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In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the experiences at our single institute in the treatment of malignant extrinsic ureteral obstruction (MUO) using ureteral stents to investigate the clinical outcomes and the predictive factors of stent failure. In 52 ureters of 38 patients who had radiologically significant hydronephrosis due to MUO, internal ureteral stents (The BARD(R) INLAY(TM) ureteral stent set) were inserted. The median follow-up interval after the initial stent insertion was 124.5 days (4-1,120). Stent failure occurred in 8 ureters (15.4%) of the 7 patients. The median interval from the first stent insertion to stent failure was 88 days (1-468). A Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that the significant predictors of stent failure were bladder invasion. Based on the possibility of stent failure, the adaptation of the internal ureteral stent placement should be considered especially in a patient with MUO combined with bladder invasion.

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a rare form of acute complicated urinary tract infection (UTI). We report a case of EC with bladder diverticulum. A 77-year-old man who had a medical history of diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of macrohematuria and pneumaturia. Based on the findings of an abdominal computed tomography and cystoscopy, the diagnosis of EC and bladder diverticulum was made with its characteristic feature being gas within the bladder wall and lumen and a cystic lesion from the bladder. His condition improved immediately with a combination of bladder drainage and appropriate antibiotics. The cystography revealed a very large diverticulum causing incomplete bladder emptying and stagnation of urine. We considered diabetes mellitus and a large amount of residual urine after urination due to bladder diverticulum and neurogenic bladder as the possible causal factors of EC in this case.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of a new staging criterion, submucosal linear enhancement (SLE) on gadolinium-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an endorectal surface coil (endorectal enhanced MRI), and to compare the accuracy of this method with that of transurethral ultrasonography (TUUS). Patients and methodsThe study included 71 patients with bladder tumours (63 men and eight women, mean age 65.5 years, range 31–85). The SLE coincided with abundant submucosal vascular beds, as reported in a previous study. When the SLE beneath the tumour maintained continuity, the tumour was diagnosed as superficial ( T1), but if the SLE was interrupted by the tumour, the disease was considered invasive ( T2a). Superficial muscle invasion (less than half the muscle layer) and deep muscle invasion (more than half the muscle layer) were classified as T2a and T2b, respectively. When the tumour formed an extravesical mass, the tumour was classified as T3b. ResultsThe staging accuracy for bladder tumours using SLE on endorectal-enhanced MRI or TUUS was 83% and 60%, respectively (P

Background Although radical nephrectomy is the standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma, nephron-sparing surgery is the preferred treatment in patients with a single functioning kidney. It is important before surgery to evaluate the level of residual renal function likely after the operation. In this study, we investigated the prediction of residual renal function, using technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) renal scintigraphy, before nephron-sparing surgery for renal tumors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate normal bladder wall morphology in gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using an endorectal surface coil and to perform histological assessment of submucosal linear enhancement with experimental [14C]-gadolinium-tetraazacyclododecane-tetraacetic acid (Gd-DOTA) autoradiography. Methods and material: MR imaging of the bladder was performed using an endorectal coil in 13 consecutive patients with bladder carcinoma and T1-, T2-, and Gd-DTPA-enhanced spin-echo images of the bladder wall were compared. After injection of [14C]Gd-DOTA into a hamster, autoradiograms of the bladder wall were obtained and compared with serial histological sections. Results: The normal bladder wall appeared as a homogeneous layer of intermediate intensity on T1-weighted images. After administration of Gd-DTPA, the bladder wall was visualized as three layers: an inner thin layer of low intensity, a middle layer of marked enhancement, and a thick outer layer of intermediate intensity. The autoradiograms demonstrated dense accumulation of [14C]Gd-DOTA in the submucosal layer. Thus, the inner, middle, and outer layers corresponded to the mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis propria, respectively. The thickness of the bladder wall demonstrated on T2-weighted images was almost equal to that of the outer layer on enhanced T1-weighted images. Thus, T2-weighted images revealed only the muscle layer as an intermediate-intensity band. In the preliminary clinical study, MR imaging invariably showed accurate stages of the bladder carcinoma in 13 patients. Conclusion: In MR imaging of the normal bladder wall, the submucosa was strikingly enhanced after Gd-DTPA administration, separating the bladder wall into three layers. This may have a potential role in the staging of bladder tumors.

