Purpose: Male chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition of uncertain etiology and treatment is often unsatisfactory. There is evidence that the symptom complex may result from pelvic floor muscular dysfunction and/or neural hypersensitivity/inflammation. We hypothesized that the application of electromagnetic therapy may have a neuromodulating effect on pelvic floor spasm and neural hypersensitivity.Materials and Methods: Following full Stamey localization men with National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases category III prostatitis were prospectively randomized to receive active electromagnetic or placebo therapy. Active therapy consisted of 15 minutes of pelvic floor stimulation at a frequency of 10 Hz, followed by a further 15 minutes at 50 Hz, twice weekly for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months and 1 year after treatment using validated visual analog scores.Results: A total of 21 men with a mean age of 47.8 years (range 25 to 67) were analyzed. Mean symptom scores decreased significantly in the actively treated group at 3 months and 1 year (p < 0.05), unlike the placebo group, which showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Subanalysis of those receiving active treatment showed that the greatest improvement was in pain related symptoms.Conclusions: The novel use of pelvic floor electromagnetic therapy may be a promising new noninvasive option for chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men.
OBJECTIVE:At cystoscopy red patches of urothelium are commonly seen within the bladder and frequently biopsied in order to exclude carcinoma in situ (CIS), which classically presents as a red, velvety patch. This appearance however is not specific and it is possible that many lesions are biopsied without significant benefit to the patient. The objective of this study was to determine whether routine biopsy of red patches seen in the bladder at cystoscopy is warranted. PATIENTS AND METHODS:193 biopsies were taken from red patches seen at flexible and rigid cystoscopy during a 4-year period from December 1997 to January 2002 and examined by histopathology. Patients included in the study were those on cystoscopic follow-up for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder and those undergoing investigation for haematuria or lower urinary tract symptoms. RESULTS:In 193 (17.7% of total biopsies) red patch biopsies, malignancy was found in 23 (11.9%) and 18 of 23 (78.3%) were CIS. No malignancies were detected in red patches from patients under the age of 60 years. CONCLUSION:Red patch biopsy yields a positive finding of malignancy in 12% and was concluded to be a valuable exercise, particularly in those over the age of 60 years and on follow-up for TCC.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of oral cimetidine as a treatment for painful bladder disease (PBD, variously described as a 'symptom complex' of suprapubic pain, frequency, dysuria and nocturia in the absence of overt urine infection) by assessing symptom relief and histological changes in the bladder wall tissue components, compared with placebo.Patients and methods The study comprised 36 patients with PBD enrolled into a double-blind clinical study with two treatment arms, i.e. oral cimetidine or placebo, for a 3-month trial. Patients were asked to complete a symptom questionnaire (maximum score 35), and underwent cystoscopy and bladder biopsy before treatment allocation. On completing treatment the patients were re-evaluated by the questionnaire and biopsy. The symptom scores and bladder mucosal histology were compared before and after treatment, and the results analysed statistically to assess the efficacy of cimetidine.Results Of the 36 patients recruited, 34 (94%) completed the study. Those receiving cimetidine had a significant improvement in symptoms, with median symptom scores decreasing from 19 to 11 (P < 0.001). Suprapubic pain and nocturia decreased markedly (P = 0.009 and 0.006, respectively). However, histologically the bladder mucosa showed no qualitative change in the glycosaminoglycan layer or basement membrane, or in muscle collagen deposition, in either group. The T cell infiltrate was marginally decreased in the cimetidine group (median 203 before and 193 after) and increased in the placebo group (median 243 and 250, P > 0.3 and > 0.2, respectively). Angiogenesis remained relatively unchanged. The incidence of mast cells and B cells was sporadic in both groups.Conclusions Oral cimetidine is very effective in relieving symptoms in patients with PBD but there is no apparent histological change in the bladder mucosa after treatment; the mechanism of symptom relief remains to be elucidated.
Aims-To define the pathology of painful bladder syndrome using a morphometric method.Methods-Bladder biopsy specimens from 31 patients with painful bladder syndrome and 11 controls were stained and examined at x260 magnification with the aid of a 100 square counting grid. Random counts of the different tissues and inflammatory components were made to ascertain whether constant differences occurred that could be used to define the pathology of this uncommon condition.Results-In the lamina propria of painful bladder syndrome specimens, a significant increase was seen in the concentration of lymphocytes, T cells, and blood vessels; a decrease was seen in the number of fibroblasts, and no change was seen in the number of mast cells and macrophages. B cells were sporadic. The basement membrane in these specimens showed significant discontinuity and there was increased collagen deposition in the underlying muscle when compared with controls.Conclusion-Painful bladder syndrome exhibits constant histological features that may be used to aid diagnosis in this uncommon condition. Simple numerical cell/tissue measurement of this kind is also useful when treatment trials are considered, because objective statistical analysis (pretreatment and post-treatment) is possible without the need for expensive and complicated equipment.
