EAU-ESMO Consensus Statements on the Management of Advanced and Variant Bladder Cancer-An International Collaborative Multistakeholder Effort: Under the Auspices of the EAU-ESMO Guidelines Committees.

Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial.

Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management.

Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey.

EAU-ESMO consensus statements on the management of advanced and variant bladder cancer-an international collaborative multi-stakeholder effort: under the auspices of the EAU and ESMO Guidelines Committees†.

Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial.

Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management.

Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey.

Computer-aided detection of bone metastasis in bone scintigraphy images using parallelepiped classification method.

Objective: Accurate diagnosis of metastatic tissue on bone scintigraphy images is of paramount importance in making treatment decisions. Although several automated systems have developed, more and better interpretation methods are still being sought. In the present study, a new modality for bone metastasis detection from bone scintigraphy images using parallelepiped classification (PC) as method for mapping the radionuclide distribution is presented.

Surgical management of urachal tumors: Can the umbilicus be sparred in localized disease?

Urachal adenocarcinoma represents the third most common histological type of non-urotelial bladder cancer. A very low incidence of this disease and the lack of prospective studies have led to a rich and heterogeneous treatment history. Currently, the standard of care for these patients is represented by partial cystectomy en bloc with resection of the urachal ligament and total omphalectomy.

Pathophysiological mechanisms in detrusor underactivity: Novel experimental findings.

Underactive bladder (UAB) is a multifactorial symptom complex often related to detrusor underactivity (DU). Although recognized as a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms and with significant effects on quality of life, UAB/DU is largely underresearched. Herein, we review up-to-date knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms of UAB/DU, with an emphasis on the relationship between UAB and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).

The Role of Urinary Microbiota in Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A Systematic Review.

Context: Until 2012, the urinary tract of healthy individuals was considered to be sterile. The advent of metagenomic sequencing revealed a unique urinary microbiota (UM). This paradigm shift appears to have prolific implications in the etiology of several functional lower urinary tract (LUT) disorders.

Management of Idiopathic Overactive Bladder Syndrome: What Is the Optimal Strategy After Failure of Conservative Treatment?

Context: A considerable number of patients affected by the overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) do not respond to pharmacotherapy and bladder training due to unsatisfactory response or intolerability.

Objective: To review the available literature assessing therapeutic effect of the available third-line treatment modalities for OAB.

Evidence Acquisition: PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane databases were searched for all studies comparing outcomes of the available third-line treatment modalities for OAB.

What Is New with Sexual Side Effects After Transurethral Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Surgery?

Unlabelled: Transurethral resection of the prostate as well as laser prostatectomy (by either holmium laser enucleation of the prostate or Greenlight laser vaporization) is associated with risks of sexual dysfunction such as antegrade ejaculation and occasionally erectile dysfunction. While ejaculation-sparing variations of these techniques show promising results, larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm promising data. Prostatic urethral lift maintains erectile and ejaculatory function at 5-yr follow-up.

Monopolar vs. bipolar transurethral resection for non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma: A post-hoc analysis from a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Traditionally, transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURB) is performed using monopolar technique. Bipolar resection has been postulated to reduce complications. In this study we compare safety and efficacy between monopolar TURB (mTURB) and bipolar TURB (bTURB) for patients with primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Urolithiasis: evaluation, dietary factors, and medical management: an update of the 2014 SIU-ICUD international consultation on stone disease.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to provide current best evidence for evaluation, dietary, and medical management of patients with urolithiasis.

Methods: Literature addressing evaluation, dietary, and medical management of urolithiasis was searched. Papers were analyzed and rated according to level of evidence (LOE), whereupon a synthesis of the evidence was made.

NBI cystoscopy in routine urological practice - from better vision to improve therapeutic management.

Objectives: A single centre, retrospective trial was performed trying to assess the impact of NBI cystoscopy in cases of non-muscle invasive bladder tumors (NMIBT) by comparison to the standard approach. Our goal was to determine the superiority of the new method in terms of detection rates and subsequent postoperative treatment changes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 320 NMIBT suspected consecutive cases were enrolled in the study.

