the prostatic biopsies performed in every center and the number of positive biopsies. The biopsies in cases of already known cancer and in re-evaluation were excluded. The data of age and stage (PSA and Gleason grade) were collected. The estimation of the incidence standardized in France is established after a period of observation of 3 years. The data updated in 2009 show a peak of incidence in 2005 then a decrease from 2006 (64,518 cases) until 2009 (53,465 cases). The median age in the diagnosis was of 70 years in 2005.

RESULTS

Overall, 18,392 prostatic biopsies were included in the analysis. The average rate of positive biopsies was stable over the period 51.41% (IQR 0,02). The total number of cases of positive biopsies increased from 2001 to 2007 (482 cases in 1028 cases) in 2007, then decreased from 2008 to 2012 (649 cases). There was no difference in this variation between the centers. The median age in the diagnosis was of 70 years (EIQ=1.5) in 2001 and 68 years (EIQ=2.75) in 2012. PSA at diagnosis was<10ng/mL in 65% of cases and 10 to 20ng/mL in 22% of cases in 2012. The population of patients of the study differed significantly from that of FRANCIM on the distribution by age ranges (year 2005, P<0.0001 and year 2009, P<0.001), which explains the gap of one year (on 2007 instead of 2006) of the peak of incidental cases.

CONCLUSION

The evolution of the number of incidental cases of prostate cancer in France from 2001 to 2012 from hospital data of 5 centers are similar to those of the network of registers representative of the French population. This observed evolution represents data available for cancer registers to estimate incidence variation between 2 publications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

[Epidemiology of urinary stones in the French military during the operation Serval]

OBJECTIVES

The renal colic crisis is a pathology frequently encountered in foreign operations recently conducted by the French army and often requires a medical repatriation in mainland France. Soldiers deployed in arid areas are at increased risk of developing urolithiasis. The purpose of our study is to analyze the risk factors, the frequency and the methods of management of symptomatic urinary stone disease for French military returnees for renal colic during Serval operation.

METHODS

Our study focused on French soldiers repatriated from Mali for a renal colic care between January 11th and November 30th, 2013. For each patient, we recorded: age, sex, deployment date, crisis date, personal and family histories of urolithiasis, initial medical treatment, diagnosis and treatment to return to France.

RESULTS

Three hundred and forty-eight soldiers were evacuated during Serval operation, among which 41 were due to the occurrence of renal colic crisis (11.7%). Twenty-nine percent of patients had a personal history of kidney stone disease symptomatically. The average residence time when the crisis appears is 60 days (10-120 days). Ninety-five percent of patients were asymptomatic at their arrival in France and 39% of patients had no stone found in CT scan. The average size of the stones found on the imaging was 2.71 mm (1-8mm). One patient required drainage by JJ ureteral endoprothese in order to have a quick ureteroscopy for recovery of its capacity.

CONCLUSION

The French military sent to Serval operation are exposed to multiple contributing factors of urolithiasis as the dehydration and the strong temperature. The analysis of our series reveals that the history of renal stone disease is the main factor favoring and the medical treatment is effective in almost all renal colic cases. The operational impact associated with this common condition in the Sahel region deserves an awareness of field practitioners to the screening and management of this disease in a precarious situation and a reflection of the staffs concerning the access onto the operating theater to appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic means that could facilitate the return to the combat unit.

[Mediastinal localization of a growing teratoma syndrome: a case report]

The development of testicular germ cell tumors may be marked by a rare phenomenon: the growing teratoma syndrome. It consists of residual masses, usually retroperitoneal and, more rarely, thoracic, that appear during or after chemotherapy, although the tumor markers are normalized. We report a case of posterior mediastinal localization. This mediastinal localization is very rare, and because of the proximity to intercostal arteries, induces a risk of postoperative paraplegia.

