ABSTRACT Objectives: Based on imaging features, nephrometry scoring systems have been conceived to create a standardized and reproducible way to characterize renal tumor anatomy. However, less is known about which of these individual measures are important with regard to clinically relevant perioperative outcomes such as ischemia time (IT), estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay (LOS), and change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after robotic partial nephrectomy (PN). We aimed to assess the utility of the RENAL and PADUA scores, their subscales, and C-index for predicting these outcomes. Materials and Methods: We analyzed imaging studies from 283 patients who underwent robotic PN between 2008 and 2014 to assign nephrometry scores (NS): PADUA, RENAL and C-index. Univariate linear regression was used to assess whether the NS or any of their subscales were associated with EBL or IT. Multivariable linear regression and linear regression models were created to assess LOS and eGFR. Results: The three NS were significantly associated with EBL, IT, LOS, and eGFR at 12 months after surgery. All subscales with the exception of anterior/posterior were significantly associated with EBL and IT. Collecting system, renal rim location, renal sinus, exophytic/endophytic, and nearness to collecting system were significant predictors for LOS. Only renal rim location, renal sinus invasion and polar location were significantly associated with eGFR at 12 months. Conclusions: Tumor size and depth are important characteristics for predicting robotic PN outcomes and thus could be used individually as a simplified way to report tumors features for research and patient counseling purposes.

ABSTRACT Introduction and Objective Radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph node dissection is the standard treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer and the oncologic outcomes following it are directly related to disease pathology and surgical technique. Therefore, we sought to analyze these features in a cohort from a Brazilian tertiary oncologic center and try to identify those who could negatively impact on the disease control. Patients and Methods We identified 128 patients submitted to radical cystectomy, for bladder cancer treatment, from January 2009 to July 2012 in one oncology tertiary referral public center (Mario Penna Institute, Belo Horizonte, Brazil). We retrospectively analyzed the findings obtained from their pathologic report and assessed the complications within 30 days of surgery. Results We showed similar pathologic and surgical findings compared to other large series from the literature, however our patients presented with a slightly higher rate of pT4 disease. Positive surgical margins were found in 2/128 patients (1.5%). The medium number of lymph nodes dissected were 15. Major complications (Clavien 3 to 5) within 30 days of cystectomy occurred in 33/128 (25.7%) patients. Conclusions In the management of invasive bladder cancer, efforts should focus on proper disease diagnosis and staging, and, thereafter, correct treatment based on pathologic findings. Furthermore, extended LND should be performed in all patients with RC indication. A critical analysis of our complications in a future study will help us to identify and modify some of the factors associated with surgical morbidity.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been used for prostate cancer detection since 1994. PSA testing has revolutionized our ability to diagnose, treat, and follow-up patients. In the last two decades, PSA screening has led to a substantial increase in the incidence of prostate cancer (PC). This increased detection caused the incidence of advanced-stage disease to decrease at a dramatic rate, and most newly diagnosed PC today are localized tumors with a high probability of cure. PSA screening is associated with a 75% reduction in the proportion of men who now present with metastatic disease and a 32.5% reduction in the age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality rate through 2003. Although PSA is not a perfect marker, PSA testing has limited specificity for prostate cancer detection, and its appropriate clinical application remains a topic of debate. Due to its widespread use and increased over-detection, the result has been the occurrence of over-treatment of indolent cancers. Accordingly, several variations as regards PSA measurement have emerged as useful adjuncts for prostate cancer screening. These procedures take into consideration additional factors, such as the proportion of different PSA isoforms (free PSA, complexed PSA, pro-PSA and B PSA), the prostate volume (PSA density), and the rate of change in PSA levels over time (PSA velocity or PSA doubling time). The history and evidence underlying each of these parameters are reviewed in the following article.