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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of renal perfusional cortex volume for arterial input function., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 45 potential kidney donors--33 patients with aortic dissection and 12 patients with renovascular hypertension--who underwent both MDCT angiography with 0.5-mm collimation and renal (99m)Tc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) scanning using the modified Gates method. Each perfusional cortex volume for the arterial input function and parenchymal volume was measured by semiautomatic segmentation using the region-growing technique. Linear regression analysis and correlation coefficients were used to assess the impact of the cortical volume, parenchymal volume, and renal scanning glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on estimated GFR (eGFR) using a modified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation., Results: The correlation coefficient was higher for the total renal DTPA GFR adjusted for body surface area, weight-adjusted perfusion cortex volume, and adjusted total parenchyma volume in rank (r = 0.712, 0.642, 0.510, respectively, p< 0.0001 for each). The coefficient of the right renal perfusional cortex volume percent with a mean value of 52.1% ± 10.1% was 0.826 (p < 0.0001) for the right renal DTPA GFR percent with a mean value of 51.0% ± 12.1% (range, 22.0-89.5%), although the value for the right renal parenchymal volume percent with a mean value of 49.5% ± 5.5% was 0.764 (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Weight-adjusted perfusional cortex volume for arterial input function can be measured clinically and may replace renal DTPA scanning using the modified Gates method.

We report a 44-year-old female with lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) of the kidney and retroperitoneum. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a right kidney tumor, and she was referred to our department. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a para-aortic phyma in addition to the tumor. We performed retroperitoneal tumorectomy and partial resection of the right kidney via laparotomy. Pathological findings suggested LAM. LAM usually induces pulmonary lesions and its prognosis is relatively unfavorable. Female hormones are considered to be involved in the aggravation of LAM. The lesion may not have reached the lung in this postmenopausal woman because of the absence of these hormones.

Silodosin (URIEF), a new so-called 3rd generation alpha-1 blocker, is widely expected to be effective and useful for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), due to its high specificity to alpha-1A receptor. We evaluated the efficacy of Silodosin, on 187 males 50 years old or over with the diagnosis of BPH. Silodosin significantly improved the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality of life (QOL) score from the day after administration was started. Among 166 patients whose data were available for the analysis of efficacy of Silodosin, 77.5% showed apparent subjective improvement. Eighty three patients, who had been taking another alpha-1 blocker but without satisfactory effects, showed almost the same improvements in IPSS and QOL score after switching to Silodosin as the remaining 83 patients who had no preceding treatment with an alpha-1 blocker. The improvements were not only in voiding symptoms but also in storage symptoms. The patients, who had serious storage symptoms, responded rather well to Silodosin and showed significant improvement. Taken together, Silodosin showed a quick effect for improving subjective symptoms and QOL, and was found to be useful for the management of LUTS with BPH.

Purpose: Retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy (RRN) has been performed at Yokohama City University Medical Center since May 2002. Three surgeons have become skilled in performing RRN without major complications. We investigated the outcomes of the surgery and attempt to clarify whether the technique we adopted is suitable to perform this procedure safely., Patients and Methods: Between May 2002 and June 2003, 14 patients suspected of renal cell carcinoma underwent retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy at Yokohama City University Medical Center. The surgical procedure is shown below. In a lateral position, a lumbar oblique incision 6 cm long is made to approach the retroperitoneal space. Under direct vision, the ureter is dissected and Gerota's fascia is dissected from the peritoneum and the psoas muscle to signalize the subsequent dissection line. After the dissection, hand port device was attached to the skin and three 12 mm trocars were placed. The subsequent procedures are performed by retroperitoneoscopic surgery with carbon dioxide insufflation. The isolated kidney was removed through the incision that was made initially. We investigated the outcomes of this procedure., Results: The mean surgical duration was 244.4 minutes and mean blood loss was 217.9 ml. Conversion to open surgery was required in one case due to bleeding and in one case due to incomplete management of a small artery. Blood transfusion was not required in any case. There were no major complications during the perioperative period., Conclusions: The three operators have become skilled in performing RRN safely with this technique.

We report a case of bilateral hydronephrosis caused by pseudolymphoma of bilateral renal pelves. A 52-year-old woman with Sjogren's syndrome and bronchial asthma was found to have bilateral hydronephrosis. Abdominal plain computerized tomography showed an irregular thickening of the bilateral renal pelves with moderate hydronephrosis. The gallium scintigraphy revealed intense tracer uptake in bilateral renal pelves. Open biopsy of the right renal pelvis was performed under the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. The pathologic diagnosis was pseudolymphoma of the renal pelvis. Steroid therapy dramatically improved pseudolymphoma and hydronephrosis within a month. There were no signs of recurrence.

Between June 1998 and August 2000, five patients with germ cell tumor were treated with high-dose CEI: carboplatin (1,250 mg/m2), etoposide (1,500 mg/m2), and ifosfamide (7.5 g/m2), followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) at Yokohama City University Hospital. All patients were classified into either poor risk group of International Germ Cell Consensus Classification or advanced extent of Indiana University stage, and received one cycle of high-dose CEI after 4-6 cycles of standard PEB (cisplatin, bleomycin, vinblastin) therapy. Three of the patients achieved complete response, one achieved partial response and one achieved no change after whole treatment. There were no fatal complications and no treatment-related deaths.