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Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) commonly causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. Holmium (HoLEP) and thulium (ThuLEP) laser enucleation are established techniques for BPH treatment. Thulium fiber laser (TFL) for prostate enucleation (ThuFLEP) shows promising outcomes., Methods: A prospective randomized multicenter study was conducted. Patients with BPH and LUTS unresponsive to medical therapy were enrolled. Preoperative, surgical, perioperative and postoperative data were recorded with follow-up at 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome was functional improvement, and the secondary outcome was safety in terms of complications., Results: Two hundred patients were included (HoLEP 100, ThuFLEP 100). No significant baseline difference was found between groups. At 3 and 6 months we found statistically significant improvements from baseline for both HoLEP and ThuFLEP in efficacy: International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS), IPSS-Quality of Life (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual volume (PVR; P<0.05). At 6 months, mean±SD IPSS, IPSS-QoL, Qmax, and PVR for HoLEP vs. ThuFLEP were 5.8±4.9 vs. 4.8±5.0 points (P=0.57), 1.6±1.4 vs. 0.7±1.1 points (P=0.09), 29.9±12.5 vs. 29.6±8.0 mL/s (P=0.8), and 16.3±17.7 vs. 15.5±13.4 mL (P=0.92), respectively. No intraoperative complication was recorded. No Clavien-Dindo ≥III complications occurred during hospitalization. After 6 months, 8 (8%) and 6 (6%) patients reported mild stress urinary incontinence in HoLEP and ThuFLEP groups, respectively (P=0.24). Urethral stenosis was observed in 3 men (3%) in the HoLEP group and 1 subject (1%) in the ThuFLEP group (P=0.72)., Conclusions: HoLEP and ThuFLEP are effective and safe for BPH treatment, with comparable functional outcomes and complication rates at 6 months. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Objectives: To compare the detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) and prostate cancer (PC) and to find out the diagnostic concordance between microultrasound (mUS), a high-resolution imaging system that can identify suspicious prostate lesions and biopsy them in real time, and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-guided prostate fusion biopsies., Methods: A prospective, multicenter, single-blind, single cohort study was conducted involving 80 patients with clinically suspected PC who underwent concomitant mpMRI-guided fusion prostate biopsy (Koelis System) and mUS-guided biopsy (ExactVu System) RESULTS: The detection rate of csPC was slightly higher for image-guided fusion biopsy (21.25% vs 18.75%), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = .453). There was also no significant difference in overall PC diagnosis (50% vs 51.25%, P = .897). The degree of agreement between the 2 diagnostic techniques for the detection of csPC as assessed by Cohen's Kappa concordance index was satisfactory κ ̂ = 0.676. The degree of International Society of Urological Pathology of targeted biopsies obtained from concordant lesions was also represented by satisfactory concordance with a Kappa index of κ ̂ = 0. 696., Conclusion: mUS-guided biopsy is presented as an effective diagnostic method for the diagnosis of csPC compared to image-guided fusion biopsy. No differences are found in the detection rates of csPC and PC between the 2 strategies and satisfactory concordance is found in terms of histopathological findings., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Leiomyomas are benign mesenchymal tumors which originate from smooth muscle cells. Extrauterine leiomyomas are rare and they may arise where smooth muscle cells are found. Their diagnosis is challenging due to their heterogeneous ways of presentation. Histological analysis may reveal areas of sarcomatous differentiation; therefore, complete resection of the entire tumor is the only curative treatment. There is no adjuvant therapy proved to increase overall survival. It is essential to develop a standardized protocol, detailing how to follow up these patients since it is not reported in the literature to date; however, it is advisable to follow them because the local recurrence rate is high if small implants remain. In this review, we present 3 cases of extrauterine leiomyomas diagnosed and treated in our hospital. The management was different in each case, highlighting the heterogeneity of this condition. According to the literature, there are no solid guidelines on their management. We compare our experience with the data available to date in order to support the existing knowledge and provide our expertise for future studies., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of 18 F-Choline PET/CT in the initial staging of high-risk prostate cancer (PC), and to compare it with conventional imaging techniques and to assess the changes in therapeutic attitude derived from its results., Secondary Objectives: To assess the concordance between 18 F-Choline PET/CT and conventional study and to find related prognostic factors., Material and Methods: Retrospective observational study of 78 patients with high-risk PC undergoing 18 F-Choline PET/CT after conventional initial staging (CT + BS). Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of 18 F-Choline PET/CT and CT + BS were calculated. The golden standard was histological result or follow-up. Tumor characteristics were collected and univariate and multivariate analyzes were performed., Results: The median age was 67 years old and mean PSA was 42.39 ng/mL. The sensitivity, specificity and NPV in global initial staging for PET/CT 18 F-Choline and conventional imaging were: 92.9% vs 38.5%, 83.3% vs 42.3%, and 90.9% vs 40.7%, respectively. Lymph node staging: sensitivity 96.3% vs 61.5% and specificity 80% vs 76%, respectively. Bone staging: sensitivity 91.7% vs 21.4% and specificity 97.4% vs 83.8%, respectively. There was agreement in 25 patients (32%) ( p = 0.004), Kappa index 0.134 ( p = 0.011). The treatment was modified in 47.4% patients. PSA, PSADT% positive cores and cT were related to PET results. PSA level <8.9 ng/mL was considered an independent protective factor for positive PET (OR 0.03) (95% CI: 0.002-0.435, p 0.010)., Conclusions: 18 F-Choline PET/CT seems to be superior to CT + BS for initial staging in high-risk PC. It could be considered because its results can change the treatment decision in almost half of the patients.

