OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the association between tumor location and progression or recurrence after initial transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients with high grade (HG) T1 urothelial carcinoma. METHODS:This retrospective cohort analysis included patients diagnosed with HG-T1 bladder cancer from 2020 to 2024. Patients were stratified by tumor location: anterior/posterior wall, lateral walls, bladder neck, trigone, dome. Residual disease or upstaging at restaging TURBT was assessed via follow-up restaging TURBT. Associations were tested using chi-square, univariate, and multivariate models. RESULTS:A total of 80 patients with high-grade T1 urothelial carcinoma were included. The median age was 73 years (range 45-89) and 92.8% (77) were male. The mean tumor size was 2.6 cm, and 91.3% of tumors were completely resected. Tumors were most commonly located in the lateral wall (36.3%) and posterior wall (31.3%). Worsening on restaging TURBT was most frequent in posterior wall (48.4%) and bladder neck tumors (50%). Lateral wall tumors worsened in 37.0%, anterior wall in 23.1%, and none from the trigone. Posterior wall tumors showed higher odds of worsening versus dome tumors in univariate analysis (OR 2.50, p = 0.34), though not statistically significant. Multivariable analysis adjusting for clinical and tumor factors also found non-significant increased odds for posterior wall tumors versus lateral wall and dome (OR 1.26, p = 0.71). CONCLUSION:Posterior wall and bladder neck tumors showed the highest descriptive rates of residual disease or upstaging at restaging TURBT, but multivariable analysis did not demonstrate statistically significant independent associations. These findings may warrent closer surveillance or earlier intervention in select cases.

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a prevalent and debilitating psychological burden among cancer survivors. Despite the high recurrence rates inherent to bladder cancer, FCR remains understudied in this population. This study aimed to evaluate whether receipt of adjuvant therapy following primary surgical treatment was associated with FCR severity in patients with bladder cancer. Because clinical records captured adjuvant treatment only as a single composite variable, this study was designed as a hypothesis-generating pilot investigation rather than a definitive, modality-specific test. A single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among 79 patients with bladder cancer attending routine urological follow-up. FCR was assessed using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory – Short Form (FCRI-SF), a validated 9-item instrument with scores ranging from 0 to 36. Patients were stratified by adjuvant therapy status and compared using Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-squared tests, and multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, tumor recurrence, and time since procedure. The cohort was predominantly male (89.9

Objectives: To evaluate clinical and biochemical outcomes of robotic-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) due to small aldosterone-producing adenomas, with emphasis on blood pressure (BP) control, antihypertensive medication burden, hormonal normalization, and safety. Methods: We prospectively enrolled PA patients (aldosterone >10 ng/dL, renin <2 μU/mL) undergoing robotic adrenalectomy by a single surgeon. Exclusions included suspected pheochromocytoma, other adrenal pathologies, or malignancy. Outcomes were classified per PASO criteria at 6 months: complete success (BP <140/90 mmHg without medications + normalized aldosterone (<10 ng/dL) and renin (>2 μU/mL)), partial success (improvement in BP control with reduced medication and/or partial biochemical improvement), and failure (persistent hypertension and abnormal hormone levels). Results: From 2019 to present, 18 patients (median age 53 years; 13 male) with a median adenoma size of 15 mm (IQR 10-19.8) underwent robotic adrenalectomy (12 left, 6 right). Three (16.7%) with bilateral imaging findings had adrenal vein sampling to confirm unilateral disease. At 6 months, complete clinical success was achieved in 10 (55.5%) patients, partial success in 7 (38.9%), and failure in 1 (5.6%). Biochemically, 12 achieved complete normalization, 3 achieved partial improvement, and 3 did not complete testing. Median operative time was 110 min (IQR 100-120); median hospital stay was 3 days (IQR 3-4). No intra- or postoperative complications, transfusions, infections, or readmissions occurred. Conclusions: Robotic adrenalectomy for small aldosterone-producing adenomas in PA is safe, with high rates of BP normalization and hormonal remission and significantly reduced antihypertensive medication burden.

