Internal Pudendal Artery Angioplasty to Rescue Penile Gangrene

Internal pudendal artery (IPA) is a branch of internal iliac artery that mainly supplies the perineal organs and external genitalia. Any obstruction in the artery seen in diabetics, hypertensives, or chronic kidney disease-induced calciphylaxis leads to decreased blood flow and may cause gangrene. IPA angioplasty is a known therapeutic procedure for erectile dysfunction and has shown promising results. However, similar procedure to relieve arterial blockade may be used to stop spread of penile gangrene and save the anatomical and physiological functions of the penis. We report a novel case of IPA angioplasty in patient of penile gangrene to circumvent total penectomy.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer—analysis of adverse effects and effectiveness of two strains of BCG (Danish 1331 and Moscow)

Objective

To compare the differences in adverse effects and efficacy profile between bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Danish 1331 and BCG Moscow-I strain in management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Methods

Clinical data of 188 cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with BCG between January 2008 and December 2018 in our institute were collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively, and 114 patients who completed a minimum of 12 months of follow-up were analysed. Patient and tumor characteristics, strain of BCG, adverse effects, and tumor progression were included for analysis. Intravesical BCG was instilled in intermediate- and high-risk patients. Six weeks of induction BCG, followed by three weekly maintenance BCG at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months was advised in high-risk patients.

Results

Overall 68 patients received BCG Danish 1331 strain and 46 patients received Moscow-I strain. Patient and tumor characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. The median follow-up period was 42.5 months and 34.5 months in Danish 1331 and Moscow-I groups, respectively. Adverse events like dropout rate, antitubercular treatment requirement, and need of cystectomy were higher in Moscow-I group (n=31, 67.4%) when compared to Danish 1331 strain (n=33, 48.5%) (p=0.046). On direct comparison between Danish 1331 and Moscow-I strain, there was similar 3-year recurrence-free survival (80.0% vs. 72.9%) and 3-year progression-free survival (96.5% vs. 97.8%).

Conclusion

Study results suggest no significant differences between Danish 1331 and Moscow-I strain in recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival, but a significantly higher incidence of moderate to severe adverse events in BCG Moscow-I strain.

Genitourinary cancers: Summary of Indian data

Tumors of the genitourinary system are one of the most common tumors encountered in clinical practice. The associated morbidity and mortality and the significant proportion of affected middle-age individuals have a major bearing on the death-adjusted life years compared to other malignancies. Genitourinary system tumors encompass a very broad spectrum with regard to age, location, histology, and clinical outcomes. Advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, radiotherapy equipment, and generation of newer chemotherapeutic and targeted agents over the past few years have helped improving treatment outcome. Several focused groups within India have been working on a range of topics related to genitourinary system tumors, and a significant body of work from India in the recent years is being increasingly recognized throughout the world. The present article summarizes the key published work related to the epidemiology of genitourinary system tumors in the Indian setting. A PubMed search was made for locating and selecting articles relevant to the topic.