Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Blood-based Liquid Biopsies to Inform Clinical Decision-making in Prostate Cancer.

Context: Genomic stratification can impact prostate cancer (PC) care through diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers that aid in clinical decision-making. The temporal and spatial genomic heterogeneity of PC together with the challenges of acquiring metastatic tissue biopsies hinder implementation of tissue-based molecular profiling in routine clinical practice. Blood-based liquid biopsies are an attractive, minimally invasive alternative.

Clinical utility of the AJCC 8 edition pT1 subclassification and impact on practice patterns in stage I seminoma.

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer 8 edition staging guidelines for testicular cancer established a 3 cm cutoff to subclassify stage T1 seminomas (<3 cm = pT1a and ≥3 cm = pT1b). The efficacy of this cutoff in predicting metastatic disease and impact on treatment patterns have not been studied.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with pT1 testicular seminoma in the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016.

Recent Advances and Current Role of Transperineal Prostate Biopsy.

"Approximately 1 million prostate biopsies are performed each year in the United States. This procedure has traditionally been performed using a transrectal approach, which is associated with a significant risk of infectious complications including sepsis. In recent years, transperineal prostate biopsy has been increasingly adopted due to its lower associated infectious risk.

Detection of a Meckel's diverticulum on PSMA PET/CT: A case report.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital malformation of the gastrointestinal tract. In this report, we present a patient with a Meckel's diverticulum that was incidentally discovered on prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) imaging performed for prostate cancer staging. We discuss hypotheses for why the Meckel's diverticulum showed high uptake of PSMA-targeted radiotracer and the clinical implications of this finding.

Primary ureteral lymphoma presenting as bilateral obstructive uropathy.

Primary ureteral lymphomas are rare. We present a case of extranodal B-cell lymphoma of the ureter presenting as asymptomatic bilateral ureteral obstruction. A 34-year-old male was incidentally found to have obstructive uropathy.

Surgically Extracted Epididymal Sperm from Men with Obstructive Azoospermia Results in Similar In Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcomes Compared with Normal Ejaculated Sperm.

Purpose: Controversy exists around the use of epididymal sperm for in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for couples with obstructive azoospermia, and the ability to reliably predict fertility outcomes with surgically extracted epididymal sperm remains limited. To provide additional clinical context, we sought to compare in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes of epididymal sperm from couples with obstructive azoospermia to outcomes of couples using normal, ejaculated sperm.

Materials And Methods: We performed a case-control analysis of 40 couples who underwent office based epididymal sperm retrieval for obstructive azoospermia followed by in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared with a control group of 38 female, age matched couples with no evidence of female factor infertility who underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection with normal, ejaculated sperm.

Natural history of prostate cancer on active surveillance: stratification by MRI using the PRECISE recommendations in a UK cohort.

Objectives: The PRECISE recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients on active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer (PCa) include repeated measurement of each lesion, and attribution of a PRECISE radiological progression score for the likelihood of clinically significant change over time. We aimed to compare the PRECISE score with clinical progression in patients who are managed using an MRI-led AS protocol.

Methods: A total of 553 patients on AS for low- and intermediate-risk PCa (up to Gleason score 3 + 4) who had two or more MRI scans performed between December 2005 and January 2020 were included.

Future strategies to enhance kidney preservation in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Though radical nephroureterectomy remains the gold standard treatment for high grade or invasive disease in upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC), kidney-sparing surgery has become preferred for low risk disease, in order to minimize morbidity and preserve renal function. Many methods exist for endoscopic management, whether via an antegrade percutaneous or retrograde ureteroscopic approach, including electroresection, laser ablation, and fulguration. There has been an increase in use of adjuvant intracavitary therapy, predominantly using mitomycin and bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), to reduce recurrence after primary endoscopic management for noninvasive tumors, although efficacy remains questionable.

Prospective evaluation of Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in Chinese men with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer: relationships between location of recurrence, time after prostatectomy, and serum PSA level.

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the distribution of PSMA-targeted, PET-avid lesions in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with biochemical recurrence in a Chinese cohort. The relationships between PSA levels, disease-free time after prostatectomy, and Ga-PSMA-11 PET/computed tomography (CT) findings were investigated. Inclusion criteria included histopathologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma, two consecutive PSA levels > 0.

Comparison of Perioperative and Pathologic Outcomes Between Single-port and Standard Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: An Analysis of a High-volume Center and the Pooled World Experience.

Objective: To perform an early comparative study of outcomes between single-port and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (SP-RALRP) and standard RALRP at our institution and pooled analysis of series to date.

Patients And Methods: Patients with organ-confined prostate cancer undergoing SP-RALRP at a high-volume institution were identified retrospectively along with reported SP-RALRP series to date. Data were compared to a contemporary prospective cohort of men undergoing standard RALRP.