NBI - plasma vaporization hybrid approach in bladder cancer endoscopic management.

Objectives: A prospective study was performed aiming to evaluate the surgical efficacy, perioperative safety profile, diagnostic accuracy and medium term results of a multi-modal approach consisting in narrow band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy and bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV) when compared to the standard protocol represented by white light cystoscopy (WLC) and transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT).

Materials & Methods: A total of 260 patients with apparently at least one bladder tumor over 3 cm were included in the trial. In the first group, 130 patients underwent conventional and NBI cystoscopy followed by BPV, while in a similar number of cases of the second arm, classical WLC and TURBT were applied.

Bipolar vaporization, resection, and enucleation versus open prostatectomy: optimal treatment alternatives in large prostate cases?

Objectives: The study compared the transurethral resection in saline (TURis), transurethral vaporization in saline (TUVis), bipolar plasma enucleation of the prostate (BPEP), and open prostatectomy (OP) in a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled clinical setting exclusively involving large prostate patients.

Patients And Methods: During a 4½ year enrollment period, 320 cases of prostate volume over 80 mL, maximum flow rate (Qmax) below 10 mL/second, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) over 19, or urinary retention were included in the trial and equally randomized in the four study arms. Patients were assessed preoperatively as well as at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up checkups using the IPSS, quality of life (QoL) score, Qmax, postvoiding residual urinary volume (PVR), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Retrograde flexible ureteroscopic approach of upper urinary tract pathology: What is the status in 2014?

Flexible uretero-renoscopy witnessed dramatic technological improvements, ultimately translating in more diverse indications, better instrument durability, procedural efficacy and safety. Diagnostic exploration of the upper urinary tract, treatment of selected cases of ureteral and especially pyelocaliceal stones, caliceal diverticulum and infundibular stenosis, treatment, and follow-up of upper urinary tract tumors are the main indications for this approach. We review the technique, results and complications of retrograde flexible ureteroscopy, with an emphasis on the latest developments of the method.

Pushing the boundaries of ureteroscopy: current status and future perspectives.

Substantial advances in ureteroscopy have resulted in the incorporation of this procedure into routine urological practice in many centres worldwide. Subsequently, an abundance of clinical data and technological progression have enabled the development of novel solutions that have increased the efficacy of ureteroscopy, and reduced associated morbidity and costs. In addition the indications for this retrograde approach have been expanded, and pyelocalyceal diverticulum, infundibular stenosis, urolithiasis in pregnant women or in patients with urinary diversions, as well as upper urinary tract tumours can now be managed using this methodology.

Bipolar plasma vaporization versus monopolar TUR and "cold-knife" TUI in secondary bladder neck sclerosis - an evidence based, retrospective critical comparison in a single center clinical setting.

Introduction: A long term, retrospective study was performed aiming to outline a critical comparison concerning the efficacy, safety and durability of the bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV), standard monopolar transurethral resection (TUR) and "cold-knife" "star" transurethral incision (TUI) in secondary bladder neck sclerosis (BNS) cases.

Materials & Methods: Of the 126 patients included in the trial based on maximum flow rate (Qmax) below 10 mL/s and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) over 19, classical resection was performed in 46 cases, "cold-knife" TUI in 37 cases and bipolar vaporization in 43 patients. The evaluation protocol comprised IPSS, QoL (quality of life) score, Qmax and PVR (post-voiding residual urinary volume) assessment performed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the initial intervention.

"Tips and tricks" in secondary bladder neck sclerosis' bipolar plasma vaporization approach.

Introduction: Secondary bladder neck sclerosis (BNS) represents a common late complication of prostate surgery, however so far insufficiently assessed in the available literature. More over, the previously attempted and analyzed therapeutic modalities failed to achieve acknowledgement as standard treatment for this particular pathology.

