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Purpose – Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains controversial for elective indications (low stage RCC in the presence of a normal contralateral kidney). In this single center study survival rate and, as novel aspects, the frequency of postoperative arterial hypertension and renal function parameters were investigated to evaluate safety and efficacy of NSS.Patients and Methods – The complete data of 248 patients operated nephron-sparing for RCC between 1975 and 1995 were evaluated. One hundred and seventy-five patients were treated for elective indication (95% with tumor stage T1 or T2), 73 patients for mandatory indication (bilateral tumors, solitary kidney, renal insufficiency). The mean follow-up was 75 months (maximum 23 years).Results – Mean tumor-size was lower under elective (3.8 cm) than under mandatory (4.7 cm) indication. Overall tumor-specific survival after 5 years for both indications was 88%. Comparing preoperative vs. follow-up values, arterial blood pressure and serum-creatinine values remained unchanged for both indications. The incidence of postoperative proteinuria (19% imperative, 11% elective indication) was strongly related to hypertension.Conclusions – NSS for RCC under elective indication achieves patient survival comparable to the results of radical nephrectomy. The presented data do not indicate significant longterm complications such as arterial hypertension, proteinuria or deterioration of renal function as a result of glomerulosclerosis or hyperfiltration. This gives further argument for the concept of NSS in RCC as an alternative to radical nephrectomy in the presence of a healthy contralateral kidney. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains controversial for elective indications (low stage RCC in the presence of a normal contralateral kidney). In this single center study survival rate and, as novel aspects, the frequency of postoperative arterial hypertension and renal function parameters were investigated to evaluate safety and efficacy of NSS., Patients and Methods: The complete data of 248 patients operated nephron-sparing for RCC between 1975 and 1995 were evaluated. One hundred and seventy-five patients were treated for elective indication (95% with tumor stage T1 or T2), 73 patients for mandatory indication (bilateral tumors, solitary kidney, renal insufficiency). The mean follow-up was 75 months (maximum 23 years)., Results: Mean tumor-size was lower under elective (3.8 cm) than under mandatory (4.7 cm) indication. Overall tumor-specific survival after 5 years for both indications was 88%. Comparing preoperative vs. follow-up values, arterial blood pressure and serum-creatinine values remained unchanged for both indications. The incidence of postoperative proteinuria (19% imperative, 11% elective indication) was strongly related to hypertension., Conclusions: NSS for RCC under elective indication achieves patient survival comparable to the results of radical nephrectomy. The presented data do not indicate significant longterm complications such as arterial hypertension, proteinuria or deterioration of renal function as a result of glomerulosclerosis or hyperfiltration. This gives further argument for the concept of NSS in RCC as an alternative to radical nephrectomy in the presence of a healthy contralateral kidney.

In radiology several therapeutical methods were developed and introduced into clinical routine in the last 10 to 15 years. In part these techniques are in competition with established surgical procedures although their main advantage is significantly less invasion. For the urologist diagnostic radiological procedures like selective blood sampling from renal or suprarenal vessels for hormone determination or CT-guided biopsy of retroperitoneal tumors are of special interest as well as procedures with therapeutic aims such as placement of drainage-tubes, percutaneous therapy of varicoceles and arterial endovascular interventions for hemorrhage or vascular wall stenosis. The role of these interventional techniques relevant for urology is described and critically discussed.

Seminal vesicle cysts with ureteral ectopy and ipsilateral renal agenesis or dysplasia are rare congenital malformations. This study reports 7 consecutive cases in a single center and, for the first time in the literature, reports long-term results on 5 cases. Patients were between the age of 15 and 57 years. The malformation was diagnosed in all cases with excretory urography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and cystoscopy. 5 patients were followed after diagnosis for 26 to 119 months (mean 52 months). Only 2 of 7 patients primarily presented with nonspecific lower urinary tract symptoms. One patient (15 years old) showed significant enlargement of the cysts with compression of the urinary bladder and signs of urinary incontinence 10 years after primary diagnosis. The other 4 patients had no changes of their malformation. In conclusion, seminal vesicle cysts with ipsilateral renal agenesis are now more frequently diagnosed because of the increasing use of sectional imaging procedures. They are mostly asymptomatic and their morphology does not change with time. These data support the concept of only treating symptomatic patients.

Renovascular hypertension is a potentially curable, secondary form of hypertension. It is caused by renal ischemic disease, which remains a significant clinical problem because of the increasing incidence of atherosclerosis with aging of the overall population. The role of the reinin-angiotensin system in renovascular hypertension has been consolidated by the discovery of angiotensin II receptor subtypes, various tissue renin-angiotensin systems and the function of angiotensin II as a vascular growth factor. To date renal vein renin estimation and converting enzyme renography seem to be the most reliable investigations to demonstrate the hypertensive role of a kidney before revascularization. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a successful treatment in selected forms of renal artery stenosis. Open surgery consists of either bypass procedure or renal autotransplantation with extracorporeal reconstruction of the renal vasculature in cases of aneurysms or segmental renal artery stenoses. Control of hypertension and, increasingly important, preservation of renal function can be safely and successfully achieved, on the basis of careful diagnosis and individual selection of the therapeutic procedure are performed.

Cystic lymphangiomas are rare, benign tumors, which are mainly located in the neck or axilla. The fourteenth reported case in the literature of a pediatric retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma is described. Symptoms, diagnostic procedure and therapy are reported and discussed.