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Introduction: Primary testicular lymphoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy representing 1% to 2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and accounts for approximately 5% of all testicular tumors. The aim of this study was to analyse clinical characteristics, therapy and survival outcomes of patients with primary testicular lymphoma diagnosed at our hospital from 1998 to 2017, and to compare differences in survival based on Ann Arbor Stages. Methods: A retrospective patient chart review was done to analyse the patient clinical characteristics, therapy and survival outcomes. Survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Twenty-six patients were included; the mean age was 85±6.7 years. All patients presented with testicular tumor. Of the 26 patients, 17 patients were stage I, one stage III, and 8 stage IV. Orchiectomy was performed in all patients. 8 patients received no further treatment. Of the remaining 18 patients, overall, 18 received systemic chemotherapy and 5 radiation therapy. Six patients received intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis. Seventeen patients achieved complete remission. Four patients achieved partial remission; one patient had no response. Eleven patients died. Median survival was 144 months and was statistically significantly different between early versus advanced stage (stage I/II: 144 months; stage III-IV: 73 months, p=0.006). Conclusion: Primary testicular lymphomas are a rare and aggressive malignancy of extranodal lymphomas. Survival was different in early stages I/II versus advanced stages III- IV. Randomized, multi-center prospective studies could help to establish better prognostic and multi-modal therapy strategies.

Introduction: Many studies suggest that varicoceles are associated with hypogonadism and varicocele repair can increase testosterone levels and improve erectile function.Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the impact of varicocele and varicocele surgery on testosterone level, semen quality, and erectile function.Methods: Our study included 265 infertile males with a clinical varicocele. This group was divided into three groups: group 1 (193) patients who did not receive surgery, group 2 (72 patients) who were operated on according to the Palomo procedure and group 3 (28 patients), who acted as a control group without a varicocele. All patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function IIEF-5 (German version) and underwent semen analysis. Serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured at inclusion into the study and after surgery.Main outcome measures: Changes in semen quality, erectile function, and serum hormones after surgery.Results: The IIEF-5 scores in groups 1 and 2 were 21.01 ± 2.2; and 21.74 ± 1 respectively, and the resulting t-test for equality of variance was significant (p < 0.0001). Total testosterone level in groups 1 and 2 were 3.16 ± 0.37 and 3 ± 0.01, respectively, and the resulting t-test for equality of variance was significant (p < 0.0001). The results of the semen analysis were better in group 2 (after surgery) (28.6%, p < 0.001) in comparison to group 1. Interestingly, pre-operative serum testosterone levels were lower in patients with later improvement of semen analysis (p = 0.05). Body mass index (p = 0.8), pre-operative serum FSH (p = 0.9), LH (p = 0.2), and nicotine consumption (p = 0.6) were similar in both the group that saw improvement and the group with no change in semen quality.Conclusion: Semen quality improved in 28.6% of patients after varicocele surgery. Erectile dysfunction (ED) improved after varicocele surgery. We report that lower pre-operative serum testosterone level might be a possible indicator for successful surgical outcome.

To analyze drug adherence, overall survival (OS) and hospitalization rates of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) treated with arbiraterone acetate (AA), enzalutamide (ENZ) and their sequence in a real-life setting. The database of the largest public insurance company in Austria was analyzed. All CRPC patients with at least one prescription of AA and/or ENZ between September 2013 and August 2016 in the pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy setting were extracted and matched to the Austrian death and hospital admission statistics. Drug adherence was estimated by the medication possession ratio (MPR). Data of 457 patients (mean age: 74.4 ± 8.5 years) were analyzed. The mean MPR was 90% for AA, 85% for ENZ and 88% for the sequence therapy cohort. The median overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 21 months: 15 months for AA, 24 months for ENZ, 26 months for the sequence group, and 10 months for the sequence group after switching. In the post-chemotherapy setting, the median OS was 14 months in AA treatment (mean: 15.8 ± 0.9 months), 19 months in the ENZ treatment (mean: 17.2 ± 1.4 months) and 25 months in the sequence group (mean: 22.7 ± 0.8 months). Median OS in the pre-chemotherapy setting was 25 months (mean: 21.5 ± 1.1 months), 18 months in AA treatment group (mean: 18.9 ± 1.5 months) and 17 months in ENZ treatment group (mean: 18.2 ± 1.9 months). Only 43 (9.4%) patients were not hospitalized during the course of the study. On average patients spent 13% of their remaining life span in hospital care (median 8%, range: 1–34%). This Austrian prescription database allows some insights into the outcome of CRPC patients treated with AA and ENZ and their sequence in a real-life setting. Drug adherence was satisfactory, OS was shorter for AA and ENZ as compared to the pivotal phase III trials.