Methods: The bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV) was introduced as a viable mean of removing the obstructing scar formation in a gradual fashion.

Continuous vs conventional bipolar plasma vaporisation of the prostate and standard monopolar resection: a prospective, randomised comparison of a new technological advance.

Objectives: To evaluate in a prospective, randomised trial the surgical efficiency and safety of a new energy source enabling a continuous bipolar plasma vaporisation of the prostate (C-BPVP) by comparing with standard vaporisation (S-BPVP) and monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To comparatively assess the short-term functional outcome of the three methods.

Patients And Methods: In all, 180 men with BPH with prostate volumes of 30-80 mL, maximum urinary flow rates (Q(max)) of <10 mL/s and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of >19 were equally randomised for C-BPVP, S-BPVP and monopolar TURP.

A new era: performance and limitations of the latest models of flexible ureteroscopes.

Objective: To comparatively study 3 of the latest models of flexible ureteroscopes using both subjective and objective parameters.

Materials And Methods: Three models of flexible ureteroscopes (Karl Storz Flex-Xc, Olympus URF-Vo, and Wolf Cobra) were evaluated during 90 procedures. For each model, 20 procedures were therapeutic for pyelocaliceal lithiasis and 10 were diagnostic.

Bipolar plasma vaporization versus standard transurethral resection in secondary bladder neck sclerosis: a prospective, medium-term, randomized comparison.

Objectives: This prospective, randomized, medium-term trial aimed to assess the efficiency, safety and postoperative results of bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV) in comparison with monopolar transurethral resection (TUR) in cases of secondary bladder neck sclerosis (BNS).

Methods: A total of 70 patients with BNS secondary to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP; 46 cases), open prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH; 18 cases) and radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (6 cases) were enrolled in the trial. The inclusion criteria consisted of maximum flow rate (Q max) <10 ml/s and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) >19.

Bipolar plasma enucleation of the prostate vs open prostatectomy in large benign prostatic hyperplasia cases - a medium term, prospective, randomized comparison.

Unlabelled: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: According to the EAU Guidelines 2012, large size benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cases (>80 mL) continue to have open prostatectomy as the first line treatment alternative, despite the substantial peri-operative morbidity and extended catheterization and convalescence periods related to this undoubtedly invasive approach. During the past two decades, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate was constantly described as a successful choice for this category of patients. According to rather numerous studies, the technique displayed superior results in terms of surgical safety and postoperative recovery compared with the open procedure.

Endoscopic surgery for urolithiasis: what does "stone free" mean in 2012.

There is still an ongoing debate regarding the optimal endourological treatment of upper urinary tract lithiasis, a significant parameter being the stone free rate. However, despite the apparent simplicity of notions such as stone free or success rate, when analyzing the available literature one may discover the complex, intricate and debatable issues behind them. The main problems reside in the heterogeneous way of defining intervention success, the timing at which a patient is considered stone-free and also in the lack of standard postoperative evaluation of patients with urolithiasis.

Narrow-band imaging cystoscopy in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a prospective comparison to the standard approach.

Objectives: A single-centre, prospective trial was performed aiming to assess the impact of narrow-band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy in cases of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in comparison to standard white light cystoscopy (WLC).

Materials And Methods: A total of 95 NMIBC-suspected consecutive cases were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were hematuria, positive urinary cytology or ultrasound suspicion of bladder tumors.

Narrow band imaging cystoscopy and bipolar plasma vaporization for large nonmuscle-invasive bladder tumors--results of a prospective, randomized comparison to the standard approach.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of narrow band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy associated with bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV) in cases of large nonmuscle-invasive bladder tumors (NMIBTs) compared with white light cystoscopy (WLC) and monopolar transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBTs).

Methods: A total of 220 cases with ≥ 1 bladder tumor >3 cm determined by abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and flexible WLC were included in the present trial. The patients in the first arm underwent WLC and NBI cystoscopy followed by BPV, and the patients in the second arm underwent only WLC and TURBT.