[Growing teratoma syndrome]

Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is a rare entity, characterized by enlarging masses of the retroperitoneum or other location occurring during or after systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of non-seminomatous germ cell of the testis (NSGCT). Three criteria define this syndrome: enlarging metastatic masses, normalized serum markers and no component of viable germ cell tumor in this mature teratoma. Prognostic is excellent after the resection of these masses, but this surgery has to be as much complete as possible. Surgical excision of large GTS lesions is technically challenging, a serious intraoperative complications may occur, that's why the treatment must not be delayed.

[Use of [-2] pro PSA and phi index for early detection of prostate cancer: a prospective of 452 patients]

INTRODUCTION

Early detection of prostate cancer (Pca) is a real challenge to reduce morbidity and mortality while avoiding over-diagnosis and over-treatment. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) is characterized by its imperfections justifying the evaluation of new serum or urinary specific markers allowing a better selection of patients at risk of developing aggressive Pca.

AIM

To compare the value of -2pro PSA and phi index to total and free PSA.

METHODS

Serum sampled from 452 patients from two university centers were used to determine levels of PSA before performing biopsies. The patients were included in this study based on the PSA serum concentration between 1.6 ng/mL and 8 ng/mL according to the WHO international standard. All biopsies were performed according to a standardized protocol consisting of 12 cores or more. Sera were analyzed centrally in one of the two institutions with on a single analyzer. Sera from 243 prostate cancer and 208 negative biopsies patients have been taken into account.

RESULTS

Sera were analyzed blinded for total PSA, free PSA and [-2] proPSA using Access(®) immunoassay method from Beckman Coulter. The Prostate Health Index (phi) was calculated using the formula phi=([-2] proPSA/fPSA)×sqrt (PSA). The median value of the phi index is significantly (P>0.0001) higher for patients with cancer (phi=65.8) compared to patients with negative biopsies (phi=40.6). At a given sensitivity, the phi index significantly increases the specificity of detection of prostate cancer compared to other markers.

CONCLUSION

The phi index currently appears as the best predictor of prostate cancer for patients with a total PSA between 1.6 and 8 ng/mL according to the WHO standard. The improvement in specificity of the phi index over tPSA could reduce significantly the numbers of unnecessary biopsies. Whether this new biomarker could be an indicator of aggressive prostate cancer remains to be confirmed.

[Place of sclerotherapy in the treatment of chronic chyluria]

Chyluria is rare. The parasite that causes filariasis is the most common cause while the non-parasitic causes is anecdotal. Medical treatment is often insufficient to treat cases of chronic chyluria for which the standard treatment is surgical lymphatic disconnection renovascular. However, sclerotherapy by instillation of a sclerosing agent kidney may represent an alternative to surgery. This technique has the advantage of being less invasive than surgery and has a proven efficacy in the literature.

[Renal pseudotumoral actinomycosis: a case report]

We report the case of a 66-year-old man, presenting a right kidney mass with an alteration of the clinical status, treated by radical nephrectomy. Pathology reported that it was a pseudotumoral form of a bacterial infection: actinomycosis. This is an uncommon disease in this location. The authors wonder if it is possible to avoid nephrectomy with a preoperative diagnosis, especially with renal biopsy. The patient was well doing after 18 months thanks to long-lasting and effective postoperative antibiotics (Dhanani et al., 2004).

[Stage I seminoma: therapeutic strategy: surveillance, radiotherapy, chemotherapy. A case-report]

The management guide-lines about stage I seminoma (pT1 à pT4, No, Mo) recommend to perform a surveillance, an adjuvant chemotherapy based on carboplatine, or a radiotherapy. However, these options are not equivalent for side effects and relapse risk. Debates are in progress in order to simplify the surveillance protocols which remain essential because of the tumoral relapses for 15% of the patients. The occurrence of a tumoral relapse during the follow-up does not decrease the specific survival. The para-aortic 20 Gy radiotherapy is efficient on the seminoma and decreases the relapse risk. Its main side-effect is a long-term risk of secondary cancer. Carboplatine chemotherapy is also an efficient option which provides good results on the specific survival and the survival without progression. Very few studies assess the long-term side effects of chemotherapy. In the end, the therapeutic decision must be taken with the patient after informing him about all the therapeutic options.