To evaluate whether there is a synergistic effect of varicocele and smoking status on semen parameters.A retrospective evaluation of 715 men attending an infertility clinic between 2001 and 2009 was carried out. The presence of a varicocele was determined by clinical examination and cigarette smoking habits were documented allowing patients to be divided into 4 groups: non-smokers (n = 369), mild smokers (n = 186, 1-10 cigarettes/day), moderate smokers (n = 129, 10-20 cigarettes/day) and heavy smokers (n = 31, over 20 cigarettes/day). Semen samples were harvested according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Additionally, serum luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured in all patients. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was carried out and further corroborated with the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U‑tests. A p-value of0.05 was considered statistically significant.The median patient age was 30.2 years. Overall there was a statistically significant negative effect of higher varicocele grade on sperm motility and concentration (p 0.05) and a significant negative effect of smoking status on sperm morphology and motility (very progressive, p 0.01) as well as a significant synergistic effect of varicocele and smoking status on motility (p = 0.03). In the group of patients smoking less than 10 cigarettes per day no significant synergistic effect on semen parameters could be proven compared to patients with varicocele who did not smoke.We could show a significant synergistic effect of smoking status (10 cigarettes) in patients with varicocele on sperm morphology and motility. These findings could play an important role in counselling infertile patients presenting with varicocele and severe smoking to improve their semen quality parameters if they stop smoking. Past smoking history was not investigated.

Summary Objective To analyze the drug adherence rates and overall survival for in patients treated with arbiraterone acetate (AA) for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Methods The database of the largest insurance company in Austria (Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse) was analyzed. Data on all CRPC patients with at least one prescription of AA between November 2011 and December 2014 in the postchemotherapy setting were collated and compared to the Austrian death and hospital admission statistics. Drug adherence was estimated by the medication possession ratio (MPR). Results Data of 270 patients (mean age 73.5 ± 8.9 years) were analyzed. The mean duration of AA treatment was 9.8 months (range 1–38 months). The duration of AA treatment was as follows: 0–2 months 53 patients (19.6 %), 3–5 months 73 patients (28.1 %), 6–10 months 67 patients (24.8 %) and >10 months 97 patients (35.9 %). The median MPR was 100 % and in 241 (89.2 %) the MPR exceeded ≥80 %. The median overall survival (OS) was 11 months. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 6 month OS was 61 %, 12 month OS 43 %, 18 month OS 35 % and >24 month OS 24 %. The OS was strongly correlated to patient age and the duration of AA treatment. Of all 270 patients, only 19 (7 %) were not hospitalized during their remaining life span and 71 (26.2 %) spent more than 50% of their remaining life span in hospital care. Conclusion The OS was shorter than in phase III trials and strongly correlated to patient age and the duration of AA treatment. The high mortality rate within the first 6 months of AA treatment in this real-life setting suggests a less stringent patient selection than in a phase III trial.

