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Retroperitoneal tumor is a rare tumor, with an incidence of 0.2 to 0.8%. Among such tumors, the frequency of teratomas ranges from 6 to 18%, and adult cases are extremely rare. We report a mature teratoma that occurred in the retroperitoneum of 43-year-old woman. She experienced back pain and a left adrenal gland mass was detected on computed tomography. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings showed a cyst made of fat and calcification, but it was difficult to distinguish retroperitoneal teratoma from adrenal tumor in this case. The tumor was removed, and was mainly composed of a hair ball and fat. Pathological examination showed that the tumor was composed of stratified squamous epithelium, keratinizing component, cartilage, and bronchial epithelium, while no continuity with the adrenal gland was observed. Therefore, the tumor was diagnosed as a retroperitoneal teratoma.

A 68-year-old woman, complained of an indolent lump about 60 × 70 mm in size in the left lower back. We conducted a computed tomography scan, which exhibited a hernia of Gerota'sfascia-commonly called superior lumbar hernia. In the right lateral position, the hernia contents were observed to attenuate, hence only closure of the hernial orifice was conducted by using Kugel patch, without removal of the hernia sack. Six months after the surgery, she has had no relapse of the hernia. Superior lumbar hernia, which occurs in an anatomically brittle region in the lower back, is a rare and potentially serious disease. The urologic surgeon should bear in mind this rarely seen entity.

A 31-year-old man visited another hospital with a chief complaint of a solid mass in the left scrotum. The diagnosis was a skin cancer of the scrotum, and he was referred to our hospital. We performed surgical resection of the mass, left testis, and bilateral superfical inguinal nodes. Histopathological findings revealed leiomyosarcoma of the scrotum. He is free of disease at 16 months after the operation.

A 71-year-old man underwent left nephrectomy for metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of the small intestine. In spite of post-operative therapy (interferon-alpha or interleukin-2), multiple lung metastases and intestinal hemorrhage by metastatic tumor of small intestine appeared 9 years after the operation. To control the bleeding from the small intestine, the small intestine was partially excised and the histopathological diagnosis was metastasis of RCC. He died 10 months later because of disease progression. Metastasis of RCC to the small intestine is rare. To our knowledge, this is the 40th case of small intestinal metastasis from RCC reported in the literature.

A total of 121 Japanese patients scheduled for prostate biopsy were randomly and double-blindly assigned to be given a single oral dose of 100 mg Tramadol mixed with 20 ml of sugar syrup or placebo, 30 minutes before the procedure. Pain severity was measured by verbal rating scale (VRS) and visual analog scales (VAS). We also analyzed cardio-respiratory parameters and complications. Of 121 patients, 117 replied validly to VRS and VAS ; and 91 of 117 patients replied to the cohort questionnaire for analysis of the late disorder, patient's impression, prolonged pain and past history of hemorrhoid treatment. Tramadol showed no significant effect on pain severity indicated by VRS and VAS, and no change in cardiorespiratory parameters. Furthermore, 70 patients without a history of hemorrhoid treatment, showed no significant analgesic benefits of Tramadol during the biopsy. In total, 3 patients had side effects of vomiting (CTCAE : grade 1)6), which subsided spontaneously. The oral administration of a single dose of 100 mg Tramadol 30 minutes before a transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate was safe, but was not effective to calm down the pain severity.

Intravesical chemotherapy is performed after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) for superficial bladder cancer. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study on the prophylactic effects of intravesical instillation of epirubicin (EPI) against recurrence to determine the effective administration schedule. Between April 1999 and March 2003, 54 patients with superficial bladder tumor (pTa or pT1, and G1 or G2 cancer) were assigned to two groups (25 in Group A, 29 in Group B) after TURBT. The schedule of instillation (intravesically 40 mg of EPI dissolved in 40 ml saline) was subsequently once every two weeks for 3 months (7 times) starting one week after TURBT (Group A, short period), and subsequently added every two weeks for 3 months starting 6 months after TURBT (Group B, long period). The patients were followed up by cystoscopy and urinary cytology. There was no significant difference in non-recurrence rates after either one year (A; 62.5%, B; 82.8%) or three years (A; 53.6%, B; 67.3%). A univariate analysis demonstrated that tumor grade and staging were significant predictors of high risk for recurrence. A multivariate analysis performed by using the Cox's proportional hazard model showed that the schedule of instillation was an independent prognostic factor for reccurence. In the present study, only 2 patients showed progression and one patient died of UC. There was no adverse event that forced discontinuation of the therapy. In conclusion, epirubicin instillation influenced the prevention of recurrence, but the benefit of long-term period was not confirmed.