A case of emphysematous pyelonephritis successfully treated by multiple, computed tomography (CT)- guided, percutaneous drainage procedures. A 63-year-old female with complaints of high-grade fever and vomiting was transferred to our hospital with leukocytosis and hyperglycemia. CT revealed a gas shadow widespread not only in the left renal parenchyma but also in the retroperitoneal space with extension to the right pararenal space. Under a diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis, CT-guided percutaneous drainage was performed immediately, and a drainage catheter was placed in the retroperitoneal space. However, because a single drainage with medical management was not completely effective, a second drainage procedure was performed. She recovered, and the catheters were removed after four months. A left perinephric abscess and cutaneous fistula formation were localized and almost completely resolved after one year.

We report a case of leiomyosarcoma in the bladder which occurred in an 18-year-old boy who had been treated with cyclophosphamide over a period of 6 years for retinoblastoma diagnosed 50 days postpartum. Total cystectomy and formation of an ileal conduit were performed. Three years after the operation, he was tumor-free.

We report a 41-year-old man with bladder cancer who developed polyuria following successful treatment of hypercalcemia and who was found to have a transitional cell carcinoma within the pituitary gland at autopsy. He also had widespread bone metastases. Although primary urogenital cancers rarely metastasize to the pituitary, the patient's clinical course led us to suspect metastatic disease from the bladder cancer. Metastasis to the pituitary gland is more common than generally thought and should be considered in patients with advanced cancer who develop polyuria and polydipsia.

During the 7 years from 1980 to 1986, 2860 cases of bladder tumors were registered in the Tokai Urological Cancer Registry. Among the 2860 cases, 2304 cases were selected from the registered cases for the present study. The 5-year relative (actual) survival rates were 73.8% (61.9%) of all patients; 48.9% (42.4%) in those with malignant neoplasma of urinary bladder excluding transitional cell carcinoma; 48.8% (41/3%) in those with mixed tumor. In patients with transitional cell carcinoma, the 5-year relative (actual survival rates were 93.7% (78.8%) for G1, 87.2% (74.1%) for G2 and 47.3% (38.9%) for G3. As to staging, the 5-year survival rates were 101.9% (88.0%), 87.6% (75.3%), 57.9% (47.8%), 33.7% (28.2%) and 6.1% (5.0%) in patients with stage of Ta, T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The tumors with muscle infiltration and high grade malignancy obviously deteriorated patients' survival. The 5-year relative (actual) survival rate for patients treated with TUR was 98.1% (82.2%). As to grading, the 5-year survival rates were 102.2% (86.6%) for G1, 104.3% (88.3%) for G2 and 56.9% (48.3%) for G3. The 5-year survival rates of those with Ta, T1 and T2 were 103.9% (89.7%), 96.0% (82.6) and 61.1% (49.1%), respectively. The 5-year relative (actual) survival rate for patients undergoing total cystectomy was 62.4% (52.3%). In those patients, the 5-year survival rates were 96.7% (80.9%) for G1, 63.6% (55.7%) for G2 and 55.4% (47.1%) for G3. As to staging, the 5-year survival rates were 102.3% (90.6%), 77.8% (68.2%), 56.3% (47.9%), 41.8% (34.9%) and 15.2% (13.1%) in patients with stage of Ta, T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The 3 and 5-year relative (actual) survival rates in patients with advanced bladder tumors were 5.3% (4.8%) and 0.87% (0.73%), respectively.

In 76 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) we assessed the therapeutic effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and the outcome of curative resection by analyzing changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets to try to find prognostic indices. The percentage of activated CD8-positive cells present in blood samples before IFN-alpha therapy was significantly higher in progressive disease (PD) patients who died within 8 months than in PD patients who survived for more than 18 months. The high percentage of activated CD8-positive cells present in postoperative blood samples was the most remarkable characteristic in patients in which RCC recurred. Multivariate analysis showed that the percentage of activated CD8-positive cells in postoperative blood samples was the only predictor of recurrence (hazard ratio 1.29, p value 0.02). Thus, the high percentage of activated CD8-positive cells in postoperative blood samples is, therefore, a useful indicator of poor prognosis.

We report a clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) in a young adult with multiple liver and bone metastases who was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Combination chemotherapy consisting of vinblastine, acti-nomycin D, cyclophosphamide, pepleomycin, cisplatin (modified VAB-6 regimen) and arterial infusion of mitomycin C and doxorubicin into the hepatic artery resulted in the complete disappearance of the liver metastasis. Although systemic and localized combination chemotherapies were very effective against the liver metastasis, the clinical course was that of high-grade malignancy, resulting in death with brain metastasis 32 months after tumor resection. Differing from typical Wilms tumor in children, the treatment of CCSK has been a subject of controversy, particularly in the advanced and adult type. Nevertheless, we consider that the multimodal treatment has an important role in the stabilization of metastatic lesions even at an advanced stage in the adult type of CCSK.