To assess the common practice to transiently place an indwelling transurethral catheter in case of hospitalization of women with febrile urinary tract infections. So far, this intervention has not been scientifically investigated.Inclusion criteria were female gender, a leucocyte esterase-positive urine dipstick analysis (≥ 250) from urine obtained with a catheter and fever 38 °C. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either receive an indwelling catheter French 16 or not. The catheter was removed after 24 h without fever ( 37.5 °C). Principal exclusion criteria were a post void residual volume exceeding 50 mL or abnormalities of the urinary tract. Hospital stay and fever in days, the amount of analgetic medication needed and the laboratory parameters WBC and CRP-measured on the day of admission and in predefined intervals thereafter-were study endpoints.75 patients were included in the final analysis, 36 in the catheter group and 39 in the no-catheter group. Mean age was 39.4 ± 17.7 years and 39.8 ± 15.5 years, respectively (p 0.05). The mean length of catheterisation was 3.6 ± 1.6 days in the catheter group. There were no differences between the two groups regarding duration of hospitalization and fever, or the amount of analgetic medication needed (all p 0.05). Additionally, there was no difference in time to WBC 10 G/L or CRP 100 mg/L (all p 0.05).This prospective, randomized trial provides no evidence to support routine insertion of an indwelling catheter in women with febrile urinary tract infection requiring hospital admission.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if there is a combined effect of varicocele and cell phone storage in trousers pockets on semen and hormonal parameters. A retrospective analysis of 468 men attending an infertility clinic from 1993–2007 was performed. Varicoceles were determined by clinical examination and patients were questioned on cell phone usage and storage fashion. Semen samples were analyzed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 1999. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were assessed. There was a significant effect of cell phone storage in trousers pockets and varicocele in multivariate analysis (both p < 0.001). Varicocele showed an effect on sperm concentration (p = 0.003), LH (p = 0.014) and testosterone (p = 0.003). Compared to grade 1, grade 2 varicoceles showed a difference in sperm concentration (p = 0.004). Regarding testosterone differences were shown for grade 3 versus grade 1 (p = 0.002) and grade 3 compared to grade 2 (p = 0.003). Cell phone storage in trousers pockets showed an influence on the percentage of normal sperm morphology and LH (both p < 0.001). Varicocele and cell phone storage in trousers pockets did not show a combined effect (p = 0.76). This analysis showed an inverse relation between sperm concentration and degree of varicocele, with lower concentrations in higher grade varicoceles. Testosterone was significantly higher in higher grade varicoceles, which could reflect a compensatory mechanism to the impaired testicular function. Cell phone storage in trousers pockets showed an effect on LH and sperm morphology. A combined effect of varicocele and cell phone storage in trousers pockets was not detected.

Introduction. To analyze the impact of radical prostatectomy (RPE) on erectile function and lower urinary tract function in comparison to age-matched healthy men. Materials and Methods. Patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy completed questionnaires containing the IIEF-5, the Bristol female LUTS questionnaire, and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Results. Patients after RPE were included (n=363). Age-matched healthy men (n=363) were included. The mean IIEF-5 of patients aged 61–70 yrs after RPE was 10.4±6.6 versus 18.8±5.3 in the control cohort; the respective values for men aged 71–80 yrs after RPE were 7.2±6.5 versus 13.6±7.7 in the control cohort. Urinary incontinence after RPE was reported in 41.9% (61–70 years) and 37.7% (71–80) versus 7.5% and 15.1% in the control cohort. The mean IPSS of patients after RPE aged 61–70 yrs was 5.0±4.4 versus 5.5±4.9 in the control cohort; the respective values for men aged 71–80 yrs were 6.0±4.9 versus 7.5±5.7 in the healthy cohort. Conclusions. The negative effect of radical prostatectomy on erectile and urinary incontinence remains substantial. The physiologically declining erectile and lower urinary tract function with ageing reduces the difference between healthy men and those after surgery. Healthy men have a higher IPSS presumably due to the presence of bladder outlet obstruction.