OBJECTIVE:To compare trends and incidence of surgical intervention among adults with urolithiasis in Ontario, Canada, and Israel. PATIENTS AND METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted using administrative databases from Clalit Health Service in Israel and IC/ES in Canada. The study included adults who underwent their initial surgical treatment for urolithiasis. Descriptive statistics summarized baseline patient demographics, while comparisons were analyzed with a t-test. RESULTS:Between 2003 and 2018, 31,034 and 105,013 patients who underwent surgical intervention for upper urinary tract stones for the first time in their clinical history, excluding those with prior surgical treatments for the same condition, in Israel and Ontario, respectively. The number of insured at Clalit Health Services increased by 21.3%, while the population in Ontario grew by 18.5%. The total number of treated cases rose by 82% and 64.4% in Israel and Ontario, respectively. The procedures per 100,000 people increased by 51% in Israel and 34.6% in Ontario. In Israel, the proportion of females undergoing surgery decreased from 33.5% to 32%, while in Ontario, it increased from 36.3% to 49.8%. Ureteroscopy (URS) was more commonly used in Ontario, while shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) was more common in Israel. URS utilization surged by 281% in Israel and 145.5% in Ontario. Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) increased by 52% in Israel and 8.6% in Ontario, while SWL procedures declined by 57% in Israel and 32.5% in Ontario. CONCLUSIONS:A significant rise in the number of patients undergoing their first stone-related procedure in both regions, particularly in Israel. There was a difference in the proportion of female patients requiring surgical intervention, with an increase in Ontario and a decrease in Israel.

OBJECTIVE:To assess trends of surgical intervention in adults with upper urinary tract stones in Israel.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study utilizing administrative databases held at Clalit Health Services, to identify all adults (⩾18 years) who underwent their first surgical treatment for upper tract urolithiasis. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize baseline patient demographics and surgical trends were analyzed using the Cochrane-Armitage test for trend.RESULTS:Between 2003 and 2020, 36,624 adult patients were treated surgically for upper tract urinary stones. Mean age was 53.6 years (SD16.1). During the period investigated, the number of insured by Clalit Health Services increased by 25% and the total number of surgically treated stones increased by 98.7%. By type of procedure: Ureteroscopy (URS) increased by 351%, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) increased by 67%, shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) declined by 79%. The number of procedures per 100,000 population grew from to 37.5 in 2003 to 58.05 in 2022. The percentage increase in total number of surgical procedures was 103% and 90% in males and females, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:Our findings reveal significant increases in the total number of surgically treated stones over the investigated period. Notably, this increase far outpaced the growth in the number of individuals insured by Clalit Health Services. Further research and interventions are warranted to explore the underlying factors driving these trends and to develop targeted approaches for prevention, early detection, and minimally invasive treatment of upper urinary tract stones in Israel.

Objective: To investigate the gender gap in the context of stone-related surgery within an Israeli population.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative databases from Clalit Health Services to identify adults aged 18 and above who had their initial surgical treatment for upper tract urolithiasis. We employed descriptive statistics to outline the baseline patient characteristics, and the Cochran-Armitage test for trend was utilized to analyze surgical trends.Results: Between 2003 and 2020, a total of 36,624 adult patients underwent surgical treatment for upper tract urinary stones. The mean age of patients was 55.01 years (standard deviation (SD) 16.6) for ureteroscopy (URS), 55.05 years (SD 15.1) for percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL), and 51.07 years (SD 15.1) for shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). When considering the distribution of procedures by gender, males accounted for 69.5% of URS cases, 58.3% of PCNL cases, and 70.6% of SWL cases, whereas females represented 30.5%, 41.7%, and 29.4% of URS, PCNL, and SWL cases, respectively. Across all surgical modalities, the male-to-female ratio exhibited fluctuations without a consistent trend, with both increases and decreases observed. In URS, the ratio saw a modest increase from 1.967 in 2003 to 2.173 in 2020. For PCNL, the ratio initially increased from 2.361 in 2003 to 2.549 in 2014, followed by subsequent fluctuations, but an overarching trend was not apparent. In contrast, for SWL, the ratio decreased from 2.15 in 2003 to 1.32 in 2020, with varying changes in between.Conclusion: This study highlights the dynamic nature of gender gap in stone-related surgery outcomes. While the male-to-female ratio exhibited fluctuations over a 17-year period, no consistent trend emerged. The absence of a clear trend underscores the complex and multifaceted factors influencing the gender gap in urolithiasis.

