[Hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy vs. open nephrectomy in the treatment of clinically localized renal cell carcinoma. Comparative study].

Introduction: The description of the first laparoscopic nephrectomy made a revolution in the managing of the benign and malignant renal diseases. Hand-assisted laparoscopy (HAL) was developed with the aim of offering advantages to both patients and surgeons. The aim of the present work is to compare, in our experience, the results offered in the radical nephrectomy by HAL and open surgery, by analysis of surgical time, estimated blood loss during surgery and hospital stay.

[Infiltrating bladder carcinoma and adrenal incidentaloma. Report of one case. Bibliographic review].

Objectives: We report one case of left adrenal tumor discovered during the study of an infiltrating bladder carcinoma. We discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the clinical case.

Methods: Surgical procedure was undertaken with radical cystectomy and Bricker's type urinary diversion, plus adenomectomy by anterior approach.

[Magnetic resonance urogram as alternative to i.v. urography. Report of 3 cases. Review of the literature].

Objectives: Intravenous urography (IVU) has been classically considered as an essential examination in the great majority of urologic diseases due to the great amount of information that supplies both functional and morphological, mainly for ureteral abnormalities where other exams do not reach enough definition. Nevertheless, there are cases in which it is not possible to perform an intravenous urography due to allergy to iodine contrasts or renal failure with impossibility of contrast excretion.

Methods: We report three cases which represent the example of the indications of MRI urography as an alternative to IVU in cases in which this latter cannot or should not be performed.

[Dissecting aneurysm of the renal artery in patient with transplantation. Report of a case. Review of the literature].

Objectives: Aneurysmatic processes of the renal artery after transplant are rare entities, generally secondary to technical defects or infectious pictures. Among other presentations, dissecting aneurysm are exceptional, having a particularly difficult diagnosis due to the lack of specific clinical data which could differentiate them from other processes such as graft rejection or acute tubular necrosis, as well as the absence of characteristic representative images.

Methods: We report one case of dissecting aneurysm after a kidney transplant resulting in graft loss.

[Controversies in the evaluation of asymptomatic microhematuria].

Objective: Asymptomatic microhematuria continues to be a problem. It has a prevalence of 16% and numerous conditions can present this clinical manifestation.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out on all patients that consulted at the urological services during 2000 for asymptomatic hematuria.