Knowledge of testicular cancer and screening acceptance: Results from a prospective study

231

Background: A delayed diagnosis of testicular cancer is associated with both greater morbidity and poorer prognosis. We conducted a prospective study in the French Armed Forces to assess whether a short medical education could increase the degree of acceptance of the routine clinical screening for testicular cancer.

Methods: We enrolled 415 consecutive military patients aged 18-45 years and consulting their army general practitioner. The degree of knowledge on the testicular cancer was assessed using a self-questionnaire, which also served as short medical education. We compared the degree of acceptance for testicular palpation before and after the education delivery.

Results: Only 26.8% of patients (n = 107) assumed that they had previously received general information on testicular cancer and 31 patients (7.8%) reported that they were informed on the risk factors of testicular cancer (CI95: 5.5-10.8). In the population, 16.3% of patients (n = 65) had been informed on the usefulness of self-palpation of testes. Wilcoxon tests show significant differences between baseline acceptance level before any intervention and after information delivery (p<0.000001). In details, acceptance of testicular palpation after responding the questionnaire did not change in 82.25%, increased in 15%, and decreased in 2.75%.

Conclusions: Young males in military environment are poorly aware of testicular cancer, but there is a demand on medical education regarding this disease. The time of annual medical visit for aptitude is probably the optimal time for this education.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

[Scrotal pilomatrixoma: a case report and review of the literature]

Pilomatrixoma, calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a cutaneous tumor, originating from the hair matrix, mostly affecting pediatric population. We report a particularly uncommon location of pilomatrixoma: the scrotal skin. A 46-year-old man, without history, has developed a scrotal, multinodular firm tumor, measuring 10 cm. Most often, its preoperative diagnosis is not possible, because of its clinical polymorphism. The precise diagnosis is histological, by the revealing of mummified cells. The treatment is surgical, with only purpose to perform complete removal of pathologic tissue, allowing to decrease the rate of local relapse.

[Total urethral rupture during sexual intercourse]

The authors report the case of a bilateral rupture of the corpora cavernosa associated to a total disruption of the urethra resulting from blunt trauma during sexual intercourse. This association is a rare urologic case of emergency which most often take place during sexual intercourse (0.4% of the urologic cases of emergency). When both corpora cavernosa and urethra are fully disrupted, an internal penis amputation appears, compromising the vascularization and the erectional and micturitional prognosis. The rupture of the urethra is the first complication to search. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment allow a precise assessment of the lesions and a good functional result.

[Surgical management of retroperitoneal metastases from germ cell cancers]

The surgery of residual retroperitoneal tumors is a compulsory prolongation of chemotherapy in non seminomatous germ cell tumors. The requirements of total resection must be respected. High morbidity of bilateral lymphadenectomy for large bulky disease is possible and implies specialised surgery. The extent of surgery can be limited to a template area in specific circumstances.

[Management of testicular seminoma with elevation of alpha fetoprotein. A case report]

The authors report a case of stage N3 pure testicular seminoma associated with paradoxical elevation of alphafoetoprotein (AFP). Despite the absence of histological arguments after review of the slides, this lesion was considered to be a stage pT1 N3 M0 S3 non seminomatous germ cell tumour with a poor prognosis. Simple surveillance was proposed following normalization of tumour markers, regression of retroperitoneal masses and negative PET scan. Laboratory and then clinical relapse at three months was treated by salvage chemotherapy followed by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The presence of embryonic carcinoma in one of the residual masses led to a revision of the initial histological diagnosis. The rare data of the literature indicate a variable approach according to alphafoetoprotein levels.

[What about lombo-aortic curage in the treatment of testicle cancer?]

