PURPOSE:Venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications contribute substantially to perioperative morbidity and mortality. The decision for mechanical and/or chemo-prophylaxis is currently based on VTE risk assessment models since conventional laboratory assays of coagulation usually fail to detect changes indicating hypercoagulability. Rotational thromboelastometry is a novel assay of coagulation, that it could potentially be used in objectively selecting patients at risk for VTE, who should indisputably undergo prophylaxis. We evaluated the association of conventional and novel assays of coagulation and VTE risk. METHODS:VTE risk was preoperatively assessed in 45 patients scheduled for endoscopic, open and laparoscopic urologic surgery, including transurethral resection of prostate, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, endoscopic vesical or ureteral stone lithotripsy, open prostatectomy, open cystectomy and urinary diversion, open or laparoscopic radical or partial nephrectomy, between March 2021 and October 2022, using three different risk assessment models (RAMs): the European Association of Urology (EAU) RAM, the American Urological Association (AUA) RAM, and the Caprini model. Patients under antiplatelet or anticoagulation agents were excluded. Patients' coagulation profile was determined by measuring PT, fibrinogen, aPTT, and rotational thromboelastometry analysis. For rotational thromboelastometry analysis, extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry and fibrinogen rotational thromboelastometry were examined in every patient. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA test and χ2 test. RESULTS:Mean values of all rotational thromboelastometry variables did not vary significantly among different EAU VTE categories. In extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry assessment, a significant difference was observed in the mean values of the Clotting time (CT) between the different risk groups based on AUA RAM. In the comparison between the risk groups defined based on the Caprini score, statistically significant differences were observed in the extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry clot formation time (CFT). In fibrinogen rotational thromboelastometry analysis, significant differences were identified in the clot amplitude after five minutes (A5) and maximum clot firmness (MCF) indices between the AUA risk groups, along with a significant difference in the mean clot formation rate (CFR) value between the risk groups defined based on the Caprini score. CONCLUSIONS:Rotational thromboelastometry can provide a detailed evaluation of the hemostatic status in patients undergoing urologic surgery that can be used as an adjunct to the VTE risk assessment models and thus, help to offer prophylaxis on a rather personalized basis. Future studies should assess the utility of thromboelastometry in identifying patients at high risk for VTE after major urological procedures.

Bladder inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare lesions with intermediate malignant potential and unclear management guidelines. We report the case of a 61-year-old male presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms and a bladder mass. Histology revealed spindle cells with mild atypia and chronic inflammation, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positivity suggested a TPM3-ALK fusion. The tumor was completely resected via transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT), with no recurrence at the six-month follow-up. This case illustrates the diagnostic complexity of bladder IMTs and emphasizes the importance of histopathology and close surveillance due to the risk of recurrence and rare metastasis.

Background:Prostate biopsy is a crucial diagnostic tool for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Traditional transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy methods are often associated with an increased infection risk of infection and limited accuracy, particularly when diagnosing anterior lesions of the prostate gland. Objective:This article presented a structured protocol for performing transperineal fusion magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound (MRI/US) prostate biopsy, highlighting its advantages over the TRUS approach. Our study included biopsy-naïve patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels or abnormal digital rectal examination findings, all of whom underwent pre-biopsy multiparametric MRI to guide targeted biopsies. The key objectives of this protocol were to improve the detection rates of csPCa, minimize infection risk, and standardize a transperineal technique that combines both systematic and targeted biopsies. In addition, we provided details on patient preparation, equipment requirements, procedural steps, and follow-up protocols to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. This protocol aims to serve as a guideline for institutions to adopt MRI/US fusion-guided transperineal biopsy, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. Conclusion:The transperineal fusion MRI/US biopsy protocol enhances diagnostic accuracy, particularly for anterior lesions, while reducing infections risks. Combining targeted and systematic biopsies improves detection rates of csPCa and offers a standardized, safe approach for clinical implementation.