OBJECTIVE:To assess the accuracy of histopathology reports of bladder biopsy specimens showing chronic cystitis and to develop a standard method of reporting in the form of a template which will aid both clinician and patient in the management of this condition.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Over a 4-year period, the reports of 134 bladder biopsy specimens diagnosed as chronic inflammation of the bladder were examined for clinical details, cystoscopy findings, pathology details and conclusions. Within each of these groups, the common terms were assessed for their relevance to the final outcome.RESULTS:The analysis of each part of these reports revealed no clinical details in 33%, no cystoscopy details in 26% and no histopathology conclusion in 20%. The commonest terms used were: macroscopic haematuria (25%) for clinical details; red patch/ inflamed (40%) for cystoscopic details, morphological site involved (65%) for pathology details; and mild chronic cystitis (37%) for the conclusions. Standardized criteria were devised and after reassessing the reports, 75% were considered to be accurate and complete.CONCLUSIONS:Overall, the histopathology reports examined were more than adequate for the clinicians' use but the spectrum of details provided did not add to the usefulness of the final report. By limiting the terms available, a more standardized report can be produced, benefiting both clinician and patient.
Forty-one patients with benign prostatic disease awaiting transurethral resection of the prostate were offered transurethral microwave therapy as an alternative. Pre-operative assessment consisted of symptom scores, prostate-specific antigen levels, flow rates and urinary tract ultrasound with residual urine estimation. Patients were reassessed 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after microwave treatment. Twenty-three patients had a successful outcome and 18 an unsuccessful outcome to treatment. Fifteen of the 18 with an unsuccessful outcome could have been predicted by the presence of one or more of the following pretreatment features: glands over 50 g (10 patients), the presence of a median lobe (5 patients), high residual urine (6 patients), a history of recurrent urinary infection (2 patients) and coexisting neurological disorders such as parkinsonism (1 patient) and CVA (1 patient). Three failures had none of these criteria present and could not have been predicted from their pretreatment assessment. Transurethral microwave therapy produces subjective and objective improvements in appropriately selected patients. Patients with large glands or decompensated bladders fail to benefit and should continue to be treated by conventional surgery.
To investigate whether there is a significant placebo component to the improvements seen after 1-session transurethral microwave treatment, 40 patients with significant symptoms of prostatism and unequivocally benign glands were recruited to take part in a sham controlled study. After an active treatment the mean American Urological Association symptom scores improved by 63% (19.2 to 7.1) while after a sham treatment symptom scores improved only marginally (18.8 to 16.2, p < 0.001). Residual volumes decreased by 50% (104 to 52 ml.) and flow rates increased by 2.3 ml. per second after an active treatment with no improvement after a sham treatment. There was a consistently greater improvement after an active treatment compared to a sham treatment. Patients who had received a sham treatment were then offered an active treatment and showed improvements similar to those in the original actively treated group and much greater than after the original sham treatment. Mean symptom scores decreased from 16.2 to 9.9 (p < 0.004). Residual volumes decreased from 94 to 40 ml. (p < 0.005) and flow rates increased by 1.6 ml. per second, while these same criteria had deteriorated after a sham treatment. Side effects were mild and short lived, with no patients reporting sexual dysfunction as a consequence of treatment. Transurethral microwave therapy is an effective well tolerated treatment for select patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and the placebo effect of treatment is minimal.