The indications and techniques of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in stage I non seminomatous germ cell tumours have markedly evolved over the past ten years. A literature review allows noticing that historical radical retroperitoneal dissection has been replaced by more limited techniques, known as nerve sparing and nerve preserving lymph node dissection. Stage I non seminomatous germ cell tumours are classified according to the risk of retroperitoneat lymph node involvement; they constitute three groups: low, intermediate and high risk tumours. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is considered for low risk patients in case of non compliance or difficult follow-up, and for intermediate risk patients (vascular invasion with presence of high percentage of teratomatous component).

[Non-germinal tumours of the testicle]

The great variety of non germinal testis tumours and their rarity explain the difficulties of a specific therapeutic management. The analysis of the most important varieties of tumours allows identifying an overall trend in both diagnosis and therapy.

[Testicular germ-cell tumour: diagnosis and treatment]

Among germ cell tumours, seminomas hold a particular status related to their radio-sensitivity. Although radiotherapy remains the best treatment for Localized tumours of stage 1, in some cases, surveillance or chemotherapy may presently be considered as alternative therapies. Due to Long-term radiotherapy-related adverse effects, in particular the risk of second non-germ malignancies or cardiac morbidity, both dose and irradiation field are reduced in case of lymphatic retroperitoneal extension. Chemotherapy is the preferential treatment in more advanced stages, either with retroperitoneal bulky disease or with metastatic extension. Its efficacy allows Limiting surgical indications on residual masses, relying partly on the follow-up data of positron emission transaxial tomography assessment.

Clinical relevance of genetic instability in prostatic cells obtained by prostatic massage in early prostate cancer

We investigated whether genetic lesions such as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) are detected in prostatic cells obtained by prostatic massage during early diagnosis of prostate cancer (CaP) and discussed their clinical relevance. Blood and first urine voided after prostatic massage were collected in 99 patients with total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) between 4 and 10 ng ml⁻¹, prior to prostate biopsies. Presence of prostatic cells was confirmed by quantitative RT–PCR analysis of PSA mRNA. Genomic DNA was analysed for LOH on six chromosomal regions. One or more allelic deletions were found in prostatic fluid from 57 patients analysed, of whom 33 (58%) had CaP. Sensitivity and specificity of LOH detection and PSA free to total ratio <15% for positive biopsy were respectively 86.7 and 44% (P=0.002) for LOH, and 55 and 74% (P=0.006) for PSA ratio <15%. Analysis of LOH obtained from prostatic tumours revealed similar patterns compared to prostatic fluid cells in 86% of cases, confirming its accuracy. The presence of LOH of urinary prostatic cells obtained after prostatic massage is significantly associated with CaP on biopsy and may potentially help to identify a set of patients who are candidates for further prostate biopsies.

[Stones and foreign bodies of the urethra]

Foreign bodies in the bladder and urethra have been already largely described either by their nature itself as well as by the circumstances of their introduction. If their presence often reveals dubious psychiatric behaviours, one must also evoke possible accidental introductions during transvesical surgery or migration from spaces adjacent to the bladder. The treatment of those foreign bodies can be sorted out through endoscopy or surgical approach.

[Radiotherapy in stage I testicular seminoma: retrospective study and review of literature]

INTRODUCTION

Seminoma accounts for about 40% of germ cell tumours of the testicle. In this retrospective analysis, we review literature concerning management of stage I seminoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between March 1987 and April 2001, 65 patients with stage I pure testicular seminoma received adjuvant radiotherapy with a 25 MV linear accelerator.

RESULTS

Median age was 33 years. Testicular tumour has been found on the right testis in 39 patients and on the left one in 24 patients. Patients have been treated using an anterior-posterior parallel pair and have received 20-25 Gy in 10-14 fractions. The target volume consisted of paraaortic, and paraaortic + homolateral iliac lymph nodes in 17 and 46 patients, respectively. Acute toxicity was mainly digestive, 38% of patients presenting nausea and vomiting. Median follow-up time was 37 months. All patients are alive in complete remission.