Background/Objectives: Multiparametric-Magnetic Resonance Imaging(mp-MRI) presents the ability to detect clinically significant cancer, aiming to avoid biopsy if the results are negative or target an abnormal lesion if a suspected lesion of the prostate is found. Recent guidelines recommend the performance of 12 standard biopsies along with 3 to 5 targeted biopsies in suspected prostate lesions, depending on the size of the prostate lesion. In addition, prostate biopsy can be performed by either the transperineal or the transrectal approach. The aim of this comprehensive review is to highlight the role of both standard and targeted MRI/Ultrasound (US) fusion transperineal biopsy (TPB) in the diagnostic approach of prostate cancer cases, to report its diagnostic efficacy and complication rates and to suggest the promising usage of MRI/US fusion TPB in the future. Methods: A comprehensive review of the existing literature, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical guidelines, was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of transperineal and transrectal approaches in prostate cancer detection. Special emphasis was placed on mp-MRI-guided targeted biopsy and its combination with systematic sampling. Results: Prostate biopsy via the transperineal approach is related to increased detection rates, especially for anterior lesions, and decreased infection risk compared to the transrectal approach, while complication rates (hematuria, hemospermia, etc.) remain similar. Due to lower infection rates via the transperineal route, the performance of prostate biopsy using the transperineal approach is strongly recommended. Finally, transperineal fusion MRI/US biopsy can be valuable for repeat biopsies in patients who had an initial negative biopsy or for the follow-up of patients that undergo active surveillance. Conclusions: MRI/US fusion-guided TPB represents a significant advancement in prostate cancer diagnostics, combining improved precision with reduced infection risks. Although TPB presents higher detection rates for anterior prostatic lesions and lower post-biopsy infection rates, there is no significant difference in cancer detection rates compared to TRB. Targeted training and investment may reduce long-term expenses of TPB by lowering hospitalizations, antibiotic usage, and related costs. Future research should further refine this approach and explore its integration with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence for enhanced lesion targeting and diagnostic accuracy.

INTRODUCTIONS: The process for determining thromboprophylaxis decisions in urologic surgery entails assessing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in comparison to the risk of bleeding. Risk assessment models (RAMs) have been created to systematically calculate an individual's risk of VTE. In our study, we evaluated the risk of VTE in urologic inpatients using two RAMs specifically designed for urology by the European Association of Urology (EAU) and the American Urological Association (AUA), the Caprini score, and the CHA2DS2-VASc score. METHODS: The study group consisted of 136 inpatients within the urology department. Data from medical records included information on various factors, such as age, gender, and body mass index, as well as personal and family history of the patients. The risk of VTE was determined using the RAMs provided by EAU and AUA, the Caprini score, and the CHA2DS2-VASc score. RESULTS: Chemical prophylaxis was advised for 48 (35.3%) patients according to the EAU model, 47 patients (34.6%) according to the AUA model, 128 (94.1%) patients based on the Caprini score, and 80 (58.8%) patients according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score. Limitations of the study include a small sample size and lack of post-surgery venous thromboembolic events recording. CONCLUSIONS: The VTE RAMs developed by the EAU and AUA provide consistent recommendations for thromboembolism prophylaxis in urologic patients, while the Caprini model's strict adherence may lead to excessive prophylaxis recommendations. The EAU approach is user-friendly but urologists must judiciously weigh bleeding and VTE risks on an individual basis, ensuring optimal prophylaxis use.

We aim to enhance the reporting of complications in surgical operations by establishing a classification for patient complexity. Current comorbidity assessment tools are insufficient due to their reliance on physiological parameters. The proposed patient surgical class category (PSCC) aims to address these limitations and enhance results by incorporating relevant aspects of a patient's surgical history. The new classification system for patient surgical classes was developed via a modified Delphi method across two iterations with urological scenarios. The consensus on the importance of individual classes within PSCC ranged from 72.83% for Class 0 to 87.95% for Class 4A. The survey results show that our proposed grading system is easy, broadly applicable, and useful for categorizing the surgical history of patients.