Gender Differences in the Clinical Management of clinical T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate gender differences in the management of clinical T1a (cT1a) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) before and after release of the AUA guidelines for management in 2009, which prioritized nephron-sparing approaches.

Methods: Patients aged ≥66 years diagnosed with cT1a RCC from 2004 to 2013 in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare were analyzed. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with radical nephrectomy (RN) for cT1a RCC before (2004 to 2009) and after (2010 to 2013) guidelines release.

The medical and surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction: a review and update.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting more than 3 million men in the United States every year. Given the prevalence of severe co-morbidities associated with ED, the clinician must take a thorough history and conduct a diagnostic exam accordingly. The clinician should consider that every man who presents with ED is unique with regards to his symptoms, degree of stress, associated health conditions, sexual relationship quality, and sociocultural context.

Understanding Psychosocial and Sexual Health Concerns Among Women With Bladder Cancer Undergoing Radical Cystectomy.

Objective: To better understand the physical and psychosocial components of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among women undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa).

Methods: We conducted semistructured individual interviews and a focus group with pre- and post-RC female patients and their partners regarding the impact of RC on sexual health and psychosocial wellbeing. Themes were inductively identified by 2 independent coders and subsequently organized into themes and subthemes using qualitative description and constant comparison.

Evaluating Urology Residency Applications: What Matters Most and What Comes Next?

Purpose Of Review: In light of the announcement that the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 exam will transition to pass/fail reporting, we reviewed recent literature on evaluating residency applicants with a focus on identifying objective measurements of applicant potential.

Recent Findings: References from attending urologists, Step 1 scores, overall academic performance, and research publications are among the most important criteria used to assess applicants. There has been a substantial increase in the average number of applications submitted per applicant, with both applicants and residency directors indicating support for a cap on the number of applications that may be submitted.

Evaluation of the urinary bladder using three-dimensional CT cinematic rendering.

Three-dimensional (3D) visualizations of volumetric data from computed tomography (CT) acquisitions can be important adjuncts to interpretation of two-dimensional (2D) reconstructions. Recently, the 3D technique known as cinematic rendering (CR) was introduced, allowing photorealistic images to be created from standard CT acquisitions. CR methodology is under increasing investigation for use in the display of regions of complex anatomy and as a tool for education and preoperative planning.

Re-establishing the Role of Robot-assisted Radical Cystectomy After the 2020 EAU Muscle-invasive and Metastatic Bladder Cancer Guideline Panel Recommendations.

The EAU guidelines panel on muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer (MIBC) recently recommended open radical cystectomy (ORC) as the best surgical approach for MIBC patients. We critically re-examine the indications for considering ORC as the first choice over robot-assisted radical cystectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is not supported by trials or meta-analyses.

A Comparative Analysis of Surgical Scar Cosmesis Based on Operative Approach for Radical Prostatectomy.

Recent developments in minimally invasive approaches to radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer have improved oncological outcomes, but may also affect surgical scar cosmesis, an important component of survivorship and patient quality of life. Our aim was to evaluate surgical scar appearance based on operative approach to RP using a validated tool for evaluating psychosocial impact of scar appearance. Men between the ages of 45 and 80 were surveyed on an online crowdsourcing platform.

Evaluation of Reported Fertility Preservation Counseling Before Chemotherapy Using the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Survey.

Importance: The opportunity to discuss fertility preservation is essential for patients of reproductive age with newly diagnosed cancer before the initiation of treatment.

Objective: To identify factors associated with fertility preservation counseling among patients of reproductive age before initiating chemotherapy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used data obtained from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Oncology Practice Initiative, an oncologist-led quality assessment program that surveys approximately 400 oncology practices biannually, from January, 2015, to June, 2019.

Evidence-based analysis of online consumer information about prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background: Clinical guidelines have conflicting recommendations on the role of prostate artery embolization (PAE), a novel interventional radiology technique used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the absence of consensus among clinicians, patients may seek information online, where consumer-targeted content has proliferated in recent years. Our objective was to assess the content and quality of online information about prostate artery embolization (PAE).

A phase II randomized trial of RAdium-223 dichloride and SABR Versus SABR for oligomEtastatic prostate caNcerS (RAVENS).

Background: Metastasis directed therapy (MDT) for patients with oligometastatic disease is associated with improvements in progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to systemic therapy alone. Additionally, within a prostate-cancer-specific cohort, MDT is able to forestall initiation of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with hormone-sensitive, oligometastatic prostate cancer (HSOPCa) compared to observation. While MDT appears to be safe and effective in HSOPCa, a large percentage of men will eventually have disease recurrence.

Management of acute post-operative hemorrhage following partial nephrectomy with renal artery embolization.

Hemorrhage after robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is uncommon but can cause significant morbidity. We present a case of acute hemorrhage isolated to the collecting system that was managed with renal artery embolization (RAE). A 76-year-old male developed sudden onset transfusion-dependent hematuria and hypotension following uncomplicated RAPN.