DISCUSSION

Because of good radio-sensitivity of seminoma, radiotherapy is regarded as standard adjuvant treatment (5 years relapse rate: 3-5%). Acute toxicity is dominated by moderate gastro-intestinal side effects. Secondary neoplasia represents one of the worst possible long-term complications of therapy. Waiting for ongoing randomised trials, the modern literature for seminoma reflects a trend toward lower radiation doses (20-25 Gy) and smaller treatment volumes (paraaortic field). Adjuvant chemotherapy with two courses of carboplatin, might be equivalent to radiotherapy but must be investigated in randomised trials. A surveillance policy is one of the other management options less recommended.

[Verrucous epidermoid carcinoma of the bladder unrelated to schistosomiasis]

The authors report two cases of papillomatous squamous carcinoma of the bladder unrelated to schistosomiasis. Both patients were treated by endoscopic resection. The staging assessment comprised thoraco-abdominopelvic computed tomography. A papillomatous squamous carcinoma of the bladder was detected in both cases: one was classified as pT2 G1 N0 M0 and the other as pT1 G1 N0 M0. Recurrence was rapidly observed, at the first follow-up cystoscopy. The tumour initially classified as pT1 subsequently underwent transformation to sarcomatoid carcinoma with peritoneal metastases. Papillomatous squamous carcinoma of the bladder, a rare squamous cell carcinoma, is a well differentiated tumour with an exclusively local and regional development. The prognosis is determined by the degree of tumour invasion, with a high local recurrence rate. The prognosis of invasive tumours is identical to that of conventional squamous cell carcinoma. Therapeutic management is poorly defined, but the only curative treatment appears to be radical cystectomy.

Fibrous pseudotumor of the epididymis: imaging and pathologic correlation

We report the case of a 25-year-old man who presented a fibrous pseudotumor of the epididymis, a rare focal location of nodular and diffuse fibrous proliferation. We provide the ultrasonographic and MRI findings with pathologic correlation.

[Dedifferentiation of mature teratomas secondary to testicular cancer: report of 2 cases]

The authors report two cases of adenocarcinomatous dedifferentiation of a recurrent mature teratoma arising 3 and 20 years after the initial resection. This is a rare event, occurring after macroscopically or microscopically incomplete resection of a mature teratoma. The nature of this recurrence was difficult to determine prior to histological examination. However, PET scan suggests the diagnosis of malignant teratoma in the presence of increased uptake by the lesion. These tumours have a poor prognosis. Treatment consists of complete resection of the tumour mass. The possibility of long-term malignant dedifferentiation of a teratoma therefore requires prolonged and regular life-long surveillance of patients presenting a mature teratoma after chemotherapy for non-seminomatous germ cell tumour of the testis.

[Progression of stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumors during surveillance. Role of positron emission tomography]

Surveillance is one of the options proposed in the management of stage 1 non-seminomatous germ cell tumours when there is only a low risk of progression. No consensus has yet been reached concerning the modalities of this surveillance and several protocols are available, including the CCAFU protocol. The presence of recurrences in this population at low risk of progression, estimated to be 5%, accounts for the continuing research for more precise predictive factors of occult metastases. Although several studies appear to indicate a useful predictive value for some of these factors, their application in clinical practice still appears to be difficult. PET metabolic imaging (positron emission tomography) could constitute a new approach to staging of these tumours, allowing the detection of tumour sites by an increase of carbohydrate metabolism of malignant cells. However, no study is yet available to define the real place of this technique.

[Surgical treatment of priapism: experience of 56 cases in an African setting]