Prostatic stromal sarcoma (PSS) is an unusual lesion that is reported only occasionally. Here we describe a case of prostatic stromal sarcoma in a 33-year-old man who had complained of perineal pain. The serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was above the normal limit at 5.8 ng/ml, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a giant mass in the retrovesical region. Chest CT demonstrated lung metastases. Specimens obtained by transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate suggested a mesenchymal tumor, but a precise diagnosis required a larger specimen. Palliative transurethral resection (TUR-P) was performed because of obstruction of the urogenital tract, and the final diagnosis was made from this specimen. The tumor contained yellowish gelatinous materials, and the stromal element appeared histologically malignant, with increased cellularity, mitotic figures and pleomorphism. The histological diagnosis was PSS, and the patient received VIP (etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin) chemotherapy regimen. However, the pelvic mass continued to increase in size, and the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated and he died. Sarcoma of the prostate gland showing aggressive behavior is quite rare. The detailed histological and immunohistochemical findings in this case are reported, together with a review of the literature.

We report a case of port-site metastasis of bladder cancer after left retroperitoneoscopy-assisted nephroureterectomy and cystectomy. The patient was a 73-year-old man with a chief complaint of gross hematuria. The diagnosis was invasive bladder cancer with bone metastasis. He received two courses of chemotherapy (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin), and this resulted in resolution of the bone metastases. Two months later, abdominal and pelvic computed tomography showed a bladder tumor invading the left lower ureter with hydronephrosis. Left retroperitoneoscopy-assisted nephroureterectomy and cystectomy were performed. The patient was unable to undergo systemic chemotherapy because of renal dysfunction. Four months later, a lateral abdominal wall tumor was found at a port-site, and needle biopsy confirmed this to be metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Clinicians need to be aware of port-site metastasis, particularly in patients with UC, and take steps to prevent it during laparoscopic procedures.

We report a case of adrenal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a left renal mass. A computed tomography revealed a left renal tumor. Liver cirrhosis and splenomegaly were observed. Blood tests revealed pancytopenia; platelet count was 2.5 x 10(4)/mm3. The patient was treated by partial splenic embolization (PSE) in an attempt to ensure a safe nephrectomy. After the embolization, his platelet count increased to 6.1 x 10(4)/mm3, and left nephrectomy was performed successfully. Histopathological finding was renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We concluded that PSE before surgery was useful for the patients with thrombocytopenia due to hypersplenism. Four years after surgery, computed tomography revealed the presence of a mass on the right adrenal gland. He was suspected of having a non-functioning adrenal tumor. Metastasis of the RCC was suspected and right adrenalectomy was performed by a laparoscopic procedure. Histologically, the mass was identified as a RCC metastasis. It is clinically rare for an RCC metastasis to the contralateral adrenal gland to occur.

We report a case of a patient with a fistula between the left ureter and abdominal aorta. The patient was a 44-year-old male who had undergone radiation therapy (intraoperative: 25 Gy, external beam: 50 Gy) and chemotherapy (CDDP: 250 mg) for retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis from seminoma. His postoperative course was complicated by stenosis of bilateral ureters, which were treated by indwelling double J-stents. Fifteen years after the operation, gross hematuria occurred from the left ureteral orifice when exchanging the left ureteral double J-stent. Computed tomographic scan demonstrated left ureteral-abdominal aortic fistula formation at the crossing point. Massive hemorrhage was suspected to have prompt fistula formation between the left ureter and the aorta. At exploration, there was a fistula of about 7 mm in diameter at the anterior surface of the aorta, and the stent was presumably inserted from it. The aortic fistula was successfully closed. In addition, the left ureter was ligated proximal to the fistula and percutaneous left nephrostomy were performed. His postoperative course was uneventful. We should be aware that uretero-arterial fistula can occur as a serious complication of ureteral catheter exchange after prolonged ureteral stenting and radiation therapy.

Bladder carcinoma with skin metastasis is extremely rare. We herein report a case of a bladder tumor with skin metastasis. A 68-year-old man was referred to our hospital with macroscopic hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a trigone papillary tumor. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed and the pathological diagnosis was transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), pT1, G3. Thereafter, he received several courses of TURBT, intravesical chemotherapy (pirarubicin, bacillus Calmette-Guerin and mitomycin C) and intra-arterial chemotherapy because of recurrence. Thirteen years later, he underwent total cystoprostatectomy with neobladder formation. Histological examination revealed muscle-invasive bladder cancer with a staging of T3bNOM0. Two years and three months later, multiple firm nodules with eruptions appeared on the skin in several regions; they were resected and the histological findings revealed TCC. This indicated metastatic spread from the primary bladder TCC. He received only supportive treatment during this period due to renal dysfunction. He died four months after the manifestation of the skin metastasis due to multiple metastases.