Introduction There are several contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy, reversible as well as nonreversible ones. The sexual satisfaction of couples is affected by many types of contraceptives used. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the effect of vasectomy on the sexual life and satisfaction of couples. Methods Seventy‐six couples took part in this evaluation and filled out respective questionnaires before and after vasectomy. All the questionnaires were evaluated statistically for differences in the respective sexual domain scores. Main Outcome Measures Standardized questionnaires were used. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) as well as postoperative pain score were completed by men. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was completed by the female partner. For statistical analysis, the T‐Square Test was used. Results The average age of couples, who chose the vasectomy procedure, was 37 years for women and 39 years for men. The contraception method most frequently used prior to the vasectomy was the birth control pill. For the male partner, the IIEF showed no significant change in the respective domains. Out of the 76 couples, 93% of the males and 96% of their female partners would recommend and do vasectomy again. The postoperative pain score was 3.5 on 0–10 scale, and there were no postoperative complications reported. The best improvement of the sexual function was noticed for the female partners. The FSFI showed a significant improvement in the domains desire ( P P P P P Conclusion This is the first report to our very best knowledge that showed the positive impact of vasectomy on sexual satisfaction of couples. Vasectomy is a safe operation with minimal complication rates. Mohamad Al‐Ali B, Shamloul R, Ramsauer J, Bella AJ, Scrinzi U, Treu T, and Jungwirth A. The effect of vasectomy on the sexual life of couples. J Sex Med 2014;11:2239–2242.

Summary Background The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of gender on tumor stage, overall and cancer-specific mortality of upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) in a population-based, nationwide analysis. Methods All Austrian patients with UTUC diagnosed between 1983 and 2010 were included in this study. Overall mortality was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cancer-specific (UTUC) mortality was estimated by cumulative incidence with mortality due to other causes as a competing risk. The effect of age was adjusted in a descriptive as well as a statistical inferential way. Results This study included 2066 patients (men n = 1169, mean age 68.3 ±11.5 years, women n = 897, 72.6 ±10.4 years). Tumor stage distribution was as follows: pT1: men n = 411, women n = 268, pT2: men n = 263, women n = 187, pT3: men n = 382, women n = 328 and pT4: men n = 113, women n = 114. The male:female ratio continuously declined from 1.5 for pT1 tumors to 1.4 for pT2 tumors, 1.2 for pT3 tumors and 1.0 for pT4-tumors. In the entire cohort the 5‑year cumulative overall mortality was 57 % for women versus 50 % for men (p = 0.0002). For pT1 (women 33 %, men 31 %) and pT2 stage tumors (women 45 %, men 45 %) the 5‑year overall mortality was comparable between both sexes. In pT3 (women 68 %, men 62 %) and pT4 (women 95 %, men 87 %) tumors women had a higher overall mortality rate. The 5‑year cancer-specific mortality (CSM) of the entire cohort was 12 % for women and 10 % for men (p = 0.067): pT1 women 5 % men 3 %, pT2 women 9 % men 10 %, pT3 women 14 % men 11 % and pT4 women 29 % men 27 %. Conclusions In this population-based nationwide analysis, sex differences were notable for UTUC. Women tended to have more advanced tumor stages at diagnosis and a higher overall and cancer-specific mortality in advanced tumor stages.

Summary The influence of overweight and obesity on sperm quality and reproductive hormone levels is under discussion. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on sperm quality and reproductive hormones. We analysed semen samples and serum levels of FSH, LH, T and PRL of a total of 2110 men attending our andrology unit from 1994 to 2010 due to infertility work-up. Patients were stratified according to their BMI in four groups. Main outcome measures were sperm motility, morphology and concentration. Serum levels of FSH, LH, T and PRL were evaluated as well. No statistically significant difference was found for sperm quality and BMI between patients categorised according to the four BMI levels. T (P

OBJECTIVE • To analyse the overall accuracy of Partin tables, with special emphasis to potential limitations resulting from differences between prostate cancers detected by different biopsy schedules. PATIENTS AND METHODS • Clinical characteristics from 599 patients treated with radical prostatectomy defined the 2007 Partin probabilities of organ confinement (OC), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) and extracapsular extension (ECE). Prostate cancers were detected by initial biopsy (IBx) with ≤12 cores in 405 patients (67.6%), by conventional repeat biopsy (CRBx) with ≤12 cores in 99 (16.5%) and by saturation repeat biopsy (SRBx) with ≥20 cores in 95 patients (15.9%). • The area under the curve (AUC) estimated by the receiver operating characteristic curve, assessed the predictive accuracy of the 2007 Partin tables. RESULTS • The Partin tables AUC of the IBx, CRBx and the SRBx groups were 0.730 vs 0.701 vs 0.585 for OC, 0.631 vs 0.689 vs 0.547 for ECE, and 0.775 vs 0.755 vs 0.641 for SVI, respectively. CONCLUSIONS • The overall accuracy of the 2007 Partin tables was clearly inferior in patients with prostate cancers detected by SRBx. • Prostate cancers detected by SRBx undermine the Partin tables' overall accuracy, and this group of patients may be miscounselled by vague predictions.