Brucellosis, a systemic infection, can affect various organs, including the genitourinary system, causing epididymo-orchitis in 2%-20% of cases. This report details a 34-year-old Thai male migrant worker with febrile orchitis. Initial gentamicin treatment failed, but serological tests confirmed brucellosis, likely from raw dairy consumption. The patient was successfully treated with gentamicin, doxycycline, and rifampicin, resulting in complete symptom resolution. Brucella orchitis, though rare, should be considered in patients from endemic areas. Conservative treatment with combined antibiotics is typically effective.

To assess whether age or gender affects ureteric stone management costs, in patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with CT proven ureteric stones. A retrospective examination was conducted on patients admitted to the ED who were diagnosed with a ureteric stone through CT scans. Data encompassing clinical, laboratory, and imaging parameters were gathered, alongside information on admissions, ED readmissions, surgical procedures, and the overall treatment cost. Comparative analyses were performed on various cost rates in relation to different stone parameters, patient clinical presentations, laboratory results, and personal histories of urolithiasis. From January 2018 to January 2020, 805 patients underwent abdominal CT scans at a single institution’s ED and were diagnosed with ureteric stones. Among them, 773 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 78

To investigate the impact of climate and seasonal variations on emergency department (ED) admissions for renal colic, while specifically comparing the differences between individuals with sedentary and non-sedentary lifestyles. A retrospective, single center study was conducted. Between the years 2017- 2020, medical records of patients admitted to the ED with renal colic, found to harbor ureteric stones on CT scans, were examined. Data on patients' occupational activities was collected through telephone questionnaires. Patients were categorized into two groups: sedentary and active. Precise weather data was obtained from the Israeli Meteorological Service website. The monthly average daily maximum temperatures were calculated. In the final sample of 560 participants, 285 were in the sedentary group, and 275 were in the active group. The study population consisted of 78.1

Background: Pediatric urolithiasis is relatively uncommon and is generally associated with predisposing anatomic or metabolic abnormalities. In the adult population, emergency department (ED) admissions have been associated with an increase in ambient temperature. The same association has not been evaluated in the pediatric population. Objectives: To analyze trends in ED admissions due to renal colic in a pediatric population (4 18 years old) and to assess the possible effect of climate on ED admissions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study, based on a computerized database of all ED visits due to renal colic in pediatric patients. The study cohort presented with urolithiasis on imaging during their ED admission. Exact climate data was acquired through the Israeli Meteorological Service (IMS). Results: Between January 2010 and December 2020, 609 patients, <= 18 years, were admitted to EDs in five medical centers with renal colic: 318 males (52%), 291 females (48%). The median age was 17 years (IQR 9-16). ED visits oscillated through the years, peaking in 2012 and 2018. A 6% downward trend in ED admissions was noted between 2010 and 2020. The number of ED admissions in the different seasons was 179 in autumn (30%), 134 in winter (22%), 152 in spring (25%), and 144 in summer (23%) (P = 0.8). Logistic regression multivariable analysis associated with ED visits did not find any correlation between climate parameters and ED admissions due to renal colic in the pediatric population. Conclusions: ED admissions oscillated during the period investigated and had a downward trend. Unlike in the adult population, rates of renal colic ED admissions in the pediatric population were not affected by seasonal changes or rise in maximum ambient temperature.

Tuberculous epididymitis is uncommonly encountered and is a very rare complication of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical therapy for the treatment of bladder urothelial cancer.With the increased use of BCG, it is conceivable that practicing urologists will see more patients presenting with this infection. Herein, we describe an unusual presentation of tuberculous epididymitis treated successfully in a conservative fashion with anti-tuberculotic medications and describe current diagnostic, as well as medical and surgical management strategies.

