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A Future of Firsts: The pioneers of da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery

The progress of da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery in urology started about 25 years ago in an operating room in Frankfurt. Intuitive had launched the first robotic-assisted surgical platform, the da Vinci surgical system, and urologist Jochen Binder performed the first...

An update on lower pole stone management for 2015

Introduction Urolithiasis is an increasing healthcare problem, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of up to 15% [1]. The number of interventions undertaken for stone disease has increased dramatically over recent years, particularly with respect to ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)...

Klinefelter’s syndrome

Klinefelter’s syndrome (KF) is the most frequent sex chromosome abnormality with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 500 to 1 in 700 newborn males and 1 in 10 in men with azoospermia. While the majority of cases are an XXY...

Lasers in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) impacts on the quality of life of many men. It is intimately related to ageing, but exact calculations of its prevalence remain difficult since an accurate clinical definition still eludes us. Histological BPH has been...

Focal therapy for prostate cancer – ready for prime time?

The current therapeutic ratio for radical therapy in many men with localised prostate cancer is not ideal. For a significant side-effect profile, there seems to be a small survival benefit over a 10-15 year period. A strategy that might balance...

History of prostate biopsy – part 1

Part 2 of this topic is available here. Prostate biopsy (PBx) to exclude cancer has been part of clinical practice since the beginning of the 20th Century. PBx techniques have evolved over time to optimally address some of the unique...

Clear cell urothelial carcinoma: a highly aggressive morphological variant in the bladder and upper urinary tract

Clear cell urothelial carcinoma (CCUC) is a rare morphological variant of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). It can occur anywhere along the urothelial tract and is characterised histologically by high grade carcinoma with an abundance of clear, glycogen-rich cytoplasm [1]. Alternative...

Imaging of varicoceles

A varicocele is a collection of dilated, tortuous spermatic veins of the pampiniform venous plexus. It is seen in 10-15% of the general population and is associated with both primary and secondary infertility. A varicocele is the most common cause...

Use of bone windows in urological CT

Introduction Unenhanced computed tomography of kidneys, ureter and bladder (CTKUB) is the recommended gold standard investigation in patients with acute renal colic. CT urography is now a commonly used technique in the investigation of haematuria, for surgical planning and for...

Pyonephrosis: is the kidney always doomed?

Pyonephrosis (Greek pyon ‘pus’ + nephros ‘kidney’) is defined in Campbell-Walsh Urology [1] as an infected hydro-nephrosis associated with suppurative destruction of the renal parenchyma which results in total or near total loss of renal function. The true incidence of...

The burning issue of urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria colonise and proliferate in the urinary tract. These are characterised by specific clinical symptoms (dysuria, suprapubic tenderness, urgency and urinary frequency) which commonly occur alongside the finding of bacteriuria. UTIs are common –...