OBJECTIVES To compare surgical and functional results of both surgical approaches to endoscopic partial nephrectomy. It is currently performed either by the transperitoneal (t) or the retroperitoneal (r) approach. METHODS This was a retrospective, matched-pair comparison of 105 patients who underwent either transperitoneal laparoscopic (Graz) or retroperitoneoscopic (Klagenfurt) partial nephrectomy for clinical T1a renal masses. RESULTS A total of 35 patients after transperitoneal laparoscopic and 70 patients after retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy were included to this analysis after matching for age (T: 59.3 vs R: 60.1 a), preoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (T: 93.2 vs R: 96.1 mL/min) and tumor size (T: 2.4 vs R: 2.5 cm). Nephrometry scores were comparable between groups and were low, medium, and high in 54.3%, 45.7%, and 0% (t) and 55.7%, 42.9%, and 1.4% (r) of patients (P = .9). Operative time (T: 139.3 minutes vs. R: 83.9 minutes; P < .001) and hospitalization (T: 7 days, R: 5 days; P < .001) were shorter in the retroperitoneoscopic group. Ischemia time (T: 24.3 minutes, R: 22.6 minutes) and postsurgical GFR (T: 86.6 vs R: 90.0 mL/min), postsurgical GFR-decrease (T: 7.1%, R: 6.2%, P = .9) and decline of hemoglobin (T: 17.1%, R: 16.6%) were comparable. Complications were 4 nephrectomies (T: n = 1, R: n = 3), 2 revisions for hemorrhage (R: n = 2), 4 pneumothorax (R: n = 4), and 2 urinary fistulas (T: n = 2). The positive surgical margin rate was comparable between groups (T: n = 3, R: n = 5). CONCLUSIONS Transperitoneal laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy provide comparable surgical and functional results. One advantage of the retroperitoneoscopic access seems to be a shorter total surgical time.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this pilot study was to report our experience concerning the effects of cell phone usage on erectile function (EF) in men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We recruited 20 consecutive men complaining of erectile dysfunction (ED) for at least six months (Group A), and another group of 10 healthy men with no complaints of ED (Group B). Anamnesis, basic laboratory investigations, and clinical examinations were performed. All men completed the German version of the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) for evaluation of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), as well as another questionnaire designed by our clinicians that assessed cell phone usage habits. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between both groups regarding age, weight, height, and total testosterone (Table 1). The SHIM scores of Group A were significantly lower than that of Group B, 11.2 ±5 and 24.2 ±2.3, respectively. Total time spent talking on the cell phone per week was not significantly higher in Group A over B, 17.6 ±11.1 vs. 12.5 ±7 hours. Men with ED were found to carry their 'switched on' cell phones for a significantly longer time than those without ED, 4.4 ±3.6 vs. 1.8 ±1 hours per day. CONCLUSIONS: We found a potential correlation with cell phone usage and a negative impact on EF. Further large-scale studies confirming our initial data and exploring the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are recommended.

Introduction To investigate retrospectively the impact of urinary stone volume on computed tomography stone attenuations measured in Hounsfield units in 253 patients with urolithiasis. Material and methods CT scans were performed in 253 patients with suspected urinary stone disease from 2008 to 2010 using CT–Scanner Siemens, SOMATOM, Sensation 64. One experienced radiologist (A.L) who was blinded to the chemical composition of the stones retrospectively reviewed images and analyzed data to determine the composition of the stones. The results were compared with the biochemical analysis results obtained by infrared spectroscopy (100 FTIR, PerkinElmer). Results 253 consecutive patients from 2008 to 2010 were included into analysis: 189 males, and 64 females. Mean age was 51.2. According to stone volume, stones were divided into 2 groups: 126 stones with volume of 4.3 mm or more, 127 stones with volume less than 4.3 mm. There was a significant relationship between stone volume and its CT attenuation only in stones with a volume 4.3 mm or more (p

