Journal Reviews
Patterns of relapse and implications for post-nephrectomy surveillance in patients with high-risk NCC-RCC
The natural history of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (NCC-RCC) post-nephrectomy with curative intent remains poorly defined. The surveillance protocols are largely dependent on guidelines followed for clear cell RCC (CC-RCC). In this study, the authors evaluated the relapse patterns...
Incidence and risk factors of suicide after a prostate cancer diagnosis
This is an observational study looking at 1,281,393 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and 842,294 matched prostate cancer-free men. There was an overall increased relative risk of suicide of 2.01 in men diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to those without,...
Post prostatectomy outcomes of patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with neoadjuvant androgen blockade
This is an interesting paper reporting on the use of neoadjuvant androgen blockage in patients with high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Previous work in the literature has shown an improvement in the rate of organ-confined disease and decreased positive...
The natural history of prostate cancer on MRI
Multiparametric MRI features heavily on a number of active surveillance protocols. This study looked at 86 men on active surveillance who had an mpMRI prior to 2013 to assess how lesions changed over time. Two blinded radiologists examined all the...
Is routine renal tumour biopsy associated with lower rates of benign histology following nephrectomy for small renal masses?
There has been a considerable increase in the detection of small renal masses (SRM). Approximately 20% of these turn out to be benign lesions on final histopathological analysis. Therefore upfront surgery can be overtreatment in such a group of patients....
Dilemma of second primary tumour
Long-term survival in localised prostate cancer (CaP) can be achieved with treatment by either radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The development of second primary tumour is poorly understood in such cases. This retrospective study included 84,397 cases...
Serum cholesterol and risk of high-grade prostate cancer: results from the REDUCE study
This study examined a cohort of non-statin using patients who participated in the REDUCE study. The REDUCE study included men who had an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) and a negative baseline prostate biopsy who then underwent year two and...
Comparison of pathological stage in patients treated with and without neoadjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk UTUC
High-risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) has been associated with poor survival outcomes. The authors evaluated the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk cases prior to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in terms of pathological stage of the final surgical specimen. A...
Indication to pelvic lymph nodes dissection for prostate cancer
This paper explored the role of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) in predicting the likelihood of lymph node invasion in patients with a risk of <5% according to the Briganti nomogram. Three hundred and ten patients who underwent a preoperative mpMRI and...
Local tumour bed recurrence following partial nephrectomy
In this interesting retrospective study, the authors looked at the incidence of local tumour bed recurrence after partial nephrectomy (PN), the factors associated with that, and the management. A total of 2,271 patients’ charts were reviewed who underwent partial nephrectomies...
Upper pole access is safe and effective for paediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Upper pole access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) provides a straight access tract to the ureter with easier placement of a guidewire, good exposure of the pelvis and upper ureter, and comfortable manipulations for the treatment of staghorn, large upper caliceal,...
Characteristics of testicular tumours in prepubertal children
It is well known that testicular tumours in children occur in one of two peaks. Firstly, in the first four years of life where a third to half of these tumours are benign and secondly during puberty where there is...