British Journal of UrologyVolume 73, Issue 1 p. 105-106 Neoplastic Paneth cells in a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the bladder D. E. FISH, Corresponding Author D. E. FISH Departments of Histopathology, London, UK MRCP, MRCPath, Senior Registrar.St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK.Search for more papers by this authorD. S. C. ROSE, D. S. C. ROSE Departments of Histopathology, London, UK BSc, MB, BS, Registrar.Search for more papers by this authorA. ADAMSON, A. ADAMSON *Departments of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK FRCS, Lecturer in Urology.Search for more papers by this authorR. D. GOLDIN, R. D. GOLDIN Departments of Histopathology, London, UK MD, MRCPath, Consultant Histopathologist.Search for more papers by this authorR. O. WITHEROW, R. O. WITHEROW *Departments of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK FRCS, Consultant Urologist.Search for more papers by this author D. E. FISH, Corresponding Author D. E. FISH Departments of Histopathology, London, UK MRCP, MRCPath, Senior Registrar.St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK.Search for more papers by this authorD. S. C. ROSE, D. S. C. ROSE Departments of Histopathology, London, UK BSc, MB, BS, Registrar.Search for more papers by this authorA. ADAMSON, A. ADAMSON *Departments of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK FRCS, Lecturer in Urology.Search for more papers by this authorR. D. GOLDIN, R. D. GOLDIN Departments of Histopathology, London, UK MD, MRCPath, Consultant Histopathologist.Search for more papers by this authorR. O. WITHEROW, R. O. WITHEROW *Departments of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK FRCS, Consultant Urologist.Search for more papers by this author First published: January 1994 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.1994.tb07470.xCitations: 3 AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume73, Issue1January 1994Pages 105-106 RelatedInformation
Recent investigations have suggested that levels of urinary tissue factor (UTF) may be elevated in some forms of cancer. We have determined UTF levels in healthy controls, patients presenting for surgery with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and untreated prostate cancer. Patients undergoing check cystoscopy, who were free of recurrent bladder cancer, and a cohort of men with bone scan positive prostate cancer recently treated by androgen ablation were also studied. UTF levels were higher in patients with prostate cancer when compared with controls, those undergoing check cystoscopy and patients with BPH. In patients with prostate cancer, bone scan positive patients had higher levels than bone scan negative subjects. The androgen ablated group had UTF levels similar to those of the control groups and significantly lower than the bone scan positive group. A weak correlation was found between UTF and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels when patients with BPH and untreated cancer were analysed, but no correlation was demonstrable between PSA and UTF when cancer patients alone were evaluated. It was concluded that UTF levels are elevated in untreated prostate cancer and reflect bone scan status. In patients with bone scan positive disease UTF also reflects disease activity and may therefore be a useful disease marker in prostate cancer.
Carcinoma of the prostate has historically been associated with the bleeding diathesis which accompanies disseminated intravascular coagulation. We have performed a prospective study into the prevalence of coagulopathy in patients with untreated prostate cancer using matched patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) as controls. Haemostatic activation was assessed by measuring fibrinopeptide A (FpA) by an ELISA and D-dimer by a latex agglutination assay. FpA and D-dimer levels were correlated with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and bone scan status. Of the cancer patients, 40% had elevated FpA, levels being higher in those with bone scan positive disease (P<0.05). D-dimer was detectable in 24% of those with prostate cancer but in none with BPH. Neither FpA nor D-dimer were related to serum PSA but D-dimer appeared to be a predictor of bone scan status with a positive predictive value of 91%. It is concluded that changes compatible with subclinical DIC are common in patients presenting with prostate cancer and that measurement of FpA and D-dimer may have roles as tumour markers in this disease.
OBJECTIVES:To determine whether transurethral microwave treatment for patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy provides significant symptomatic relief, a reduction in residual urine volumes, and improvements in flow rates compared with sham treatment. DESIGN:Prospective double blind randomised study with follow up at three months. SETTING:Department of Urology in a London teaching hospital. PATIENTS:40 men completed the study: 22 received microwave treatment and 18 received sham treatment. Entry criteria were symptoms of prostatism of at least six months' duration, a total symptom score > 14, and a peak urine flow rate < 15 ml/s or a residual urine volume > 50 ml. Exclusion criteria were prostatic cancer, a residual urine volume > 200 ml, a very large prostate, an obstructing middle lobe, acute urinary retention, impaired renal function, coexisting urinary tract disease, and previous prostatic surgery. INTERVENTIONS:A single 90 minute transurethral microwave treatment or sham treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES:Patients' symptoms (including daytime frequency and nocturia) recorded in a self assessment symptom score questionnaire, peak urinary flow rates, and residual urine volumes. RESULTS:The mean total symptom scores of the patients who received microwave treatment fell from 30 to 11 compared with a fall from 31 to 26 for patients who received sham treatment (p < 0.001). Among patients who received microwave treatment daytime frequency fell from 9.4 to 5.5 voids a day and night time frequency from 3.5 to 1.6 voids a night; residual urine volumes fell from 104 ml to 52 ml; and peak urine flow rates increased by 2.3 ml/s. In the control group there was no improvement in any of these features. Treatment preserved sexual function and antegrade ejaculation. CONCLUSIONS:For selected patients with prostatism microwave treatment is effective and has few side effects.
Production of procoagulant activity by host and tumour cells may be increased in patients with cancer. Using a simple chromogenic assay, we have determined urinary tissue factor (TF) levels in patients presenting with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC, n = 63), normal controls (n = 20) and patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, n = 35). In addition, a separate cohort of patients undergoing endoscopic surveillance for superficial bladder cancer were studied to determine whether there was any difference in levels in those with recurrent disease compared to those with normal cystoscopies. Urinary TF activity was higher in TCC compared to controls (p less than 0.001) and patients with BPH (p less than 0.05). In patients undergoing check cystoscopy, those with recurrent disease (n = 32) had higher levels (p less than 0.01) than those with normal examinations (n = 21). It is concluded that urinary TF levels are elevated in bladder cancer and that this reflects disease activity in those at risk of recurrent superficial disease.