Fournier’s gangrene is a rare and serious event, primarily caused by bacteria. Candida species, mainly Candida albicans (C.al) are infrequently isolated, usually as a part of polymicrobial infection. Non-C.al Fournier’s gangrene was reported in immunocompromised and diabetic patients. We report a case of a 60-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, who recently initiated treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitor presenting with perineal soft-tissue infection. Tissue cultures yielded Candida Glabrata as the sole pathogen. The patient received antibacterial and appropriate antifungal therapy, concurrent with surgical debridement. Yeast infection should be considered in diabetes patients under SGLT-2 therapy presenting with a deep tissue infection.

INTRODUCTION:Renal colic due to ureterolithiasis is a frequent reason for visiting the emergency departments (ED). The majority of those patients are managed non-surgically and will experience a spontaneous stone expulsion. The ED at our hospital works as a unified department, which is a well-established practice in Europe and North America.AIMS:Assess the outcome of urological consultation in the ED for patients with urolithiasis.METHODS:A retrospective cohort examined 402 ureterolithiasis patients proven by abdominal CT-scan at the ED. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group1: patients were discharged after evaluation by ED physician alone. In Group 2: patients were discharged after being evaluated by an ED physician and urologist. In Group 3: patients who were admitted to the Urology Department. Clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters were examined as well as patients' outcomes: spontaneous stone expulsion, re-visit to ED and surgical intervention.RESULTS:There were not significant differences between group 1 and 2 regarding age, stone size, stone location, WBC levels, stone expulsion rate or surgical intervention. Group 1 had a significant higher rate of ED re-visits compared with group 2 (79 (43.3%) vs. 12 (17.9%). p=0.0002). Group 3 had significantly higher stone size, creatinine levels, inflammatory markers, proximal stone location and surgical interventions.CONCLUSIONS:ED working as a unified department provides excellent management to patients with renal colic due to ureterolithiasis, with a high rate of spontaneous stone expulsion and urologist referral to admissions and surgical interventions. Nevertheless, urological consultation significantly decreases re-visits to ED.

INTRODUCTION:The treatment of newly diagnosed metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) evolved dramatically with the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as nivolumab, ipilimumab, and pembrolizumab for this indication. Herein, we describe the case of a 52-year old male patient, without chronic diseases and with a 30-pack-year smoking history, who was diagnosed with mRCC (clear cell carcinoma) including enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, a mass in the pleura, and numerous metastases in both lungs. The patient was treated with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab, followed by nivolumab monotherapy, which is still ongoing (as of December 2021). The patient had a near-complete response (near resolution of the metastatic lesions) and did not experience adverse events. After 13 months of treatment, and in light of the near-complete response, the patient underwent a radical laparoscopic nephrectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital 3 days after surgery. Examining the excised kidney revealed no residual tumor, connective tissue, signs of inflammation and necrosis. As of December 2021 (approximately 23 months from immunotherapy initiation) the patient had no evidence of disease. This case report demonstrates a treatment approach involving deferred nephrectomy after (and during) ICI treatment. The response of the patient described herein to a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab is consistent with the available data supporting the efficacy of this combination as a first-line therapy in mRCC. Currently, the evidence supporting deferred nephrectomy (after ICI) vs upfront nephrectomy and then ICI, or ICI alone without nephrectomy is limited to a few retrospective studies. Thus, prospective randomized studies are needed to elucidate the role of deferred nephrectomy in mRCC. Two phase 3 studies (PROBE and NORDIC-SUN) that were designed to address this issue are currently enrolling patients and their results are expected within several years.

OBJECTIVES:To examine differences in the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with ureteral stones, with prior history of urolithiasis compared to patients with a first stone event. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Retrospective analysis of patients who visited the ED that were found to have a ureteral stone on CT. Patients were stratified into two groups: without history of urolithiasis (Group 1) and with history of urolithiasis (Group 2). RESULTS:Between 2018 and 2020, 778 patients were admitted with ureteral stones. Patients in group 1 presented with a higher mean serum creatinine (p = 0.02), larger mean stone size (p < 0.0001), and a higher proportion of proximal ureteral stones (p < 0.0001) than patients in group 2. The 30 day readmission rate was significantly higher in group 1 (p = 0.02). Spontaneous stone expulsion was higher in group 2 (p < 0.0001), whereas the need for endourological procedures was higher in group 1 (p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis serum creatinine (OR 0.264, 95% CI 0.091-0.769, p = 0.01) and stone size (OR 0.623, 95% CI 0.503-0.771, p < 0.0001) were associated with a lower spontaneous stone expulsion rate. History of prior endourological procedures (OR 0.225, OR 0.066-0.765, p = 0.01) was associated with a higher spontaneous stone expulsion rate. CONCLUSIONS:Our data suggests that patients who are first time stone formers present with larger and more proximal ureteral stones, with a lower likelihood of spontaneous stone expulsion and a subsequent need for surgical intervention. Previous stone surgery and not previous stone expulsion was found to be a predictor for spontaneous stone passage.