INTRODUCTION:Taking into consideration both the increasing number of elderly patients undergoing surgery and the fragility of this particular category of patients, a decisive step towards more effectively balancing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding risk is the development of a reliable predicting tool. The aim of this study is to appraise the relationship between comorbidity assessment tools and VTE risk assessment models (RAMs) in patients undergoing urological procedures. METHODS:Data were prospectively collected during a 20-month period (March 2021-October 2022) including 136 urologic inpatients with a mean age of 66.4 (± 14.4) years. Patients' medical records were reviewed in order to evaluate the comorbidities using the Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (AA-CCI), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and Index of Co-Existent Diseases (ICED). Venous thromboembolism risk was assessed through the European Association of Urology (EAU) RAM, American Urological Association (AUA) RAM, and Caprini score. RESULTS:Statistical analysis indicated the presence of a statistically significant relationship between all comorbidity scores and VTE RAMs, with only the CIRS score showing no significant deviations across the EAU RAM risk groups (p=0.111). The positive Kendall's Tau-b coefficient values manifest a positive monotonic relationship between the two variables, meaning that higher comorbidity scores correspond to higher VTE risk categories. CONCLUSION:Comorbidity scores and VTE RAMs demonstrate a high degree of concordance. This finding suggests that EAU and AUA RAMs, irrespective of their simplicity, can effectively incorporate underlying health conditions and constitute reliable alternatives to the more complex Caprini score.

For patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) for whom bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment has failed, bladder preservation is a high priority. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise, but systemic administration is associated with substantial toxicity. In this single-arm phase 2 study, 30 patients with NMIBC after BCG failure were treated with intravesical durvalumab every 6 wk. The maximum tolerated dose in the run-in phase was 1000 mg. In phase 2, the high-grade relapse (HGR)-free rate at 1 yr after completing therapy was 39% (95% confidence interval [CI] 18-59%). HGR-free rates at 1, 3, and 6 mo after completing study treatment were 70% (95% CI 45-85%), 55% (95% CI 31-74%), and 39% (95% CI 18-59%), respectively. At 13 mo after completing enrolment, four patients in phase 2 had experienced progression to stage >= T2; the 1-yr bladder-intact survival rate was 78% (95% CI 57-89%). The only treatment-related adverse event was grade 1 haematuria in five patients (17%). In conclusion, intravesical durvalumab 1000 mg every 6 wk is feasible after BCG failure in patients with high-risk NMIBC, with negligible toxicity and encouraging efficacy. Intravesical durvalumab may be more attractive than systemic administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors and warrants further investigation as a treatment for NMIBC. (c) 2024 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Background: While the clinical application of SII-ONCO-Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is well established in Greece, there is a lack of real-world data on its effectiveness and safety. This retrospective, observational, multicenter, chart-review study aims to provide real-life data on the effectiveness and safety of SII-ONCO-BCG in patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2023, medical records from six hospital centers were reviewed for adult patients with histologically confirmed stage Ta or T1 NMIBC (with or without carcinoma in situ [CIS]) who received at least one maintenance course of SII-ONCO-BCG after induction. Tumor recurrence and progression were monitored at scheduled time intervals. Primary outcomes included recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while adverse events (AEs) constituted secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 162 patients receiving SII-ONCO-BCG were enrolled. Among all patients, 145 (89.5%) patients were men, 88 (54.3%) aged 70 years or older, 103 (63.6%) had T1, 43 (26.5%) Ta, and 21 (12.9%) concurrent CIS. The median follow-up duration was 28.9 months (range, 5–36) and the mean BCG intravesical instillation courses were 13.7 (range, 9–27). After 3-, 2-, and 1-year follow-up, RFS rates of 85.2% (95% CI, 79.7–90.7%), 85.8% (80.4–91.2%), and 87.0% (81.8–92.3%) were observed, respectively. The corresponding 3-, 2-, and 1-year PFS rates were 96.9% (94.2–99.6%), 96.9% (94.2–99.6%), and 97.5% (95.1–99.9%), respectively. During the whole follow-up period, 24 (14.8%) patients experienced at least one AE. Conclusions: This real-world study demonstrates that SII-ONCO-BCG is an effective and safe treatment for patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC.

