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Biomedical subjects

R Bihrle

Publications and source records attributed to R Bihrle.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for clinical stage A testis cancer (1965 to 1989): modifications of technique and impact on ejaculation.

Results with primary retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in 464 patients with clinical stage A nonseminomatous germ cell testis cancer (1965 to 1989) were reviewed. The false-negative staging error by clinical methods remains at 30%. The relapse rate in pathological stage A cancer patients was 11% (37 of 323), with 2 deaths. For pathological stage B disease 64% of the patients were cured by retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy alone. With modern adjuvant chemotherapy no stage B tumor relapsed since 1979 and the survival rate was 100%. For all 25 years (464 patients) the relapse rate was 14% and the survival rate was 98.9% (3 cancer and 2 noncancer deaths). Because these results are based on preoperative clinical staging, they are directly comparable with series using radiotherapy or surveillance.

Adolescent↗

Primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in clinical stage A non-seminomatous germ cell testis cancer. Review of the Indiana University experience 1965-1989.

The results of primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in 464 patients with clinical stage A non-seminomatous germ cell (NSGC) testis cancer treated over 25 years (1965-1989) were reviewed. The results were analysed in clinical terms and subdivided into early (1965-1978) and contemporary (1979-1989) groups in order to be comparable with series using radiotherapy or surveillance. Between 1965 and 1978 (86 clinical stage A patients) the overall relapse rate of 15% (n = 13) was similar to that of radiotherapy series but survival (97.7% after RPLND) was superior to that achieved with irradiation (87%). From 1979 to 1989, 378 clinical stage A patients had primary RPLND and 30% of them (n = 112) had cancerous nodes. The relapse rate for pathological stage A (n = 266) was 12% and 2 patients died. The relapse rate in pathological stage B patients without adjuvant chemotherapy was 34%. No relapse was seen among 48 pathological stage B patients who received post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. The death rate was 0.8% among 378 clinical stage A RPLND patients. While not statistically significantly different from death rates reported in current surveillance series, these consistent results spanning 2 eras (before and after cisplatin) over 25 years suggest a sound basis for the surgical approach. The anatomical and medical principles in oncology, which have supported this approach, still remain cogent today. Now that nerve-sparing techniques have been developed, the only long-term morbidity of RPLND (anejaculation) has been avoided. It would seem appropriate to include nerve-sparing RPLND techniques in the management of clinical stage A disease.

Adolescent↗

A preliminary report: postoperative fertility assessment in nerve-sparing RPLND patients.

Nerve-sparing RPLND is a procedure suited to patients with clinical stage I nonseminoma. Additionally, nerve-sparing techniques are applicable to patients with higher stage disease. Although ejaculation is reliably preserved with nerve-sparing techniques, the question of these patients' fertility has remained. Fertility was assessed in these patients by two techniques: laboratory analysis of semen and a post-RPLND questionnaire. Semen analyses and DNA histograms suggested fertility in > 70%; in addition, 43 of 53 (81%) patients who have tried to father children post RPLND have been successful. Nerve-sparing RPLND appears to be able to preserve fertility potential in these patients.

DNA, Neoplasm↗

Production of prostatic lesions in canines using transrectally administered high-intensity focused ultrasound.

High-intensity focused ultrasound is a method of destroying tissue at a point distant from the transducer without injuring intervening tissue. A transrectal probe was developed and used to treat 26 canines in order to determine the feasibility of using this therapy in humans. Lesions of coagulative necrosis which evolved into cystic cavities were produced. Surrounding tissue was preserved without evidence of injury.

Animals↗

High-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of prostatic disease.

Beginning in 1987, high-intensity focused ultrasound was investigated experimentally in a canine model to determine whether or not prostate tissue could be destroyed with good aiming and control. Subsequently a transrectal probe was developed and used to treat canine prostates in a formal study to determine whether or not this technology could be used to treat human benign prostatic hypertrophy. Next, after FDA approval, 15 patients were treated at Indiana University in the fall of 1992. Both canine and human studies have shown that high-intensity focused ultrasound administered via a transrectal probe is capable of creating prostate lesions without injury to intervening and surrounding tissue.

Animals↗

Testicular ultrasonography after chemotherapy for germ cell neoplasm: significance of highly hyperechoic lesions.

The sonographic appearance of the testis after administration of chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell neoplasm is not well known. Fifty-six patients (60 testes) who were previously treated with chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell neoplasm (originally diagnosed by removal of the contralateral testis or by biopsy of metastatic disease) underwent sonography followed by orchiectomy. The sonographic characteristics found to predict viable intratesticular tumor were: lesion size larger than 5 mm, fewer echoes than adjacent parenchyma (hypoechoic), inhomogeneous echo texture, poor margin definition, cystic areas, or highly hyperechoic foci within a hypoechoic lesion. Fibrosis was predicted by finding single or multiple small, highly hyperechoic lesions. These results suggest the potential for predicting the pathologic diagnosis in some patients after receiving chemotherapy for germ cell neoplasm.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous management of a nephrocutaneous fistula due to a pyelocaliceal diverticular calculus.

