[Percutaneous removal of a large calculus in Indiana pouch using a laparoscopic entrapment bag].

A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital for evaluation of large urinary-diversion calculus. He had undergone urinary diversion for invasive bladder cancer with an Indiana pouch, when he was 52 years old. We performed the surgery using a laparoscopic trocar and an entrapment bag, for reducing the risk of bladder damage by the lithoclast and small residual fragments of the calculus.

[Relationship between type of suture and anastomotic stricture after radical prostatectomy].

We evaluated the relationship between the type of suture and occurrence of anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). From April 2005 to February 2008, 48 RRP were performed. In the former 24 cases, 2-0 absorbable braided sutures were used (group A), and in the latter 24 cases, 3-0 absorbable monofilament sutures were used (group B) in the vesicourethral anastomosis.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the urinary bladder is rare. It is a type of neuroendocrine carcinoma morphologically distinct from small cell carcinoma. We report here a case of primary LCNEC of the urinary bladder.

[Multi-institute survey on actual conditions of urologic management for severe bladder dysfunction after hysterectomy].

We conducted a multi-institute survey on the conditions related to urologic management of severe voiding dysfunction after hysterectomy for uterine cancer with or without postoperative irradiation. Our first study population was a group of adult female patients currently managed by urologists, using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Of the 287 patients in this group, 99 (34%) had suffered from uterine cancer.

Severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas successfully controlled by transarterial embolization and adjuvant administration of Sunitinib Malate.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas rarely causes massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Management of patients who cannot undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy is difficult. Here, we report a case of severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage that was successfully controlled by combination therapy of transarterial embolization and Sunitinib Malate administration.

Clinical outcome of conservative therapy with transurethral resection for patients with invasive bladder cancer who cannot tolerate cystectomy.

Among patients with invasive bladder cancer, there are patients who cannot tolerate cystectomy due to high age or comorbidities. We retrospectively reviewed 27 patients who were treated conservatively with transurethral resection (TUR). All patients had undergone TUR and 5 patients had received subsequent pelvic radiation therapy.

[Experience on the use of extra slim gastrointestinal endoscopes in ileal conduit endoscopy].

Using extra slim gastrointestinal endoscopes, we have examined ileal conduits in two patients. This endoscope has almost the same caliber as a flexible cystoscope and has multiple manipulation levers and channels as ordinal gastrointestinal endoscopes. It is often difficult to examine ileal conduits with flexible cystoscopes because ileal conduits lack continent mechanisms and cannot be dilated adequately with water irrigation.

Immune thrombocytopenia during interferon-alfa therapy for renal cell carcinoma.

Immune thrombocytopenia is a rare complication of interferon-alfa (IFN-alpha). A patient with renal cell carcinoma developed severe thrombocytopenia during therapy with purified IFN-alpha. The patient's exposure to IFN, exclusion of other causes, and bone marrow biopsy were consistent with drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia.

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome in a case of small cell carcinoma of the bladder manifesting as severe muscle weakness.

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with small cell carcinoma. However, ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome is rare in association with small cell carcinoma of the bladder. We report what we believe to be the first case of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome associated with small cell carcinoma of the bladder that manifested as severe muscle weakness due to hypokalemia.

[Clinical review of conservative management of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma].

We reviewed 18 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter undergoing nephron-sparing surgery between April 1990 and Febrary 2003. The mean age of the patients, 17 males and one female, was 69 years (range 33-88 years). The tumor site was the renal pelvis in 2, ureter in 13 and ureteral orfice in 2.

Superior anti-tumor efficacy of bicalutamide 80 mg in combination with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist versus LHRH agonist monotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced prostate cancer: interim results of a randomized study in Japanese patients.

Objectives: To evaluate bicalutamide (Casodex) 80 mg as a component of maximum androgen blockade (MAB) in Japanese patients with previously untreated advanced prostate cancer.

Methods: 205 patients with previously untreated stage C/D prostate cancer were randomized (1:1) to receive once-daily bicalutamide 80 mg or placebo, each combined with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist. Primary study variables were the 12 week prostate-specific antigen (PSA) normalization (i.