Since priapism is uncommon, treatment is controversial and difficult. In this article we describe a practical, well-documented approach for management of priapism in countries with a high incidence of sickle cell disease. This approach is based on our experience including a total of 56 black patients (49 adults and 7 children) as well as on the results reported in the literature. The patients in our series were examined and treated by the same physician over an 18 year period in various African countries, i.e., Burkina (n = 8), Chad (n = 12), Gabon (n = 19), and Niger (n = 17). Etiologies and pathophysiology are reviewed. In all cases, surgical treatment involved diversion from corpora cavernosa. In the 51 cases with follow-up periods of 3 months or longer, results were considered as excellent in 17 cases (33 p. 100), partial in 5 (9.8 p. 100), and unsuccessful in 29 (56.8). Since 1984, needle drainage with a unilateral transglandular cavernosal-spongiosum shunt based on the technique described by Al Ghorab's has led to better results with immediate detumescence in 80 p. 100 of cases and a long-term success rate of 52 p. 100 (13/25 cases with sufficient follow-up). Except in cases involving sickle cell anemia in which concomitant medical treatment of priapism can be useful, immediate surgical treatment is the only technique effective in avoiding secondary impotence, which was common in our series (58.6). Our p. 100 needle drainage technique appears to be the method of choice for simplified achievement of a unilateral transglandular cavernosal-spongiosum shunt.

[Current chemotherapy of locally advanced or metastatic bladder tumors]

Standard chemotherapy of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is actually the combination of cisplatine, methothrexate, vinblastine and doxorubicine (MVAC). Although a high response rate, long term survival are rarely observed. More effective agents without toxicity are necessary. Several agents have demonstrated activity alone or in combinations. Combinations regimens use, paclitaxel, gemcitabine and Gallium nitrate, who prove activity alone or in combination with cisplatine or carboplatine, with a response rate of 40 to 70% in patient with visceral localisations. The optimal regimen is not yet determined.

Translocation (X;1) associated with a nonpapillary carcinoma in a young woman: a new definition for an Xp11.2 RCC subtype

We report a translocation (X;1)(p11.2;q21) associated with a nontubulopapillary renal cell carcinoma in a 23-year-old woman. To our knowledge this the first report of such an association. A review of the previously published cases of renal cell carcinoma with t(X;1) and its cytogenetic variants with Xp11.2 anomalies is included. The role of this karyotype abnormality as a clinical marker is discussed. The Xp11.2 abnormality could be a primary abnormality characterizing a particular type of RCC appearing in children and young adults of both sexes and in which the histological aspect is not specific.

[Value of detection of carcinoma in situ in conservative surgery of germ cell tumors of the testis]

OBJECTIVE

It is currently proposed to perform tumour enucleation in mono-orchid patients presenting with a small germ cell tumour, in order to preserve physiological endocrine function. However, this conservative surgery must be accompanied by treatment of any carcinoma in situ lesions present in the remaining testicular parenchyma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The presence of carcinoma in situ was investigated in 35 patients with germ cell tumour of the testis on samples obtained from the presumably healthy pulp of the orchidectomy specimen, adjacent to and away from the tumour. Samples away from the tumour were performed according to principle of surgical testicular biopsy. Histological examination also concerned the tissue situated in contact with the tumour.

RESULTS

25 patients (74.22%) presented intratubular germ cell dysplasia in the testicular parenchyma presumed to be healthy. These lesions were always concomitantly observed on samples performed adjacent to and away from the tumour. It was observed more frequently in seminomas, but was also observed in other histological forms.

CONCLUSION

Because of the diffuse nature of carcinoma in situ in germ cell tumours of the testis, pulp samples adjacent to the tumour are sufficient to ensure the diagnosis during conservative surgery. Carcinoma in situ is currently treated by local radiotherapy.

[Metastatic pure seminomas of the testicle: role of chemotherapy]

40% of testicular tumours are seminomatous tumours. The low mass tumours (LMT) (stages IIA and IIB of the Royal Mardsen Hospital classification) are usually treated by radiotherapy and the high mass tumours (HMT) (stage IIC, III and IV) by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy regimens are platinum-based polychemotherapy. We report 9 cases of seminomatous testicular tumours (4 LMT and 5 HMT) treated by chemotherapy (BEP modified or CBDCA-etoposide regimens), three courses, with one supplement course if necessary and surgery if residual masses are more than 3 cm long. The rate of complete remission are 100% for LMT and 60% for HMT. This could be an indication to treat in addition with orchidectomy the LMT with chemotherapy and not with radiotherapy (standard-gold) which is more toxic.

