Diagnostic Performance and Clinical Impact of PSMA PET/CT versus mpMRI in Patients with a High Suspicion of Prostate Cancer and Previously Negative Biopsy: A Prospective Trial (PROSPET-BX).

Background: This prospective single-arm study is designed to compare in parallel 68Ga-PSMA PET/TRUS (transrectal or transperineal) fusion biopsy ("experimental test") with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI)/TRUS fusion prostate biopsy ("standard test") in men with a high suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) after at least one negative biopsy. The primary objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PSMA PET/TRUS fusion prostate biopsy in comparison to mpMRI/TRUS fusion prostate biopsy analyzed in parallel. Secondarily, we aimed to determine the relationship between the "experimental test" and the histopathological characteristics of the specimen, along with the clinical utility of the "experimental test" compared to the "standard test.

Prospective Evaluation of Ga-labeled Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Ligand Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Primary Prostate Cancer Diagnosis.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand (Ga-PSMA) may represent the most promising alternative to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis.

Objective: To test the diagnostic performance of Ga-PSMA PET/CT in this clinical context.

Design, Setting, And Participants: From January 2017 to December 2018 we prospectively enrolled 97 patients with persistently elevated prostate-specific antigen and/or Prostate Health Index score, negative digital rectal examination, and previous negative biopsy.

Predictive factors for progression of patients with carcinoma in situ of the bladder at long-term follow-up: pure versus non-pure CIS.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the predictive factors for progression defined as any event that shifted the management of the disease from a bladder sparing approach, by comparing patients with pure versus non-pure carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out in consecutive patients affected by newly-diagnosed pure CIS and non-pure CIS (excluding cases with concomitant muscle invasive cancer). All patients were enrolled a in our institution from 1998 to 2010.

Early Catheter Removal After Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Results from a Prospective Single-institutional Randomized Trial (Ripreca Study).

Background: The adoption of robotic technology in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) could lead to improvement in outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate feasibility, to compare functional outcomes, and to assess the economic benefits of removing catheter on the postoperative day (POD) 3 versus POD 5 after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Design, Setting, And Participants: From September 2016 to May 2017, patients selected to undergo RARP for clinically localized PCa at a high-volume center were prospectively randomized into group 1 (POD 3; n=72) versus group 2 (POD 5, n=74).

Long-term outcomes of high-grade T1 bladder cancer treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin: experience of a single center.

Background: To assess the outcomes of patients with high-grade (HG) pT1 bladder cancer (BC) treated with intravesical BCG therapy.

Methods: The study population consisted of 185 patients with HG pT1 BC treated between 1998 and 2010. We aimed to determine recurrence-free (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS), as well as the predictors of RFS and PFS.

Ga-PSMA Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography for Primary Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Men with Contraindications to or Negative Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: Ga labeled prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computerized tomography may represent the most promising imaging modality to identify and risk stratify prostate cancer in patients with contraindications to or negative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective observational study we analyzed Ga labeled prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computerized tomography in a select group of patients with persistently elevated prostate specific antigen and/or Prostate Health Index suspicious for prostate cancer, negative digital rectal examination and at least 1 negative biopsy. The cohort comprised men with equivocal multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System, version 2 score of 2 or less), or an absolute or relative contraindication to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Active Surveillance for Low Risk Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Confirmatory and Resource Consumption Study from the BIAS Project.

Purpose: We investigated predictive factors of failure and performed a resource consumption analysis in patients who underwent active surveillance for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study monitored patients with a history of pathologically confirmed stage pTa (grade 1-2) or pT1a (grade 2) nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, and recurrent small size and number of tumors without hematuria and positive urine cytology. The primary end point was the failure rate of active surveillance.

Targeted 11C-choline PET-CT/TRUS software fusion-guided prostate biopsy in men with persistently elevated PSA and negative mpMRI after previous negative biopsy.

Background: We evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of 11C-choline PET-CT/TRUS fusion-guided prostate biopsy in men with persistently elevated PSA and negative mpMRI or contraindication to MRI, after previous negative biopsy. Clinical data were part of a prospective on-going observational clinical study: "Diagnostic accuracy of target mpMRI/US fusion biopsy in patients with suspected prostate cancer after initial negative biopsy". Patients with a negative biopsy and negative mpMRI (PI-RADS v.

A prospective multicenter European study on flexible ureterorenoscopy for the management of renal stone.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes and the complications of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for renal stones in a multi-institutional working group.

Materials And Methods: From 2012 to 2014, we conducted a prospective study including all RIRS performed for kidney stones in 4 European centers. Demographic information, disease characteristics, and perioperative and postoperative data were gathered.

Active surveillance for low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: mid-term results from the Bladder cancer Italian Active Surveillance (BIAS) project.

Objective: To report the oncological safety and the risk of progression for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) included in an active surveillance (AS) programme after the diagnosis of recurrence.

