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Abstract: Background: Low morbidity has been advocated for cryoablation of small renal masses. Objectives: To assess negative perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic renal cryoablation (LRC) with ultrathin cryoprobes and patient, tumour, and operative risk factors for their development. Design, setting, and participants: Prospective collection of data on LRC in five centres. Intervention: LRC. Measurements: Preoperative morbidity was assessed clinically and the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score was assigned prospectively. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Charlson-Age Comorbidity Index (CACI) scores were retrospectively assigned. Negative outcomes were prospectively recorded and defined as any undesired event during the perioperative period, including complications, with the latter classed according to the Clavien system. Patient, tumour, and operative variables were tested in univariate analysis as risk factors for occurrence of negative outcomes. Significant variables (p <0.05) were entered in a step-forward multivariate logistic regression model to identify independent risk factors for one or more perioperative negative outcomes. The confidence interval was settled at 95%. Results and limitations: There were 148 procedures in 144 patients. Median age and tumour size were 70.5 yr (range: 32–87) and 2.6cm (range: 1.0–5.6), respectively. A laparoscopic approach was used in 145 cases (98%). Median ASA, CCI, and CACI scores were 2 (range: 1–3), 2 (range: 0–7), and 4 (range: 0–11), respectively. Comorbidities were present in 79% of patients. Thirty negative outcomes and 28 complications occurred in 25 (17%) and 23 (15.5%) cases, respectively. Only 20% of all complications were Clavien grade ≥3. Multivariate analysis showed that tumour size in centimetres, the presence of cardiac conditions, and female gender were independent predictors of negative perioperative outcomes occurrence. Receiver operator characteristic curve confirmed the tumour size cut-off of 3.4cm as an adequate predictor of negative outcomes. Conclusions: Perioperative negative outcomes and complications occur in 17 % and 15.5%, respectively, of cases treated by LRC with multiple ultrathin needles. Most of the complications are Clavien grade 1 or 2. The presence of cardiac conditions, female gender, and tumour size are independent prognostic factors for the occurrence of a perioperative negative outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To compare prostate shrinkage after transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) with calculated cell-kill.Materials and Methods: The calculated cell-kill from 33 males with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with TUMT according to the ProstaLund Feedback Treatment™ (PLFT) method was compared to the post-treatment prostate volume change. The prostate volume was estimated with three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound (3D-TRUS) planimetry at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up. A paired t-test was used to test the statistical significance of differences between the cell-kill volume and the prostate volume change. Linear regression was used to infer a relationship between the cell-kill and the 3D-TRUS data. The reproducibility of the 3D-TRUS method was assessed in repeated measurements.Results: The mean prostate volume at baseline (N=33) was 56.1 cm3. After 3 (N=25), 6 (N=29) and 12 months (N=23), it was 45.5 cm3, 39.7 cm3, and 45.1 cm3, respectively. The corresponding average cell-kill volume was 16.4 cm3, 17.1 cm3, and 17.2 cm3, respectively. Predicted cell-kill volume was significantly larger than prostate shrinkage at 3 (p<0.0001), 6 (p=0.0002), and 12 months (p<0.0001), and showed a strong correlation at 3 and 6 months (r=0.74, p<0.0001). Correlation at 12 months was moderate (r=0.57, p=0.0041). Examination and investigation variability both averaged 2.5%.Conclusions: Cell-kill calculations of the PLFT method are proportional to the 3D-TRUS prostate shrinkage by a factor of 0.5 and have a precision of approximately ±10 cm3 for 90% of the patients during the first year after treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Context: The increasing incidence of localised renal cell carcinoma (RCC) over the last 3 decades and controversy over mortality rates have prompted reassessment of current treatment. Objective: To critically review the recent data on the management of localised RCC to arrive at a general consensus. Evidence acquisition: A Medline search was performed from January 1, 2004, to May 3, 2011, using renal cell carcinoma, nephrectomy (Medical Subject Heading [MeSH] major topic), surgical procedures, minimally invasive (MeSH major topic), nephron-sparing surgery, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, surveillance, and watchful waiting. Evidence synthesis: Initial active surveillance (AS) should be a first treatment option for small renal masses (SRMs) <4cm in unfit patients or those with limited life expectancy. SRMs that show fast growth or reach 4cm in diameter while on AS should be considered for treatment. Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the established treatment for T1a tumours (<4cm) and an emerging standard treatment for T1b tumours (4–7cm) provided that the operation is technically feasible and the tumour can be completely removed. Radical nephrectomy (RN) should be limited to those cases where the tumour is not amenable to nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) has benefits over open RN in terms of morbidity and should be the standard of care for T1 and T2 tumours, provided that it is performed in an advanced laparoscopic centre and NSS is not applicable. Open PN, not LRN, should be performed if minimally invasive expertise is not available. At this time, there is insufficient long-term data available to adequately compare ablative techniques with surgical options. Therefore ablative therapies should be reserved for carefully selected high surgical risk patients with SRMs <4cm. Conclusions: The choice of treatment for the patient with localised RCC needs to be individualised. Preservation of renal function without compromising the oncologic outcome should be the most important goal in the decision-making process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is under consideration as an auxiliary preoperative diagnostic technique in the diagnosis of renal masses. However, reports for FNA are contradictory with regard to diagnostic accuracy and applicability. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of FNA from renal masses. Design: FNAs performed in-bench (hematoxylin and eosin [H&E] stains) from 66 consecutive renal tumours (58 malignant and 8 benign tumours) were presented twice with a 6-mo interval to five pathologists with little experience in renal cytology. Pathologists were blinded for the results of the first round as well for the surgical specimen. The FNAs were stained for Papanicolaou and Giemsa. Measurements: Diagnostic accuracy, concordance between smears and surgical specimens, and the generalized kappa for interobserver/intraobserver agreement were calculated. Results and limitations: The number of nondiagnostic and nonconclusive cases ranged from 5–14% in the first and 3–8% in the second round. Overall accuracy varied between 73–89% and 71–91% for the first and second round, respectively. Sensitivity (72–97%) and positive predictive value (PPV) (93–100%) to classify a malignant tumour in both rounds was high. Sensitivity (25–100%) and PPV (28–100%) to classify a benign tumour was lower with a wide confidence interval. Overall concordance in subtyping ranged from 39–70% in the first, and from 52–74% in the second round. Interobserver agreement ranged from fair (κ =0.039) to substantial (κ = 0.540) for the different subtypes. The intraobserver agreement (mean κ = 0.357, CI 95%=0.304–0.411) was moderate for all pathologists. The low number of benign tumours in this study precludes sound statements regarding the diagnostic accuracy of FNA to classify benignity. Conclusion: Despite the lack of experience in renal cytology, all pathologists showed a high diagnostic yield and good overall accuracy in distinguishing between malignant and benign tumours. Concordance in subtyping varied widely among pathologists and was reliable only for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). These results suggest that FNA may have a potential role in the diagnosis of renal tumours although its value in subtyping was limited in our setting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Context: Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (L-RPLND) is not recommended as standard tool in European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines. Objective: To update the role of L-RPLND in patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT) compared to open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (O-RPLND). Evidence acquisition: A systematic literature search from 1992 to 2008 was performed in Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane. The largest series from each group was considered. Comparative analysis was based on raw data of series published in 2000 and later. Evidence synthesis: Results of >800 patients treated by L-RPLND reported in 34 articles were analyzed. Lymph node dissection (LND) was based on modified templates, removing an average of 16 (5–36) lymph nodes. At experienced centres, complication rates were 15.6% (9.4–25.7), including 2% (0–5) retrograde ejaculation and 1.7% (0–6) reintervention. Operating room times are longer compared to O-RPLND (204 vs 186min). Five publications with a follow-up of 63 (36–89) mo include 557 patients. One hundred twenty-six of 140 (90%) patients with positive nodes (25%, range: 17–38) received adjuvant chemotherapy, resulting in a local relapse rate of 1.4% (0.7–2.3) with no in-field recurrence; rate of distant relapses was 3.3% (1.8–4.6), including one port-site metastasis; and rate of biochemical failure was 0.9% (0.7–2.3). Two of 14 patients with positive nodes (pN1) who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy relapsed, both 8 mo after surgery, and were salvaged by chemotherapy. Compared with O-RPLND, there was no difference in relapse rates, percentage of patients receiving chemotherapy (29% vs 31%), chemotherapy (CTx) cycles per cohort (0.6), rate of salvage surgery (1.2% vs 1.5%), and patients with no evidence of disease (NED; 100% vs 99.7%). Conclusions: L-RPLND offers similar staging accuracy and long-term outcome to O-RPLND. In a late series of experienced L-RPLND centres, there was a trend towards fewer complications. L-RPLND represents a valuable tool for experienced laparoscopic surgeons. Further studies must focus on the curative potential of the procedure in pathologic stage IIA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The diagnostic accuracy of in-bench core biopsies (CBs) from renal masses, and the interobserver and intraobserver variability in pathological subtyping of renal tumors were assessed. Methods: We performed two CBs in 62 consecutive renal masses suspected for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), obtained after radical or partial nephrectomy and, in one case, after autopsy. Routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE)–stained sections from each CB were evaluated by five pathologists on two occasions. The surgical specimen was the reference standard. Diagnostic accuracy and the generalized kappa for intraobserver and interobserver agreement were calculated. Results: Five tumors were benign and 57 malignant. Eight percent to 16% of the CBs were considered inadequate for diagnosis. In 0–8% of the cases, the pathologist could not discriminate between a benign or malignant tumor. Overall accuracy ranged from 77% to 90%. Sensitivity (79–100%) and positive predictive value (100%) were high with narrow 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Specificity (100%) was high but negative predictive value (29%–100%) varied, with wide 95% CI. Interobserver agreement was fair to almost perfect (κ=−0.010 to 0.830) for the different subtypes. In 64–81% of the CBs, the subtype was correctly classified. Intraobserver agreement was substantial (mean κ=0.628) for all pathologists. Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy of CBs was high, with a diagnostic yield varying between 84% and 92%. Pathological subtyping of CBs was highly reproducible with the exception of the chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, which was problematic on HE-stained sections only. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To up-date the 2001 version of the EAU testicular cancer guidelines. Methods: A non-structured literature review until January 2005 using the MEDLINE database has been performed. Literature has been classified according to evidence-based medicine levels. Results: Testicular cancer is a highly curable disease. Excellent cure rates have been achieved by standardization of treatment, interdisciplinary management, and tremendous success in performing clinical trials. Currently, the aims of testicular cancer treatment are as follows: for patients with low-stage disease, a reduction in treatment is proposed to improve long-term toxicity in these patients with unaltered life expectancy; for about 10% of patients with advanced disease and poor prognosis, intensification of treatment (including high-dose chemotherapy and new drugs as well as aggressive surgical approaches) is being investigated to improve long-term cure rates. Conclusion: Guidelines will improve clinical practice only if they are regularly updated. This update presents the state-of-the-art management of testicular cancer patients in 2005. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]