[Benign neurogenic tumors of the lumbar plexus. Role of the enucleation procedure]

Benign neurogenic tumours originating from lumbar plexus or roots are rare. Two cases are reported. Resection, often possible with another localisation, may result in neurological deficit in these cases. Enucleation, the best choice, is not always feasible. Hollowing-out is therefore a procedure worth understanding.

Influence of free-to-total prostate specific antigen variability on the early diagnosis of prostate cancer: a comparative study of three immunoassays

OBJECTIVE

To compare three immunoassays for total prostate specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), free-to-total PSA ratio (f/tPSA), and the f/tPSA thresholds for optimal differentiation between benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer in 141 consecutive patients referred for prostatic disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 43 patients with prostate cancer and 98 with BPH, all confirmed histologically. PSA levels were assessed using the following assay kits just before histological analysis of the prostate; Hybritech (Tandem-R PSA, normal values, NV, < 4 ng/mL, and Tandem-R free PSA), Cis Bio (PSA-RIACT, NV < 2.5 ng/mL and fPSA-RIACT) and Immunocorp (PSA-IRMA, NV < 4 ng/mL and Free PSA-IRMA). The results were assessed to determine the sensitivity, specificity and threshold values of the different assays to differentiate patients with BPH and cancer.

RESULTS

The mean tPSA and f/tPSA ratio were statistically different in assays with different NVs. The mean fPSA values differed significantly between the Hybritech and Cis Bio, between the Hybritech and Immunocorp but not between the Cis Bio and Immunocorp assays. With receiver operator curve analysis, there were no statistically significant differences among the three immunoassays in f/tPSA (0.72 for Hybritech, 0.73 for Cis Bio and 0.64 for Immunocorp) or between the tPSA and fPSA curves for each manufacturer. With the sensitivity fixed at 90%, different f/tPSA thresholds were defined (0.22, 0.34 and 0.25 for Hybritech, Cis Bio and Immunocorp, respectively). The specificities (i.e. the percentage of unnecessary biopsies spared) were 22%, 21% and 31%, respectively (not significantly different).

CONCLUSION

Each immunoassay could be used to distinguish prostate cancer and BPH at different f/tPSA thresholds, with 21-30% of unnecessary biopsies spared. There was no difference in overall performance among the different assays. Further studies are needed to better define the exact use of the f/tPSA ratio in the routine diagnosis of prostate cancer.

[Adrenal cystic tumors. Apropos of 8 cases]

We report eight cases of cystic lesions of the adrenal glands. Benign cysts or pseudocysts are the predominant tumors of the adrenal glands. However, neither tumor size, gross aspect, presence of calcified walls, color, cyst contents nor routine laboratory tests can exclude a malignant or hormone secreting lesion. We discuss the role of therapeutics, transparietal puncture and simple radiographic surveillance in the management of patients with cystic tumors of the adrenal glands. Surgery is often indicated or recommended.

[Survival and quality of life of patients with testicular cancer]

Cisplatin has revolutionized the prognosis of testicular cancers. Stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumours can be cured in 98% of cases; adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy or lymph node dissection, is recommended in high-risk tumours, while surveillance is indicated in tumours with a low risk of recurrence. Good prognosis metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours are cured in almost 80% of cases at the cost of well tolerated chemotherapy, 3 BEP or 4 EP. The morbidity of lymph node dissection has been markedly decreased by means of various techniques of preservation of all or part of the sympathetic and lumbar contingent. Resection of residual masses after chemotherapy for metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours is still recommended in the majority of cases. Stage I seminomatous germ cell tumours are cured in 98% of cases by 25 Grays of lumbo-aortic radiotherapy. Screening for carcinoma in situ in the contralateral testis to the primary tumour is controversial, but is recommended in the case of lowering of a maldesended testis after the age of puberty. Future paternity is a major concern in tumours of young adults, most of which are cured.