Patients And Methods: This is a prospective study enrolling patients with history of pathologically confirmed low grade pTa-pT1a NMIBC and diagnosed with a tumour recurrence. Inclusion criteria consisted of negative urine cytology, presence of ≤5 lesions with a diameter of ≤10 mm, absence of carcinoma in situ (CIS) or persistent gross haematuria.

Managing chronic bladder diseases with the administration of exogenous glycosaminoglycans: an update on the evidence.

Although the pathophysiology of acute chronic cystitis and other 'sensory' disorders, i.e. painful bladder syndrome (PBS) or interstitial cystitis (IC), often remains multifactorial, there is a wide consensus that such clinical conditions may arise from a primary defective urothelium lining or from damaged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

Unclassified Renal Cell Carcinoma With Medullary Phenotype Versus Renal Medullary Carcinoma: Lessons From Diagnosis in an Italian Man Found to Harbor Sickle Cell Trait.

Medullary carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor of the kidney. It affects individuals of African descent and all cases reported show evidence of sickle cell trait. We reviewed an unusual carcinoma arising in a white man, the ninth in the literature.

"En Bloc" Resection of Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Prospective Single-center Study.

Objective: To describe our "en bloc" technique for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), assess the quality of resection, and report the midterm oncological outcome.

Materials And Methods: This is an observational prospective longitudinal study, from June 2010 to February 2014, enrolling patients with clinically NMIBC, having tumors of ≤3 cm and ≤4 lesions who underwent electrical en bloc bladder resection. The primary study end point was recurrence-free survival.

Preoperative prostate health index is an independent predictor of early biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: Results from a prospective single-center study.

Background: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that preoperative prostate health index (PHI) levels could help to predict early biochemical recurrence (BCR) in a contemporary population of patients with prostate cancer treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Methods: The study population consisted of 313 patients treated with RARP for clinically localized prostate cancer at a single institution between 2010 and 2011. Patients subjected to neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies and patients with a follow-up of<2 years were excluded.

Single-session supine bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of supine bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy (BPCNL) performed in the same session in patients affected with bilateral renal calculi.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with bilateral renal stones with diameters >2 cm for each side, who had been treated with supine BPCNL in the same session, from November 2006 to April 2014. We reviewed demographic and stone characteristics, intraoperative and perioperative outcomes, and complications related to the procedure adopted.

Sky is no limit for ureteroscopy: extending the indications and special circumstances.

Purpose: To critically review and synthesize data of ureteroscopy (URS) in different circumstances that all urologists may encounter during everyday clinical practice, such as pregnancy, obesity, bleeding diathesis, renal stones larger than 2 cm, calyceal diverticula, and kidney malformations.

Methods: According to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review was performed to identify articles published between 1990 and December 2013 that reported different indications and special circumstances for URS. Articles were separated into the following categories: pregnancy, obesity, bleeding diathesis, stones larger than 2 cm in diameter, calyceal diverticula, and kidney malformations.

Is retrograde intrarenal surgery for the treatment of renal stones with diameters exceeding 2 cm still a hazard?

Introduction: Major kidney stones have traditionally been treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. However, retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), which until a few years ago was considered inappropriate for this purpose, is becoming a viable, attractive alternative. The aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy and safety of RIRS combined with holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of stones > 2 cm in diameter in a large series of patients, reporting complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Operative safety and oncologic outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma >7 cm: a multicenter study of 222 patients.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) >7 cm, addressing the issue of modality and risk factors for complications and open conversion, and to assess the oncologic outcome.

Methods: The data of 222 patients undergoing LRN for RCC >7 cm prospectively enrolled from 2002 to 2010 at 5 urologic centers were reviewed. Transperitoneal LRN was performed by 5 experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

High energy microwave thermotherapy for symptomatic benign prostatic enlargment: predictive parameters of long term outcome.

Objectives: High-energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy (HE-TUMT) has become one of the most preferred minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). In this study we report the long term results in a subset of patients treated with the 30-minute high energy protocol.

Patients And Methods: A total of 135 patients were treated with TUMT Prostasoft 3.

Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: Our experience.

Purpose: To evaluate safety and outcomes of tubeless PCNL in comparison with standard PCNL.

Materials And Methods: Since June 2002 we have performed 99 tubeless PCNL. Tubeless technique involves antegrade placement of a 6Fr double-J stent without nephrostomy tube at the end of the procedure.

The role of ultrasound and echo-color Doppler in the diagnosis and follow-up of tuberculosis of the transplanted kidney.

Tuberculosis is still a relatively frequent, serious disease developing in kidney transplant patients, having an overall incidence estimated to range between 0.35 and 15%. The disease often presents with unusual clinical manifestations, partly due to the more frequent extra-pulnipnary localizations.