Introduction: We aimed to compare systematic biopsies (SBs) of in-bore magnetic resonance-guided prostate biopsy (MRGpB) with those performed under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance in the clinical setting. Methods: Data on all 161 consecutive patients undergoing prostate biopsy in our institution between November 2017 and July 2019 were retrospectively collected. The patients were referred to biopsy due to elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and/or abnormal digital rectal examination and/or at least one Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) lesion score of ≥3 on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). We included patients with PSA levels ≤20 ng/ml and those with 8–12 core biopsies. Histology results of SBs performed by in-bore MRGpB were compared to TRUS SBs. Chi-squared, Fischer’s exact, and multivariate Pearson regression tests were used for statistical analysis (SPSS, IBM Corporation). Results: In total, 128 patients were eligible for analysis. Their median age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR] 61.5–72), mean prostate size 55±29 cc, and mean PSA and PSA density levels 7.6±3.5 ng/ml and 0.18±0.13 ng/ml/cc, respectively. Thirty-five patients (27.3%) had suspicious digital rectal examination findings. Both biopsy groups were similar for these parameters. Thirty-eight (62.3%) MRGpB patients had a previous biopsy vs. 5 (7.1%) TRUS-SB patients (p<0.0001). The number of patients diagnosed with clinically significant and non-significant disease was similar for both groups. High-risk disease was more prevalent in the TRUS-SB group (22.4% vs. 4.9%, p<0.01). Conclusions: Our data suggest that in-bore MRGpB is no better than TRUS for guiding SBs for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer.

The combination of multi-parametric MRI to locate and define suspected lesions together with their being targeted by an MRI-guided prostate biopsy has succeeded in increasing the detection rate of clinically significant disease and lowering the detection rate of non-significant prostate cancer. In this work we investigate the urologist’s learning curve of in-bore MRI-guided prostate biopsy which is considered to be a superior biopsy technique. Following Helsinki approval by The Chaim Sheba Medical Center ethics committee in accordance with The Sheba Medical Center institutional guidelines (5366-28-SMC) we retrospectively reviewed 110 IB-MRGpBs performed from 6/2016 to 1/2019 in a single tertiary center. All patients had a prostate multi-parametric MRI finding of at least 1 target lesion (prostate imaging reporting and data system [PI-RADS] score ≥ 3). We analyzed biopsy duration and clinically significant prostate cancer detection of targeted sampling in 2 groups of 55 patients each, once by a urologist highly trained in IB-MRGpBs and again by a urologist untrained in IB-MRGpBs. These two parameters were compared according to operating urologist and chronologic order. The patients’ median age was 68 years (interquartile range 62–72). The mean prostate-specific antigen level and prostate size were 8.6 ± 9.1 ng/d and 53 ± 27 cc, respectively. The mean number of target lesions was 1.47 ± 0.6. Baseline parameters did not differ significantly between the 2 urologists’ cohorts. Overall detection rates of clinically significant prostate cancer were 19%, 55%, and 69% for PI-RADS 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Clinically significant cancer detection rates did not differ significantly along the timeline or between the 2 urologists. The average duration of IB-MRGpB targeted sampling was 28 ± 15.8 min, correlating with the number of target lesions (p < 0.0001), and independent of the urologist’s expertise. Eighteen cases defined the cutoff for the procedure duration learning curve (p < 0.05). Our data suggest a very short learning curve for IB-MRGpB-targeted sampling duration, and that clinically significant cancer detection rates are not influenced by the learning curve of this technique.