Aim. To evaluate the impact of SPARC on female sexual function.Methods. 151 women with a mean age of60±11.90and SUI had a complete urodynamic investigation and underwent SPARC operation. 98 women completed the validated female sexual function index questionnaire (FSFI) at baseline and 94 women at follow-up. A minimum follow-up of 12 months was required for study inclusion.Results. 52/98 women were sexually active at baseline. Postoperatively only 33 patients were sexually active. The FSFI score of all 33 pre- and postoperative sexually active women increased from25.3±5.7at baseline to27.4±4.8at follow-up (P=0.1). Scores of women with reduced sexual function at baseline increased significantly in the domains desire, arousal, and lubrication as well as orgasm and satisfaction and total FSFI-score (P=0.002) postoperatively.Conclusions. Our results suggest that the SPARC-sling procedure for SUI did not negatively interfere with female sexual function.

OBJECTIVE In this retrospective study we attempted to report our own data on the different clinical parameters in association with the presence and severity of varicocele in a large group of Austrian men. METHODS The records of 1,111 consecutive patients with clinical varicocele from 1993 to 2010 were evaluated. The presence, grade, and side of any varicocele were recorded. Semen samples, serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels, and testicular volume were assessed. RESULTS The mean age was 28.8 (±7.3) years. Three hundred seventeen (28.5%) patients presented with grade I varicocele, 427 (38.4%) with grade II varicocele, and 367 (33%) with grade III varicocele. Correlation between different grades of varicocele and semen quality indicated an over-representation of oligospermia and asthenoteratospermia in the group of grade III varicocele (p

• To analyse the overall accuracy of Partin tables, with special emphasis to potential limitations resulting from differences between prostate cancers detected by different biopsy schedules.• Clinical characteristics from 599 patients treated with radical prostatectomy defined the 2007 Partin probabilities of organ confinement (OC), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) and extracapsular extension (ECE). Prostate cancers were detected by initial biopsy (IBx) with ≤12 cores in 405 patients (67.6%), by conventional repeat biopsy (CRBx) with ≤12 cores in 99 (16.5%) and by saturation repeat biopsy (SRBx) with ≥20 cores in 95 patients (15.9%). • The area under the curve (AUC) estimated by the receiver operating characteristic curve, assessed the predictive accuracy of the 2007 Partin tables.• The Partin tables AUC of the IBx, CRBx and the SRBx groups were 0.730 vs 0.701 vs 0.585 for OC, 0.631 vs 0.689 vs 0.547 for ECE, and 0.775 vs 0.755 vs 0.641 for SVI, respectively.• The overall accuracy of the 2007 Partin tables was clearly inferior in patients with prostate cancers detected by SRBx. • Prostate cancers detected by SRBx undermine the Partin tables' overall accuracy, and this group of patients may be miscounselled by vague predictions.

low and intermediate risk vs. high risk). The BRFS rates in the NCCN low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 79.8%, 82.6%, and 46.8%, respectively (P 0.0001 at low and intermediate risk vs. high risk). There was no statistically significant difference in BRFS between low-and intermediate-group in any risk stratifications. CONCLUSIONS: The present risk stratification systems applied for biochemical recurrence after surgery could not discriminate Lowand Int-risk group in Japanese population. A new risk stratification is necessary for Asian population.