Mean nuclear volumes (MNVs) of bladder cancer cells from the specimens of 100 patients were estimated by stereological procedure. The value of MNVs of bladder cancer were ranged widely, from 114.6 to 1,041.9 microns3. However, strong correlation was observed between MNV and histopathological grade and stage. Furthermore, the MNV predicts the biological behavior including the malignant potential and prognosis of the patient. Patients with MNV below 315 microns3 had significantly better prognosis than those with MNV above this value (p0.01). The 5- and 10-year survival rates for patients with MNV below 315 micron3 were both 97%, while those for patients with MNV above 315 microns3 were 65 and 58%, respectively. MNVs of the recurrent tumors were significantly increased, compared with those of the initial tumors (p0.01). MNV of extirpated tumor specimens following chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and Adriamycin through balloon-occluded arterial infusion (BOAI) was significantly decreased, compared with that before BOAI (p0.01). We conclude that the MNV is an excellent predictor for the prognosis of the patient and the tumor recurrence. Furthermore, the stereological estimation of nuclear volume is a simple, quick, inexpensive, and reliable method to assess quantitative analysis of the histological and biological character of bladder cancer.

99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy was carried out in 54 patients with unilateral renal stones before and after PNL. Four to 8 weeks after PNL the DMSA renal uptake significantly decreased to 17.2 +/- 6.0% from 18.2 +/- 6.7% before PNL. DMSA renal uptake did not change in the contralateral side. Since in some patients changes in the DMSA renal uptake of 5-7% were observed after PNL not only in the PNL side but also in the contralateral side, the renal function was assessed by the formula: DMSA renal uptake in the PNL side/DMSA renal uptake in the contralateral side, and the change of this ratio was evaluated in 44 patients, in whom the renal DMSA uptake in the PNL side was less than two times that in the contralateral side. The DMSA renal uptake ratio decreased to 95.6 +/- 8.7% from the base line 4-8 weeks after PNL. This change was statistically significant. Some functional risks such as massive bleeding with PNL, the fever after PNL and the number of nephrostomy tract did not affect the decrease in the renal function. In 29 patients in whom renal function was reevaluated one year after PNL, the DMSA renal uptake ratio significantly decreased to 94.2 +/- 9.6% from the base line 4-8 weeks after PNL. But the ratio significantly improved to 99.6 +/- 11.6% about one year after PNL. In two patients with a cold area on the renal image, the renal function of the operated side still remained at about 80% levels from the base line even one year after PNL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We took cultures of many human renal cell cancers and established two cell lines in vitro which were derived from the spindle cell carcinoma of a 67-year-old woman (MR-1) and from the dark cell carcinoma of a 74-year-old woman (MR-2). Using a nude mouse, we established the cell line in vivo (MRV) which was derived from the same patient as that for MR-1. MR-2 was maintained through 140 passages and MR-2 110 passages. MRV was maintained through 7 passages. With passaging, the characteristics, the doubling times and the chromosomal numbers of these cell lines changed, these changes were caused by the transformation, the mutation and the selection of the passaging cells. The study of the sensitivity test of the anti-cancer drugs to the established cell lines was done using the radioisotope uptake assay in vitro and the tumor volume changes in nude mice in vivo. We considered there were differences between the effective drugs used in vitro assay and in vivo assay. As to radioisotope uptake assay, it is difficult to judge the exact effect of the plant alkaloids, which inhibit the cell division and are dependent on the contact time, and we may overestimate the effect of the cytotoxic antibiotics. Further investigation on the methodology of the sensitivity test of the anti-cancer drugs would be necessary for the clinical application.

A patient with a huge pelvic fibromatosis, a form of intra-abdominal desmoid, encroaching on the urinary bladder is described. Because of its rarity, there is frequently a lack of diagnostic awareness

We describe a male subject with 3 Y chromosomes who presented with complaints of lack of sexual desire and failure to achieve rigid erection. The patient was tall and had markedly incurved little fingers on both hands as well as small testes. Karyotype was 48, XYYY. The patient’s parents had normal karyotypes. Endocrinological profile suggested a primary functional disturbance of the gonads. Testicular biopsy demonstrated atrophic seminiferous tubules without spermatogenesis. To our knowledge this case represents the third instance of a man with an 48, XYYY karyotype without mosaicism.