International Alliance of Urolithiasis Guideline on Shockwave Lithotripsy.

Different international associations have proposed their own guidelines on urolithiasis. However, the focus is primarily on an overview of the principles of urolithiasis management rather than step-by-step technical details for the procedure. The International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) is releasing a series of guidelines on the management of urolithiasis.

How can and should we optimize extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy?

It is well recognized that the popularity of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), despite its non-invasive character, has decreased during recent years. This is partly explained by the technological achievements in endoscopy and urologists' enthusiasm for such procedures. Another explanation is that many urologists have been insufficiently successful with SWL.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer: A Review.

Over the past 25 years, the average life expectancy for men has increased almost 4 years, and the age of prostate cancer detection has decreased an average of 10 years with diagnosis increasingly made at early-stage disease where curative therapy is possible. These changing trends in the age and extent of malignancy at diagnosis have revealed limitations in conventional curative therapies for prostate cancer, including a significant risk of aggressive cancer recurrence, and the risk of long-term genitourinary morbidity and its detrimental impact on patient's quality of life (QOL). Greater awareness of the shortcomings in radical prostatectomy, external radiotherapy, and brachytherapy has prompted the search for alternative curative therapies that offer comparable rates of cancer control and less treatment-related morbidity to better preserve QOL.

Salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for locally recurrent prostate cancer after failed radiation therapy: Multi-institutional analysis of 418 patients.

Objective: To report the oncological outcome of salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (S-HIFU) for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) from a multicentre database.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study comprises patients from nine centres with local recurrent disease after EBRT treated with S-HIFU from 1995 to 2009. The biochemical failure-free survival (bFFS) rate was based on the 'Phoenix' definition (PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL).

First Clinical Experience with Extracorporeally Induced Destruction of Kidney Stones by Shock Waves.

We performed extracorporeally induced destruction of kidney stones on 72 patients. No complications have resulted from the tissue exposure to high energy shock waves. Clearance studies before and after the shock wave treatment indicate no changes in renal function.

Arguments for choosing extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for removal of urinary tract stones.

At a time when there is an almost unlimited enthusiasm and preference among urologists for endoscopic stone removal, we have found it essential to meet some of the frequently presented arguments on why extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) should not be used. We have based our considerations in this brief article on our 30-35 years' experience with the non-invasive or least invasive technique that SWL represents. Stone disintegration, requirement of repeated treatment sessions, the concern of residual fragments, complications and economic aspects are some points that are discussed.

Salvage ablative therapy in prostate cancer: international multidisciplinary consensus on trial design.

Introduction: Salvage ablative therapy (SAT) has been developed as a form of localized treatment for localized recurrence of prostate cancers following radiation therapy. To better address the utility of SAT, prospective clinical trials must address the aspects of accepted standards in the initial evaluation, treatment, follow-up, and outcomes in the oncology community. We undertook this study to achieve consensus on uniform standardized trial design for SAT trials.

[Shock wave lithotripsy in Germany: Results of a nationwide survey].

Background: Following its introduction in the 1980s extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) became the gold standard for therapy of ureteral and renal calculi. The research data published during the last decade suggest a paradigm shift to endourological techniques.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare whether the suggested loss of status for SWL corresponds with actual real-life treatment in Germany.

Engineering Better Lithotripters.

Although shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) remains an excellent non-invasive method for active removal of stones from the ureter and kidney, its popularity has decreased during recent years and the arguments for choosing endoscopic procedures rather than the only non-invasive surgical procedure are usually based on the opinion that SWL results are inferior to those obtained with endoscopic methods. It is considered that slow technical progress has not sufficiently met the requirements of disintegration, reduced need of repeated treatments, shorter treatment duration and less negative effects on tissues. This article summarises some recently published articles that address these problems and have the aim of improving the function of lithotripters.

Antiplatelet and anticoagulative medication during shockwave lithotripsy.

Background And Purpose: Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is the gold standard treatment of patients with most renal and proximal ureteral calculi. Severe bleeding complications in SWL are extremely rare. Uncorrected bleeding diathesis might increase the risk and is considered to be an absolute contraindication for SWL.

Incidence and risk factors of renal hematoma: a prospective study of 1,300 SWL treatments.

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is the gold standard for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones. Despite being relatively non-invasive, SWL can cause renal hematoma (RHT). The aim of this study was to determine incidence and risk factors for RHT following SWL.

Evolution and outcomes of 3 MHz high intensity focused ultrasound therapy for localized prostate cancer during 15 years.

Purpose: We describe the long-term cancer control and morbidity of high intensity focused ultrasound with neoadjuvant transurethral resection of the prostate, the risk of metastatic induction by transurethral prostate resection, and the evolution of high intensity focused ultrasound application and technology with time.

Materials And Methods: A prospective Harlaching high intensity focused ultrasound database was searched for patients with primary localized prostate cancer (T1-2, N0, M0, PSA at first diagnosis less than 50 ng/ml) and followup longer than 15 months. Those patients with previous long-term androgen deprivation therapy, locally advanced prostate cancer or any therapy influencing prostate specific antigen were excluded from study.

Aspects on how extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy should be carried out in order to be maximally effective.