Nephrocutaneous fistulas arising from stone-containing pyelocaliceal diverticula are rare. We describe 2 patients who were treated by open drainage for perirenal abscesses. Subsequently, both patients presented with a nephrocutaneous fistula from a stone-containing pyelocaliceal diverticulum. These patients were successfully treated by percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with fulguration of the diverticula.

Aged↗

Conversion of an ileal conduit to a continent catheterizable stoma.

A technique is described by which a previously constructed ileal conduit is used as an efferent limb of a continent urinary reservoir. The ileal segment is tapered; 1 end is tunneled submucosally into a reconfigured colonic reservoir and the other end is brought to the skin as a catheterizable stoma. This modification of the Mitrofanoff principle provides a highly continent stoma that is easily catheterized, and allows for preservation of the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve within the gastrointestinal tract.

Adult↗

Transverse colon-gastric tube composite reservoir.

We describe our technique for a new form of continent urinary diversion. This reservoir includes a detubularized segment of transverse colon to provide low pressure urine storage, tunneled ureteral reimplants to prevent reflux, and a tubularized gastric segment used as a continent catheterizable efferent limb. This technique provides a new option for continent diversion in a variety of patients.

Colon↗

Resection of the inferior vena cava or intraluminal vena caval tumor thrombectomy during retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic germ cell cancer: indications and results.

A total of 42 patients underwent inferior vena caval resection (40) or intraluminal tumor thrombectomy (2) during retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for bulky abdominal metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell cancer (7% of all post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection cases). The 3 indications for vena caval resection included tumor clearance (38%), vena caval scar occlusion (14%) and vena caval tumor thrombus (48%). En bloc vena caval resection to achieve tumor clearance was justified by subsequent nodal pathology (cancer in 63% of the specimens and teratoma in 31%). Vena caval resection in the presence of scar occlusion was de facto required by virtue of its incorporation in the specimen. Vena caval resection or thrombectomy is indicated for intraluminal tumor thrombus because thrombus pathology (cancer 35%, teratoma 45% and fibrosis 20%) reflected nodal pathology in 71% of the patients with cancer, 78% with teratoma and 100% with fibrosis. The complications of vena caval resection were generally transitory. The 71% survival rate justifies this intensive surgical approach because these patients had exhausted all chemotherapy options.

Adolescent↗

Early clinical experience with the transverse colon-gastric tube continent urinary reservoir.

The clinical results of the first 4 patients undergoing reconstruction with the transverse colon-gastric tube urinary reservoir are presented. All patients had a minimum 1-year follow-up. All 4 patients are continent with stable or improved renal function. Two patients required reoperation. Indications as well as possible modifications of this procedure are discussed.

Adult↗

Detection of antisperm-antibodies in patients with primary testicular cancer.

Serum antisperm-antibodies have been noted to develop as a result of various types of testicular pathology and injury. Their presence sometimes correlates with impaired fertility. We examined 52 patients with non-seminomatous low-stage testicular cancer for the presence of serum antisperm-antibodies to determine whether or not auto-immunity is a factor in the depressed fertility known to exist in these patients. Twenty-one per cent were discovered to have serum antisperm-antibodies using an immunofluorescent technique.

Autoantibodies↗

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to determine surgical approach to renal cell carcinoma with vena caval extension.

Extension of renal cell carcinoma into the vena cava is found in 4 to 10 percent of patients. One key to successful surgical management is defining the superior extent of the thrombus. Currently, this is accomplished by using inferior venacavography. The limitations of this imaging technique include difficulty in defining the superior extent of the thrombus and determining the presence of hepatic vein involvement. We report our experience using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 9 patients to stage the thrombus and to determine the operative approach. We believe that MRI supplants other imaging techniques for staging tumor thrombi in renal cell carcinoma.

Aged↗

Nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy with preservation of ejaculation.

The feasibility of sparing postganglionic fibers of lumbar sympathetic nerves during the course of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy has been investigated at our university medical center beginning in 1978. We selected 75 patients for nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in an effort to preserve ejaculatory function postoperatively. This cohort of patients was selected on the basis of clinical stage. Of the 75 patients 73 had clinical stage I disease. However, 14 of these 73 patients had pathological stage II cancer. No patient was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Of these 14 patients with pathological stage II disease 4 had relapse: 1 with proved retroperitoneal recurrence, and 3 with serological elevations of tumor markers and questionable clinical findings as to anatomical site of relapse. All 4 patients are free of disease after chemotherapy and/or surgical (1) rescue. There were no local recurrences in the 61 patients with negative nodes. All 75 patients ejaculate and had no evidence of disease more than 2 years after nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. It is clear that nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is a feasible technique. As noted, it can even be applied to selected patients with low volume positive nodes, yet maintaining relapse and survival figures that are acceptable. Ejaculation is reliably preserved when this nerve-sparing technique is applied accurately in retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

Anastomotic suture granuloma following radical retropubic prostatectomy.

We report 2 cases of symptomatic suture granuloma formation after erosion of the silk suture (used to ligate the dorsal venous complex) into the urethrovesical anastomosis. Irritative or obstructive voiding complaints, sterile pyuria or hematuria found after radical retropubic prostatectomy mandates urological evaluation, including cystoscopy to rule out anastomotic suture granuloma formation. Although erosion appears to be a rare occurrence, we recommend use of absorbable suture to control the dorsal venous complex and avoid this possible complication.

Aged↗