Background and objective The purpose of our study was to assess the expression of cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) and cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), including positivity, intensity, percentage, site of distribution, and immunohistochemical score, in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and explore their correlation with various clinicopathological aspects. Methodology We retrospectively obtained data and specimens from 87 patients diagnosed with RCC after partial or radical nephrectomy, and the CB1R and CB2R expression was assessed immunohistochemically on paraffinembedded tissues. The results were statistically analyzed uni- and multi -factorial along with clinicopathological parameters. Results CB1R was not expressed at all, and CB2R was highly expressed in 78 (89.7%) patients with RCC. In unifactorial analysis, no statistical significance was found in any of the analyzed parameters. However, in the multifactorial analysis, we found that patients with a papillary histologic type (P < 0.0005) were associated with a lower likelihood of expression of the CB2R in the membranous compared with those with clear -cell and were also associated with a higher likelihood of moderate or strong expression of CB2R immunohistochemical score compared with those with clear -cell (P = 0.03). Patients with stage T2 (P = 0.010) had more enhanced expression (grade 3 CB2R intensity) compared with those with stage T1. Males (beta coefficient +/- standard error [SE] 13.70 +/- 7.04; P = 0.056) and patients with chromophobe histologic type (beta coefficient +/- SE 23.45 +/- 9.86; P = 0.020) were associated with a higher percentage of CB2R expression. Conclusions Our data suggest that although the CB1R was not expressed in RCCs, CB2R was expressed in almost every patient and enhanced expression was noted in correlation with specific clinicopathological aspects of the patients. Thus, following well -designed studies, especially CB2R could be used as a prognostic marker or even as a potential therapeutic target in RCC.

Angiomyxoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor arising in the pelvic and perineal regions. Diagnosis of urinary bladder angiomyxoma is difficult, as it lacks typical signs and symptoms, and relies on immunochemistry. We present the case of a 53 year old patient presenting with an incidental finding of bladder tumor during an ultrasound. After a complete transurethral resection was performed, the pathology report led to angiomyxoma diagnosis. After 6 weeks a secondary TURB, along with a CT urogram showed no evidence of residual volume. Transurethral resection seems to be a safe and effective treatment of urinary bladder angiomyxoma.

(1) Background: Somatic and germline alterations can be commonly found in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. The aim of our present study was to perform a comprehensive review of the current literature in order to examine the impact of BRCA mutations in the context of PCa as well as their significance as genetic biomarkers. (2) Methods: A narrative review of all the available literature was performed. Only “landmark” publications were included. (3) Results: Overall, the number of PCa patients who harbor a BRCA2 mutation range between 1.2% and 3.2%. However, BRCA2 and BRCA1 mutations are responsible for most cases of hereditary PCa, increasing the risk by 3–8.6 times and up to 4 times, respectively. These mutations are correlated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis. Gene testing should be offered to patients with metastatic PCa, those with 2–3 first-degree relatives with PCa, or those aged < 55 and with one close relative with breast (age ≤ 50 years) or invasive ovarian cancer. (4) Conclusions: The individualized assessment of BRCA mutations is an important tool for the risk stratification of PCa patients. It is also a population screening tool which can guide our risk assessment strategies and achieve better results for our patients and their families.

Background and objective: The complex focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src and paxillin seem to play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of these proteins in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), considering the immunoreactive score (IRS), the positivity and the intensity, and to find any association with patients' clinical characteristics, histologic type and other pathological features that imply a possible pathophysiological or prognostic role of FAK/Src and paxillin in RCC. Methods: Patients with RCC who had undergone partial or radical nephrectomy from January 2009 to September 2010 were eligible for this retrospective cross-sectional study. The immunohistochemical expression of FAK, Src and paxillin proteins in formalin -fixed paraffin-embedded tumour tissue was analysed in association with various clinicopathological features. Results: Out of ninety patients, 58 had clear cell renal carcinoma, 15 had papillary, 11 had chromophobe and six had unclassified RCC. FAK, Src and paxillin were expressed in 55.6%, 32.2% and 18.9% of all cases, respectively. In univariate analysis, FAK positivity and IRS were more likely in patients with papillary and chromophobe histologic type versus clear cell RCC (p<0.005), Src positivity and IRS presented more frequently in stage T3 versus T1 (p<0.005) and paxillin positivity was more likely in patients with stage T3 versus T2 (p=0.021) and grades 3-4 versus grade 2 (p=0.013). Paxillin-IRS was not associated with any clinicopathological features. The same associations were also reproduced in the multifactorial analysis for the FAK and Src positivity and IRS, while it was found that paxillin positivity and IRS were associated with the female gender (p=0.052, p=0.024), and were higher in grades 3-4 versus grade 2 (p=0.022, p=0.020). Conclusions: Our study suggests that RCC shows immunohistochemical expression of FAK, Src and paxillin proteins, and this expression varies in relation to the histologic type, the stage and the stage/grade/gender, respectively. These findings imply a possible involvement of the FAK/Src signalling pathway in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer in RCC, providing future perspectives for targeted therapies with inhibitors.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a common benign condition characterized by superficial fibrosis and scar formation at the tunica albuginea of the penis, eventually leading to penile curvature. It is believed that penile micro-traumas during intercourse and subsequent activation of inflammatory processes constitute the pathogenetic basis of the disease. Routinely, PD is divided into acute and chronic phases, with pain during erection or flaccid state being the hallmark of the former. Surgical intervention should be avoided during the acute phase, as the risk of recurrence or progression of penile deformity during this stage might affect the optimal outcomes of the procedure. During this stage, many conservative treatment options have been suggested, including oral, topical, and intralesional therapies, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and penile traction therapy (PTT). Currently, the optimal treatment consists of a combined treatment strategy with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is), ESWT for pain management, PTT, and intralesional therapies. Large, well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary to further elucidate the most efficient treatment option for acute phase PD.

