The use of tissue fiducial markers in improving the accuracy of post-prostatectomy radiotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the use of a radiopaque tissue fiducial marker (TFM) in the treatment of prostate cancer patients who undergo post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (PPRT). TFM safety, its role and benefit in quantifying the set-up uncertainties in patients undergoing PPRT image-guided radiotherapy were assessed.

Materials And Methods: A total of 45 consecutive PPRT patients underwent transperineal implantation of TFM at the level of vesicourethral anastomosis in the retrovesical tissue prior to intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Improving rectal dosimetry for patients with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer undergoing combined high-dose-rate brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy with hydrogel space.

Purpose: To report on rectal dosimetric and toxicity outcomes of intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer patients undergoing combined high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with or without hydrogel spacer (HS) insertion.

Material And Methods: A total of 97 patients were analyzed in this study, with 32 patients (33%) who had HS insertion compared with a preceding group of 65 patients (67%) without HS. HS safety, the dosimetric effects on organs at risk (rectal, urethral, penile bulb, and bladder) as well as gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary toxicity were evaluated and compared between the two groups.

High dose rate brachytherapy boost for prostate cancer: Biochemical control and the impact of transurethral resection of the prostate and hydrogel spacer insertion on toxicity outcomes.

Introduction: To examine the long-term outcomes of high dose rate brachytherapy boost (HDR-BT) combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer patients.

Methods: Data from 95 patients who underwent combined EBRT (50.4 Gy) and HDR-BT to the prostate between 2010 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed.

Erectile dysfunction: a global review of intracavernosal injectables.

Purpose: Data assessing the effectiveness of intracavernosal injections (ICIs) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) are limited. This study evaluates intracavernosal injectable therapies for ED and reviews available guidelines that inform clinical practice.

Methods: A systematic search using electronic databases (Medline, Pubmed) was performed for studies investigating injectable management strategies for ED published after 1990.

Gallium-68 Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography in Advanced Prostate Cancer-Updated Diagnostic Utility, Sensitivity, Specificity, and Distribution of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen-avid Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: Accurate staging of high-risk localised, advanced, and metastatic prostate cancer is becoming increasingly more important in guiding local and systemic treatment. Gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) has increasingly been utilised globally to assess the local and metastatic burden of prostate cancer, typically in biochemically recurrent or advanced disease. Following our previous meta-analysis, a high-volume series has been reported highlighting the utility of Ga-PSMA PET in this setting.

Men's health on the web: an analysis of current resources.

Introduction: Men's health research covers a broad range of topics. Men and women face different barriers to health, with men almost universally having a lower life expectancy than women. Access to high-quality information on men's health topics is potentially an important part of engaging men with medical services.

Quality of Health Information on the Internet for Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: To compare (1) the quality of prostate cancer health information on the Internet, (2) the difference in quality between websites appearing earlier or later in the search, and (3) the sources of sponsorship for each of these websites.

Materials And Methods: The top 150 listed websites on the Google search engine for each of the 11 search terms related to prostate cancer were analysed. Quality was assessed on whether the website conforms to the principles of the Health On the Net Foundation.

Primary transitional cell carcinoma of penis - A rare presentation.

Primary transitional cell carcinoma arising from the anterior portion of the male urethra is rare, with no recent cases reported in the literature. We present a case of penile TCC with positive urine cytology and a delayed definitive diagnosis.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Active Surveillance Strategies for Men with Low-risk Prostate Cancer.

Background: Active surveillance (AS) has become the recommended management strategy for men with low-risk prostate cancer. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the optimal follow-up schedule in terms of the tests to perform and their frequency.

Objective: To assess the costs and benefits of different AS follow-up strategies compared to watchful waiting (WW) or immediate treatment.

PSMA PET applications in the prostate cancer journey: from diagnosis to theranostics.

The heterogeneity of prostate cancer has made imaging modalities of crucial importance in this disease. Accurate diagnosis and staging of the volume and extent of disease, especially in advanced and metastatic prostate cancer, can help to tailor the timing and modalities of treatment. While MRI has been effective in the detection of significant prostate cancer, its use in the identification and quantification of extraprostatic disease is limited.

Penile cancer information on the internet: a needle in a haystack.

Introduction: Penile cancer is a disease with high morbidity and mortality and is rare in developed countries. In the developing world, the incidence is significantly higher, and accounts for 1-2% of malignant disease in men. Penile cancer is associated with delayed diagnosis, often due to psychological factors.

Analysis of social media use among Australian and New Zealand otolaryngologists.

Background: Social media's rapid worldwide growth has permeated surgical practice. To date, no study has evaluated social media use amongst Australian and New Zealand otolaryngologists.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of all members of the Australian and New Zealand Societies of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery with comprehensive searches of websites and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Instagram) was performed.

Machine learning to support social media empowered patients in cancer care and cancer treatment decisions.

Background: A primary variant of social media, online support groups (OSG) extend beyond the standard definition to incorporate a dimension of advice, support and guidance for patients. OSG are complementary, yet significant adjunct to patient journeys. Machine learning and natural language processing techniques can be applied to these large volumes of unstructured text discussions accumulated in OSG for intelligent extraction of patient-reported demographics, behaviours, decisions, treatment, side effects and expressions of emotions.

Robotic Assisted Radical Cystectomy vs Open Radical Cystectomy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes important to patients in those undergoing robot-assisted and open radical cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: Multiple scientific databases were searched up to July 2018 for randomized, controlled trials comparing robot-assisted and open radical cystectomy. The primary outcomes of interest were disease progression, major (Clavien III-V) complications and 90-day quality of life.

Fiducial markers: can the urologist do better?

Introduction: Radiotherapy to the bladder has a risk of toxicity to pelvic structures, which can be reduced by using fiducial markers for targeting. Injectable contrast offers an alternative marker to gold seeds, which may fall out or exacerbate scarring. Combining contrast agents with tissue glue can minimize dispersion through tissue, enhancing its utility.

The use of hydrogel spacer in men undergoing high-dose prostate cancer radiotherapy: results of a prospective phase 2 clinical trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the degree of prostate to rectal separation using a hydrogel spacer (HS) and its effect on decreasing rectal dose can be reproduced in the community setting.

Methods: Thirty one patients with cT1-3aN0M0 prostate adenocarcinoma receiving radical radiotherapy to 78 Gy were recruited to the study. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving at least 25% reduction in volume of rectum receiving 70 Gy (rV70).

Robotic-assisted vs. open radical prostatectomy: A machine learning framework for intelligent analysis of patient-reported outcomes from online cancer support groups.

Background: The advantages of Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RARP) over open radical prostatectomy (ORP) in Prostate cancer perioperatively are well-established, but quality of life is more contentious. Increasingly, patients are utilising online cancer support groups (OCSG) to express themselves. Currently there is no method of analysis of these sophisticated data sources.

Stereotactic Abative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Clinical Trial.

Background: Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is an emerging treatment option for oligometastatic prostate cancer. However, limited prospective evidence is available.

Objective: To determine the safety and feasibility of single fraction SABR for patients with oligometastatic prostate cancer.

Analysis of a practical surgical skills laboratory for nerve sparing radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: With the rapidly expanding anatomical and technical knowledge surrounding nervesparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP), anatomical and operative textbooks have failed to keep pace with the literature. A surgical skill laboratory (SSL) was designed to educate urology trainees on surgical anatomy and techniques for NSRP. The objective was to assess the validity of a SSL program.