British Journal of UrologyVolume 68, Issue 3 p. 320-320 Carcinoma of the Prostate Presenting as Impotence A. S. ADAMSON, Corresponding Author A. S. ADAMSON Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, LondonA. S. Adamson, Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY.Search for more papers by this authorJ. STRACHAN, J. STRACHAN Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, LondonSearch for more papers by this authorR. O'N. WITHEROW, R. O'N. WITHEROW Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, LondonSearch for more papers by this author A. S. ADAMSON, Corresponding Author A. S. ADAMSON Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, LondonA. S. Adamson, Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY.Search for more papers by this authorJ. STRACHAN, J. STRACHAN Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, LondonSearch for more papers by this authorR. O'N. WITHEROW, R. O'N. WITHEROW Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, LondonSearch for more papers by this author First published: September 1991 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.1991.tb15332.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume68, Issue3September 1991Pages 320-320 RelatedInformation
A group of 76 patients with urographically proven acute calculus obstruction was studied prospectively using 99mTc-DTPA renography to see if kidneys at risk of irreversible renal damage could be identified. There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of obstruction on renography and the subsequent requirement for intervention, but not with the degree of obstruction (partial or severe). Stones over 5 mm in size are highly likely to cause obstruction, a drop in relative renal function and require intervention. In all, 14 patients sustained a drop in relative renal function of greater than 7% on renography and 12 of these returned to normal limits when their calculi had been passed or removed. The 2 kidneys whose function remained impaired had fallen below 25% of overall renal function and both patients had received prior treatment for their calculi. No patient who presented de novo suffered any permanent loss of ipsilateral renal function. The results confirm that the criteria for intervention were well founded and emphasise the importance of achieving a stone-free state after primary treatment. Renography is recommended for stones over 5 mm in size, those in the middle and upper ureter and for those patients discharged with a stone in situ.
Sixty patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis and 21 men without prostatitis were studied. Transperineal prostatic biopsies taken under transrectal ultrasound control were examined for antibody, complement (C3) and fibrinogen deposition using a direct immunofluorescence (IF) technique; 34 patients (57%) had prostatic tissue that displayed IF staining compared with only 1 (5%) in the non-prostatitis group. IF staining for IgM was found in 85%, for C3 in 44%, for IgA in 35% and for fibrinogen in 24%, but the IgG subclass was not detected. Antibody deposition was mainly periglandular and glandular and in the wall of vessels. Five symptoms, particularly poor urinary flow, irritative voiding and urgency, were significantly correlated with IgM and C3 deposition and, to a lesser extent, fibrinogen deposition. The aetiology of chronic abacterial prostatitis remains obscure but several possible mechanisms are discussed. The link between symptomatology and immunology could rest with functional outflow obstruction causing intraprostatic reflux of urine, this in turn inciting an immunological response, the inducing antigens being organism remnants or products, urinary constituents or autoantibodies.
A series of 60 patients with a diagnosis of chronic abacterial prostatitis, as defined by the Stamey procedure, was studied by transrectal prostatic ultrasound and subsequent transperineal biopsy of the abnormal areas of the prostate in order to ascertain the role of micro-organisms in this condition. Histological assessment revealed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate, generally of low grade, in 53 patients (88%). Organisms were isolated from the prostatic tissue of only 9 patients (15%) and were considered to be contaminants from the perineal skin, since treatment with an appropriate antimicrobial agent failed to alter symptoms or affect the leucocyte count in the urine or prostatic fluid. Chronic abacterial prostatitis may be a non-organismal inflammatory process.
We studied 50 patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis as defined by the Stamey procedure via transrectal prostatic ultrasound and subsequent transperineal biopsy of the abnormal areas of the prostate to ascertain the role of Chlamydia trachomatis organisms (chlamydiae) in this condition. Chlamydiae were detected by an immunofluorescence technique in the urethra of 1 patient (2 per cent) but they were not recovered in McCoy cell culture from the prostatic tissue of any patient nor were they detected in the tissue by immunofluorescence. In addition, serum antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis was not found even in moderate titer. The approach in this study has overcome the problem of urethral contamination in the assessment of prostatic specimens from patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis. There is no evidence that chlamydiae are directly implicated in the disease, although the possibility of an earlier active role cannot be excluded.
Paraffinoma is a well recognised complication following instillation of paraffin into the tissues (Campbell and Henderson, 1973) but its deleterious effects have not been previously reported in the urinary tract.