Introduction: Recently, enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide have shown benefits in metastasis-free survival in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) patients compared to placebo. Previous evidence about the safety profile of these new androgens is limited. This meta-analysis studies seizure and neuropsychiatric effects of new anti-androgens compared to placebo in nmCRPC patients., Methods: PubMed and Cochrane databases were systematically reviewed until 1 March 2020 by 2 independent researchers using a pre-specified search strategy. Placebo-compared randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of nmCRPC patients treated with new anti-androgens providing data on neuropsychiatric events and seizures were included. Variables were seizure, headache, mental impairment, and dizziness. Pooled risk ratios (RR) were calculated using the Mantel-Hansel random effects model and Review Manager v5.3 software., Results: After systematic review, 3 eligible RCTs were selected that included 4,104 patients; 2,687 comprised the treatment group and 1,417 the control group. No significant increase in RR for seizures was registered with the new anti-androgens compared to placebo (RR 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-9.61). However, 2 trials excluded patients with risk factors or a history of seizures. There was also no significant increase RR for grade ≥3 seizures (RR 2.50; 95% CI 0.12-52.02). RR for suffering dizziness (any grade) was 1.57 (95% CI 1.07-2.32) with the new anti-androgens, but no significant differences were found in the other study regarding neuropsychiatric events or grade ≥3 events., Conclusions: New anti-androgens (i.e., enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide) are acceptably safe in terms of seizures and neuropsychiatric toxicity compared to placebo in patients with nmCRPC., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: To assess blood loss during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and investigate the factors influencing it., Patients and Methods: Analysis of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with HoLEP at 3 centers. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured before surgery and hospital discharge. All blood transfusions performed during and after HoLEP were recorded. Blood loss outcomes were analyzed regarding antithrombotic (antiplatelet/anticoagulant) therapies and drug treatments for BPH and other conditions., Results: The analysis included 963 patients with a mean age of 72 years. Mean (range) prostate size was 102 (40-316) g; 28% of patients were receiving antiplatelets and 11% anticoagulants. Mean (range) prostate-specific antigen was 6.0 (0.3-43.5) ng/dL. Mean (range) operation time was 77 (28-178) minutes. Bladder calculi were found in 54 (5.6%) patients; all of them were successfully treated with cystolitholapaxy. Forty-eight (5%) patients required blood transfusion during or immediately after the HoLEP procedure. Overall, mean (SD) hemoglobin decreased from 14.6 (1.5) g/dL to 12.3 (2.1) g/dL (P <.001), and mean (SD) hematocrit decreased from 44.3% (4.7) to 37.7% (6.5) (P <.001). Neither hemoglobin nor hematocrit decreases were significantly different between patients receiving and not receiving antithrombotic therapy or BPH therapy., Conclusion: HoLEP is safe and has no remarkable impact on blood loss. Patients at high risk, such as those receiving antithrombotic therapy, had the same outcome than the rest regarding blood loss, although showed a higher transfusion rate. Operating time may influence hemoglobin decrease; therefore, it should be considered in patients with higher risk of bleeding., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The treatment of metastatic prostate cancer has remained unchanged for more than 70 years, based on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). In 2015, following the CHAARTED and STAMPEDE trials, it was established that the addition of 6 cycles of docetaxel to ADT was associated with significantly increased survival. In June 2017, the LATITUDE trial and the G arm of the STAMPEDE trial showed that the addition of Abiraterone with Prednisone (5 mg/day) to ADT was also associated with a significant increase in survival in metastatic patients. The present study analyzes these two trials., Results: LATITUDE demonstrated a 38% reduction in the risk of death (HR=0.62, 95% CI, 0.61-0.76) in almost all sub-groups. Risk reduction for radiological progression was 53% (HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.39-0.55). Secondary objectives such as prostate specific antigen progression, time to chemotherapy or a new skeletal event are also significantly delayed. STAMPEDE also showed that the combination of Abiraterone and Prednisone is associated with a 37% increase in survival (HR=0.63, 95% CI, 0.52- 0.76, p<0.001) in metastatic patients, but not in nonmetastatic patients. Progression-free survival was greatly improved in this arm (HR=0.29, 95% CI 0.25-0.34, p<0.001). The side effects reported show the known pattern of mineral corticosteroid excess with increased blood pressure, hypokalemia, and of liver enzymes elevation., Conclusions: The indirect comparison of docetaxel and abiraterone studies confirms that both populations and results are comparable. Two comparative indirect metanalysis (>6000 patients) gave marginal superiority to abiraterone. In favor of abiraterone we have that it is an oral, comfortable medication with a good tolerance profile and side effects that are easy to manage, useful in patients who are old and fragile, in whom chemotherapy may not be indicated; the downsides are prolonged exposure to the drug and its current price. Future trials, currently in progress, will determine the ideal patient profile, or a potential association of both therapies.