Objectives To evaluate different clinical parameters in association with the presence and severity of varicocele in a large group of Austrian men. Methods Records of 716 consecutive patients with clinical varicocele and infertility, who visited our andrology unit from 2001 to 2007, were retrospectively evaluated. The presence, grade, and side of any varicocele were recorded; varicoceles were confirmed by Doppler sonography. Semen samples, serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and testosterone levels were also assessed in all patients. Results Mean age was 29.6 ± 0.3 years; 30% of patients presented with grade I varicocele, 39.0% with grade II, and 30.3% with grade III varicocele. About 33.3% of patients presented with normozoospermia, followed by asthenozoospermia (17.9%), oligoasthenoteratozoospermia syndrome (14.2%), and oligozoospermia (13.2%). Sperm density significantly decreased with increasing grade of varicocele. Body mass index was inversely proportional to varicocele. Serum testosterone levels were higher in grade III varicoceles (5.7 ± 0.2 nmol/L) compared with grade I (4.9 ± 0.2 nmol/L) and grade II (5.0 ± 0.1 nmol/L) varicoceles (P Conclusions To our knowledge the current report is the first to describe a direct relationship between grade of varicocele and semen quality. Grade III varicocele was associated with decreased semen quality and, interestingly, with higher testosterone levels. Our study confirmed previous reports regarding the relationship between varicoceles and body mass index.

Objective: We report our own experience with the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) for the management of postradiation hemorrhagic cystitis. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 14 patients from 2001 to 2007 with different pelvic organ malignancies who developed radiation cystitis after irradiation. Patients received 100% oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber at a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres absolute, 60 min bottom time, once a day, 7 days a week for at least 1 month. In principle, 30 HBO treatments per course were performed. After every course of HBO treatments, therapeutic effect was evaluated. The mean duration of follow-up of all patients was 18 months (range: 1–6 years). Results: Patients were divided into 2 groups, group 1 (treatment group, n = 10) and group 2 (without treatment, n = 4). The mean duration between the onset of hematuria and the beginning of HBO therapy was 8.9 months (range: 3–34). Group 2 did not receive HBO because they were not healthy enough. Only 2 patients (20%) of group 1 recovered from their hemorrhagic cystitis. Group 1 had a significantly lower cure rate of postirradiation hemorrhagic cystitis in comparison to group 2. Conclusions: Our experience with the use of HBO did not yield favorable results. Randomized well-controlled studies are needed.

We report a case of descending colon carcinoma metastasized to the left spermatic cord, testis, and epididymis. A 77-year old male patient underwent a left hemicolectomy for a descending colon cancer. He was referred to our department because of swelling and pain of the left scrotum two years and six months after surgery. High left orchiectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed a metastasis of the colon carcinoma within the spermatic cord and epididymis approaching the testicle. Reports on metastatic cancer of the testis are scarce, because this metastatic cancer is extremely rare. In general, testicular pain is rare in the elderly. We suggest that any elder presenting with testicular pain deserves a complete clinical and diagnostic evaluation.

Treatment of pediatric urolithiasis requires a thorough metabolic and urological evaluation on an individual basis. The objective of our case report was to determine the efficiency and the role of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in the treatment of pediatric urolithiasis. In this case report we reported our own experience in the management of staghorn and calyceal stones in both kidneys with SWL. In our case, clearance of multiple staghorn stones and a calyceal stone was obtained without any complications after 7 sessions of SWL over 2 months.

An uncommon case of Fournier's gangrene following hydrocelectomy is described. A 78-year-old male with no remarkable previous history, who underwent hydrocelectomy in another hospital, developed Fournier's gangrene 15 days later. The patient required wide aggressive surgical debridement, hyperbaric oxygen chamber and broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage. Afterwards the patient was referred for plastic surgery. Fournier's gangrene is a polymicrobial infection of perineoscrotal region that manifests as a rapidly progressive necrotizing fasciitis. Fournier's gangrene following hydrocelectomy is uncommon. The morbidity and mortality in this severe complication depend on early diagnosis and aggressive surgical management.

Radical open nephrectomy is considered the standard treatment for kidney tumors or masses greater than 10 cm. We present a rare case of acute pancreatitis that occurred after right radical transperitoneal nephrectomy, which was treated by nonsurgical conservative interventions. The incidence of acute pancreatitis after renal surgery is not known in the literature. A 56-year-old man developed acute pancreatitis postoperatively after radical transperitoneal nephrectomy. An initial CT scan showed an enlarged pancreas with hypodense, heterogeneous consistency and with peripancreatic, perihepatic, mesenteric, and pelvic fluid collections. This complication was managed conservatively.