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Between November 1991 and June 1993, 315 patients with urethral lesions were divided into two groups: group 1 included 215 patients with urethral tumours and group 2 included 100 patients with non-tumoural lesions. In all patients, urethral smears (performed on 3 consecutive days), pyelography and uretrocystoscopy (with bladder biopsy of observable lesions) were performed in all. The sensitivity of urine cytology examinations in the diagnosis of bladder cancer was found to by 80% with a specificity of 90%. The positive predictive value was 94.5% and the negative predictive value 67.7%. Urine cytology agreed with the diagnosis of urethral tumours especially well in advanced stage ulcerated tumours. These results underline the importance of cytology examinations in the exploration and follow-up of patients with urethral tumours.

Despite recent advances in imaging techniques, the staging process is still unsatisfactory in cancer of the prostate. The underestimation for stage B2 and C tumours in about 50%. We present our findings in a retrospective study analyzing the clinical and biological effects of complete androgen blockade before radical prostatectomy in patients with advanced stage localized tumours. We treated 21 patients from 1989 to 1993. All received preoperative homonotherapy by complete androgen block for at least 3 months before node dissection preceding suprapubic radical prostatectomy. Only 20 prostatectomies were performed as metastasis was found in the extemporaneous examination in 1 patient. The volume of the prostate gland had diminished in all patients after the hormonotherapy (27.8%) as did PSA (95%). When evaluated, the tumour stage of the surgical specimen was always more advanced than the needle biopsy. Only 1 tumour was strictly limited to the intracapsule and all the others had either invaded the capsule, reached the margins or had invaded the seminal vessels or lymph nodes. With a mean follow up of 45 months, recurrence rate is 50%, mainly due to tumours with positive margins or seminal invasion in patients who were not given adjuvant treatment. Our results are in agreement with those in the literature showing that although the volume of the prostate is reduced and PSA declines, no improvement in pathology staging is observed.

Malakoplakia is a granulomatous disease. We report 3 cases of this condition. This disease is characterized by its rarity, the nonspecific revealing signs, histological studies being the only method providing a positive diagnosis, and the possibility of healing with a simple medical treatment.

Thirty patients with partial of total staghorn calculi or pyelic calculi greater than 30 mm were treated by extracorporal piezo-electric lithotripsy (PEL) exclusively with an EDAP LT 01 lithotripter equipped with an ultrasound localisation system. Nineteen patients had a pyelic calculus and the others a partial (n = 9) or total (n = 2) staghorn calculus. All patients first underwent extracorporal lithotripsy (ECL). None of the patients received IV sedation or anesthesia. When fragmentation of the calculus was observed after the first session, a double J stent was inserted before the second ELC session. Before the first session, urine samples were sterile in 18 of the 30 patients; 12 of the 30 patients presented major distention of the urinary tract. Results were analysed to identify factors affecting results of this type of treatment. Patients whose calculus had completely disappeared on plain films three months after the first session were considered to be cured clinically and radiologically (14/30 = 46%). Seven patients (23.3%) were clinically cured (absence of pain and sterile urine) but there were residual fragments (1 to 3 fragments less than or equal to 4 mm). No fragmentation was obtained after the first session in 9 patients (30.7%) (1 total staghorn, 8 pyelic calculi). The mean number of sessions was 5 (range 1-15). Only 10% of the patients (3/30) presented a complication: 2 steinstrasses and 1 acute pyelonephritis. 83% of the patients without urinary tract distention and 55% of the patients whose urines were initially sterile were cured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

On the basis of 150 patients (16 controls with no disease of the prostate, 96 cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and 38 cases of carcinoma of the prostate (CP)), the authors intended to answer 3 questions: How can the borderline values of PSA in BPH be interpreted? Is there a correlation between the Gleason and PSA values in carcinomas? Should the simultaneous measurements of PSA and PAP be continued? All patients were examined with a rectal touch, transrectal echography (TRE) and PAS and PAP assays. All CP were examined with bone radionuclide scanning (BR). The correlation coefficient being 0.391 (p 0.001), the PSA value and prostatic weight can be regarded as linearly correlated in BPH (5 g BPH = 1 ng/ml PSA). This lower value of PSA is linked with the increase produced by TRE in the assessment of prostatic weight. On the other hand, the authors did no observe a correlation between the PSA and the Glisson grade in carcinomas with negative BR. Lastly, the sensitivity of PSA is noticeably higher than that of PAP (75% vs. 50%), and no false negative finding with PSA was corrected by PAP measurements.

The stage of the tumor is commonly underestimated prior to radical prostatectomy for carcinoma. Can the growth of clinically localized carcinomas beyond their capsule be predicted with the modern medical imaging techniques (MRI and CT)? On the basis of 30 successive prostatectomies, we conclude that CT is ineffective. On the contrary, MRI seems to be an effective technique for this indication. However, no examination yet is better than clinical assessment.

The treatment of subvesical obstruction with a spiral endoprostatic prosthesis is now well-known since Fabian's initial work (1980). A new method of insertion of the spiral with a releasable catheter and under sonographic monitoring has been proposed recently. This article is a report of a series of 35 patients. These patients presented with an adenoma of the prostate and were fitted with a permanent urethral catheter due to an absolute contraindication for anesthesia. The spiral was inserted with US monitoring in 25 patients. In 5 patients, the spiral had to be inserted under classical endoscopic control. The average follow-up period is 7.2 months. In 25 patients (75%), the spiral remained in place; the maximum flow rate of urine after the insertion averages 12.8 ml/s and 76% of these patients report an improvement of their comfort during urination. The position of the spiral had to be changed in 8 cases. No infectious complication was noted. Hematuric complications are reported in 2 cases. The spiral endoprostatic prosthesis seems to be an elegant alternative to the permanent catheter in patients at high anesthetic risk.

The present study is an attempt to outline the views held with the passage of time on the pathology of prostatic hypertrophy and upon the numerous palliative operations that have been used. As a natural limit, the author close to end the investigation at the beginning of the 20th century, when the principles of radical therapy were defined and accepted. It is demonstrated that a similar limit applies to the question of pathology, as the role of periurethral glands the ffue seat of prostatic hypertrophy was not definitely worked until the studies of Albarran (1900), Motz and Pérearnau (1905).

A study involving of 2,000 cases of urethritis revealed the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in 44% of patients. Following a pathophysiological review, the strongly suggestive clinical picture of infection by this microorganism is emphasized. This study stresses two precise points by dealing with: firstly, the importance of the choice of technique for demonstration of the presence of the bacteria, and its reliability; secondly, the value of bacteriological evidence of the infection in order to treat not only the patient but also the partner(s) and to subsequently confirm the treatment as being effective.

The authors report on 13 cases of gangrene of the perineum. Eight of the patients presented with a pre-existing infectious or tumoral anorectal lesion. In two cases, gangrene was a complication of a surgically treated prostatic pathology; two other patients had Fournier's disease. The last case was termed "spontaneous" as no causative factor was found. The unexpected recrudescence of this pathology, its severe nature, our limited knowledge of the pathogenic factors involved, and the difficulties encountered in treatment make analysis of this series of cases particularly interesting; moreover, despite the apparent etiological disparity of these observations, there were common anatomic, bacteriologic, and therapeutic elements. As concerns treatment, emphasis is placed on three points: prime role of surgery, the only means of obtaining precise information on lesions, broad indications for bypass colostomy, value of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. The mortality rate remains high: 4 of the 13 patients died.