Hydrocalyx is the obstruction of a renal calyx resulting from infundibulopelvic stenosis or diminution and can be congenital or acquired. A 37-year-old man with a history of preemptive kidney transplantation in 2007 and transplant rejection underwent another ABO-incompatible transplant. During follow-up four months after transplantation, a transplant biopsy was performed, which revealed acute thrombotic microangiopathy. Seven months after transplantation, the patient was admitted to the hospital because of elevated creatinine levels and dilatation of the upper calyx on ultrasound examination. Upper calyx hydrocalycosis and calyceal neck stenosis were diagnosed. Nephrostomy placement along with an antegrade double-J stent through the upper major calyceal neck was performed. Endoscopic dilatation of the narrowed neck of the upper major calyx 10 days after hydrocalyx decompression was performed without intraoperative or postoperative complications. During follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, had steady creatinine levels, and showed no signs of obstruction on ultrasound. This case highlights that treatment with balloon dilation of the calyceal neck appears to be an effective solution that respects the renal parenchyma and function.

BACKGROUND:The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) is considered the gold standard when it comes to diagnostic classifications of urine specimens. Its second edition brought some important changes, including the abolition of the diagnostic category of "low-grade urothelial neoplasm (LGUN)", acknowledging the inability of cytology to reliably discern low-grade urothelial lesions.METHODS:In this retrospective study, we assessed the validity of this change, studying the cytological diagnoses of histologically diagnosed low-grade urothelial carcinomas during a three-year period. Moreover, we correlated the sum of the urinary cytology diagnoses of this period with the histological diagnoses, whenever available.RESULTS:Although all the cytological diagnoses of LGUN were concordant with the histological diagnoses, most low-grade urothelial carcinomas were misdiagnosed cytologically. Subsequently, the positive predictive value (PPV) of urinary cytology for the diagnosis of LGUN was 100%, while the sensitivity was only 21.7%. Following the cyto-histopathological correlation of the sum of the urinary cytology cases, the sensitivity of urinary cytology for the diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) was demonstrated to be 90.1%, the specificity 70.8%, the positive predictive value (PPV) 60.3%, the negative predictive value (NPV) 93.6% and the overall accuracy 77.2%, while for LGUN, the values were 21.7%, 97.2%, 87.5%, 58.6% and 61.9%, respectively. Risk of high-grade malignancy was 0% for the non-diagnostic (ND), 4.8% for the non-high-grade urothelial carcinoma (NHGUC), 33.3% for the atypical urothelial cells (AUCs), 65% for the suspicious for high-grade urothelial carcinoma (SHGUC), 100% for the HGUC and 12.5% for the LGUN diagnostic categories.CONCLUSIONS:This study validates the incorporation of the LGUN in the NHGUC diagnostic category in the second edition of TPS. Moreover, it proves the ability of urinary cytology to safely diagnose HGUC and stresses the pivotal role of its diagnosis.