The challenging management of malignant ureteral obstruction: Analysis of a series of 188 cases

Background

Malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is a common condition that complicates the course of advanced malignancies. The aims of this study are to analyze the causes, management, and survival of patients with obstructive nephropathy due to malignant ureteric obstruction and to determine prognostic factors. Furthermore, we studied the complications and outcomes in patients who underwent urinary diversion.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with computed tomography-confirmed MUO between January 2016 and November 2020. Demographic, clinical, radiological, laboratory, and management data were collected. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the association between parameters and survival.

Results

A total of 188 patients were included. The mean age was 69.01 years (SD, 14.95 years), and the majority (54.8%) were male. The most common mechanism leading to MUO was compression by a pelvic mass (36.9%), and the 3 most frequent tumors causing MUO were prostate (17.6%), bladder (16.5%), and rectal cancer (11.7%).Forty-seven patients (25%) underwent urinary diversion: 23 (48.9%) underwent double-J stenting and 21 (44.7%) underwent percutaneous nephrostomy. The most common reason for urinary diversion was acute kidney injury (53.3%). Recovery of renal function was observed in 55.8% of the patients after urinary diversion. The most frequently identified complications after urinary diversion were urinary tract infection (24.4%), hematuria (17.0%), and urinary sepsis (14.9%). The median survival after hydronephrosis diagnosis was 6.43 months (interquartile range, 1.91-14.81 months). In patients who underwent urinary decompression, the median survival after urinary diversion was 8.67 months (interquartile range, 2.99-17.28 months). In the multivariate analysis, a lower grade of hydronephrosis and cancer cachexia negatively impacted survival.

Conclusions

Cancer patients with MUO have a poor prognosis; therefore, the risk-benefit ratio of urinary diversion should be carefully considered. Cachexia and hydronephrosis grade can be useful in selecting suitable candidates for urinary diversion.

Metastatic testicular cancer presenting with hematuria and flank pain

Testicular cancer (TC) represents 1% of male neoplasms and 5% of urological tumors. Most of seminoma patients and about 55% of patients with nonseminoma TC have stage I disease at diagnosis. TC usually presents with a palpable testicular mass incidentally found by the patient himself or its partner by palpation. It shows excellent cure rates based on their chemosensitivity, especially to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, but careful staging at diagnosis, adequate early treatment based on a multidisciplinary approach and strict follow-up are necessary. We present a case of a 25-year-old male patient who was diagnosed of metastatic TC with an atypical presentation: hematuria, hydronephrosis, and direct infiltration of the ureter by the retroperitoneal mass, mimicking a renal colic. After orchiectomy and placement of a double-J stent, the evolution was favorable, with a good response after the first cycle of chemotherapy with quick resolution of hematuria. After the treatment, a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed. The patient remains disease-free after 3 years of follow-up.

Pearls and perils in the management of germ cell tumors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Research and innovation over the past half century have rendered testicular cancer a highly curable malignancy. Challenges and uncertainty remain in several aspects related to the management and surveillance of patients with germ cell tumors (GCT). Long-term effects of treatment on survivors of testicular cancer remain as continued areas of interest. This review aims to highlight pearls and perils in the management of patients with GCT.

RECENT FINDINGS

Uncertainty remain regarding complex aspects of first-line and salvage treatments of GCT, interpretation of tumor markers in cases of α-fetoprotein levels less than 25 ng/ml, plateau of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in patients with initial hCG greater than 50 000 mIU/ml, supportive therapies throughout chemotherapy regimens, and long-term survivorship of patients who underwent surgery or received platinum-based chemotherapy. This review aims to highlight challenges that remain in GCT, review the emerging data in these areas, and provide our institutional opinion on the management in several aspects of GCT.

SUMMARY

Testicular cancer continues to present challenging clinical scenarios with respect to treatment, surveillance, and long-term management of patients. We review the data and share our institutional knowledge in several challenging areas related to the management of GCT.

Burned-out testicular germ cell tumour presenting as acute inferior vena cava syndrome

Germ cell tumours (GCT) are the most common testicular neoplasms, seen mainly in young adults. Rarely they can affect extragonadal tissues, either as primary tumours or as metastases, most commonly to retroperitoneal lymph nodes. A 'burned-out' testicular tumour is a metastatic GCT with a relatively occult primary testicular tumour, which has histologically spontaneously regressed. We report a case of a 26-year-old man who presented with an acute history of lower back pain and leg swelling. CT demonstrated a large retroperitoneal soft tissue mass causing right-sided hydronephrosis with inferior vena cava and iliofemoral vein thrombosis. Although clinical examination of the testis was normal, ultrasound imaging of the scrotum identified a burned-out testicular primary. Orchiectomy confirmed the diagnosis and the patient responded well to chemotherapy, with no viable residual tumour on follow-up imaging. However, despite nephrostomy insertion, a dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan demonstrated loss of function of the right kidney after treatment.

Risk factors for chronic kidney disease after chemotherapy for testicular cancer

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the patterns of and risk factors for deterioration of renal function after chemotherapy in metastatic testicular cancer survivors using the estimated glomerular filtration rate.

METHODS

A total of 96 patients who were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer between January 1981 and December 2010 were enrolled in this study. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was based on the serum creatinine concentration using the formula of the Japanese Society of Nephrology. Risk factors for chronic kidney disease were examined by multivariate logistic-regression analysis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 70 months (range 15-342). The median pretreatment estimated glomerular filtration rate was 98 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (range 44-216), and it gradually decreased for 1 year after the end of chemotherapy, although there was no significant change in estimated glomerular filtration rate beyond 1 year. One year after chemotherapy, 22 of 96 patients (23%) showed chronic kidney disease (less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) estimated glomerular filtration rate). The multivariate analysis showed that the patients with mild renal damage (estimated glomerular filtration rate 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m(2) ) and elevated blood pressure (higher than 130/80 mmHg) before treatment had a significant risk with odds ratios of 2.63 (95% confidence interval 1.09-6.73) and 4.22 (95% confidence interval 1.45-12.6), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Close monitoring of renal function is important for at least 1 year after chemotherapy for testicular cancer, especially in patients having elevated blood pressure and/or mild renal damage before chemotherapy.