The present review summarizes the most important considerations and steps for an optimal result of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. The relationship between shockwave path, geometry and anatomical conditions is of utmost importance. Selection of appropriate treatment variables in terms of shockwave number, power and frequency, is an important prerequisite for proper disintegration and prevention of complications.

Complete high-intensity focused ultrasound in prostate cancer: outcome from the @-Registry.

Background: To analyze data on patients with localized prostate cancer who were treated with complete high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) prospectively captured within a voluntary HIFU user database (@-Registry).

Methods: The @-Registry includes data from consecutive patients treated with Ablatherm (EDAP-TMS) HIFU at nine European Centres during the period 1994 and 2009. For this analysis, the data repository was reviewed for information on patients with localized prostate cancer (T1 -- T2) treated with complete (whole-gland) HIFU on the basis of an anterior-posterior prostate height of ≤24 mm and a treated volume >120% of the prostate volume.

Water-jet-aided transurethral dissection of urothelial carcinoma: a prospective clinical study.

Background And Purpose: The application of a water-jet dissector for mucosal elevation was shown to improve resection of lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. We present the first prospective clinical trial on the application of a combined water-jet dissector and needle-knife (HybridKnife) in transurethral dissection (TUD) of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

Patients And Methods: Thirty separate urothelial tumors of the bladder in 17 unselected patients were elevated and dissected with the HybridKnife.

Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound for local treatment of prostate cancer: current role.

Attractivity of robotic high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is based largely on the non-invasive, extremely precise nature of this high-tech robotic therapy as well as its clean, radiation free, surgical, but nevertheless, bloodless character. Today, in urological oncology, HIFU is used clinically as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of prostate cancer. Experimentally it is investigated for therapeutic use in kidney and breast cancer.

Robotic high-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer: what have we learned in 15 years of clinical use?

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging, noninvasive, local treatment of prostate cancer with 15 years of clinical experience, during which about 30,000 HIFU treatments have been performed worldwide. In this paper, we review relevant publications regarding the means by which new and old prostate cancer technologies are evaluated, the outcomes of HIFU by Ablatherm (EDAP TMS, Lyon, France), and the evolution currently underway regarding how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. We show the potential of HIFU to be used as local therapy for men with any stage of prostate cancer and how this additional therapeutic option can fit within the future armamentarium of a sequential multimodal therapy concept.

Shock wave technology and application: an update.

Context: The introduction of new lithotripters has increased problems associated with shock wave application. Recent studies concerning mechanisms of stone disintegration, shock wave focusing, coupling, and application have appeared that may address some of these problems.

Objective: To present a consensus with respect to the physics and techniques used by urologists, physicists, and representatives of European lithotripter companies.

Robot-assisted high-intensity focused ultrasound in focal therapy of prostate cancer.

In one-third of patients, prostate cancer (PCa) is monofocal. These patients can undergo focal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy of the tumor without damage to surrounding structures and not compromising uro-oncologic safety. Robot-assisted HIFU coagulates the entire targeted volume within the prostate transrectally, in one session, without direct tumor contact and without adjuvant endourologic therapy.

High-intensity focused ultrasound in the management of prostate cancer.

The treatment of localized prostate cancer with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been researched since the 1990s and today the treatment is an actively used therapy for the disease. HIFU works in two ways to destroy tissue, namely thermal and mechanical effects. The most recent data on the Ablatherm HIFU device come from an international registry (@-Registry) and indicate a 5-year biochemical survival rate of 85%.

Survival benefit of radical prostatectomy in lymph node-positive patients with prostate cancer.

Background: Positive lymph node (LN) status is considered a systemic disease state. In prostate cancer, LN-positive diagnosis during pelvic LN dissection (PLND) potentially leads to the abandonment of radical prostatectomy (RP).

Objective: To compare the overall survival (OS) and relative survival (RS; as an estimate for cancer-specific survival) in LN-positive patients with or without RP.

[Economic aspects of the treatment of urinary stones. Results of the German Society for Shock Wave Lithotripsy].

Urolithiasis is the disease that leads to the largest number of inpatient treatments in urologic clinics in Germany. It is very important to know the current rules of remuneration for urinary stone therapy and to adjust the relevant clinical pathways. The German Society for Shock Wave Lithotripsy (DGSWL) stressed these economic aspects at its 2009 consensus meeting, since clinical therapy cannot be free of economic restrictions in the long term.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for lower pole calculi smaller than one centimeter.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) has revolutionized the treatment of urinary calculi and became the accepted standard therapy for the majority of stone patients. Only for stones located in the lower calix, ESWL displayed a limited efficacy. Since the stone-free rate seemed to be preferential, endoscopic maneuvers like percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) have been proposed as the primary approach for this stone localization.

[Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound for local treatment of prostate cancer. 2009 Update].

Pulsed robotic high-intensity focused ultrasound (rHIFU) is an interesting therapeutic option mainly due to its noninvasive character. In urologic oncology, rHIFU is used for the transrectal therapy of prostate cancer. While percutaneous therapy of renal cancer using rHIFU is still being tested in experimental studies, transrectal therapy with rHIFU for prostate cancer is already established in more than 230 urologic departments worldwide.