We report a rare case of a metastatic tumor of the tunica vaginalis and epididymis with hydrocele from occult gastric cancer. A 72-year-old patient showed a painless scrotal swelling. Scrotal ultrasound showed a right hydrocele and a follow-up hydrocelectomy showed a mass on the epididymis. The operation was thus converted to radical orchiectomy. The tumor was revealed as an adenocarcinoma in the tunica vaginalis and epididymis. Abdominal computed tomography found gastric cancer, which was confirmed by a gastric fibroscopy biopsy. The patient was referred to the hemato-oncology department for chemotherapy but died after 3 months.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Epididymis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Testicular Hydrocele

A 21-year old male complained pain in his penis which has rapidly grown in its mass. We found a cystic mobile mass of about 2cm in diameter at the frenulum of the penis. A modified circumcision was performed ten years ago that an incised skin of prepuce was rolled and implanted in the operation site. The patient found an asymptomatic small nodule one month after a circumcision. We found no communication with the urethra. We performed an excision of the mass to confirm the diagnosis. Pathologic examination revealed epidermal cyst and abscess formation. We used antibiotics for treatment of infection.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Circumcision, Male ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Skin ; Urethra

PURPOSE: To compare pre-and postoperative scrotal pain in patients with varicocele who underwent varicocelectomy with different approaches and to identify the factors that affect the outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients with left-sided varicocele who had left scrotal pain was included and followed up for more than 3 months. Twenty patients underwent varicocele ligation using modified Palomo, fifteen with laparoscopic approach and thirteen with microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy respectively. Visual pain scale was used at pre-operation and 3 months later postoperatively. We compared age, grade, a character of pain, operation time, a number of pain killer and pain score. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 28.9 years (range 15~58 years). 45 patients described their pain as dull ache and 3 as a sharp sensation. There was complete resolution of pain in 35 patients (72.9%), while 7 (14.5%) had partial resolution. 6 (12.5%) had persistent symptoms and varicocele recurred in 3 (6.2%). There was no significant difference in pain resolution according to surgical approaches. Microsurgical approach had a prolonged operation time, but recurrence was not occurred. 3 patients that had a sharp scrotal pain were included in partial resolution or persistent pain. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical approaches were effective in the treatment of painful varicocele in selected patients and there was no significant difference in pain resolution according to surgical approaches. The sharp scrotal pain was related to the outcome of treatment.
Humans ; Ligation ; Recurrence ; Sensation ; Varicocele

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the Caspase 3 and p21 expression level and to understand the correlation between Caspase 3 expression and the clinical factors in renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with renal cell carcinoma were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical staining of Caspase 3 and p21 was performed in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections using rabbit polyclonal antibody (Caspase 3) and mouse antibody (p21). The Caspase 3 and p21 expression levels were compared with the TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, pathological type and survival rates. RESULTS: The Caspase 3 expression level correlated only with the Fuhrman grade (p=0.017). There was no significant correlation between the Caspase 3 and p21 expression level. The prognostic values did not correlate with the Caspase 3 and p21 expression level. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic value of the Caspase 3 expression level in renal cell carcinoma was insufficient. The relationship between Caspase 3 and p21 was not proven in renal cell carcinoma, and new factors may be implicated with Caspase 3.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Caspase 3* ; Humans ; Mice ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Cryoablation has been used successfully for the local treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Besides local destruction, Cryoablation has an immunogenic nature. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor immune response induced by cryoablation in renal cell carcinoma murine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal cell carcinoma was produced in BALB/c mice by the subcutaneous inoculation of Renca cells in the thigh. After 7 days, the tumors were removed using liquid nitrogen in cryoablation group and bipolar electrocoagulation in electrocautery group. For twelve days after re-inoculation of Renca cells at contralateral thigh, tumor volumes were measured daily to assess the effect against the growth of tumor. The immunocyte levels (T4, T8, B and NK cell) were determined to evaluate immune activity by FACS (Fluorescence activated cell sorter) analysis. The effect of cryoablation to induce apoptosis of tumor was evaluated by TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling) assay. RESULTS: The tumor volume of cryoablation group was significantly smaller than that of electrocautery group and control (p<0.05). Comparing with control, T cell level was significantly increased after cryoablation (p<0.05), but no group had a significant difference in the levels of B cell and NK cell by FACS analysis. The apoptosis index % of cryoablation group was significantly increased than that of control group (p<0.05) by TUNEL. CONCLUSIONS: Cryoablation could result in the inhibition of re-inoculated tumor growth and induce T cell mediated immune response. The active immune response may be attributed to the apoptosis of tumor after cryoablation.
Allergy and Immunology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cryosurgery* ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Electrocoagulation ; Immunity, Active ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Mice ; Nitrogen ; Thigh ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prognostic differences in invasive cancer that progressed from a superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) compared to an already invasive TCC at the time of the initial presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients who had a radical cystectomy performed for an invasive TCC were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups. In the first group, the patients were diagnosed as a superficial TCC at initially, which progressed to an invasive tumor. The second group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with invasive TCC at the time of the initial diagnosis. Two groups were compared with regard to the TNM stage, Ash grade, presence of accompanying carcinoma in-situ and survival rate. RESULTS: The group with invasive cancer at the time of the initial presentation had a significantly higher grade than the progressed group. The five-year survival rate was lower in the progressed group. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed it was statistically significant (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The grade was higher and the five-year survival rate was lower in the group with invasive cancer at the time of the initial presentation. Therefore, the invasive TCC at the initial diagnosis might take a more aggressive nature than the progressed group.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Cystectomy ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

The clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is made step by step. The evidences that have been published were searched and a group of experts make a consensus based in the evidences. The CPGs in the medical field, where utilizations and interests are increasing, must be confirmed in the management of quality. The Korean Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (K-AGREE II) tool that helps to manage the quality of CPGs and to develop CPGs was translated by the Steering Committee for Clinical Practice Guideline. It is divided into 6 domains and each domains are independent. It is consisted of 23 items as detail and 2 items for the overall evaluation. Only fifteen CPGs are successfully certified using the K-AGREE II tool in the Korean Medical Guideline Information Center from 2013 and 3 CPGs made by the Korea Urological Association and the associated societies are certified successfully. With the level of certification of CPGs is higher, the Korea Urological Association and the associated societies are also try to develop CPGs that meet their level of certification. The Korean clinical practice guideline for the treatment of prostate cancer developed recently is the evidence of effort.
Certification ; Consensus ; Information Centers ; Korea ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Quality Improvement ; Urology

PURPOSE: In this study, we administered erythropoietin preoperatively to patients who underwent open radical prostatectomy without transfusion to increase their hemoglobin levels and investigated the efficacy of this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 62 patients who underwent open radical prostatectomy performed by the same surgeon between June 2005 and January 2011. The 22 patients who refused transfusion were assigned to group 1; the patients who accepted transfusion were assigned to group 2. Before surgery, we administered erythropoietin beta to group 1 patients whose hemoglobin levels were <12 g/dL and retrospectively compared the clinical data of the two groups. We used the t-test and the chi-square test for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean preoperative hemoglobin levels in group 1 after erythropoietin administration (14.5 g/dL) were significantly higher than those in group 2 (13.59 g/dL, p=0.003). Moreover, the difference in the mean hemoglobin levels before and after surgery for group 1 patients (3.55 g/dL) significantly exceeded that for group 2 patients (2.08 g/dL, p=0.000). Additional analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in perioperative complications between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative erythropoietin administration increased the safety margin of hemoglobin levels, and this strategy worked sufficiently well in our experience.
Blood Transfusion ; Bloodless Medical and Surgical Procedures ; Erythropoietin* ; Humans ; Jehovah's Witnesses ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies

Previously, we demonstrated the changes of erectile tissues by intraperitoneal administration of BPA with toxic dose (cumulative dose of 900mg) in the rabbit. We performed this study to investigate the changes of erectile tissues by intracavernosal administration of BPA with low dose. New Zealand white rabbits were treated intracavernosally with 1 mg, 1 micro gram, 1 ng, and 1pg of BPA. Four weeks after administration of BPA, the contractions and relaxation of cavernosal tissue strips were significantly suppressed in the BPA-treated animals in a dose-dependent fashion compared with the control animals. Histologically, thickening of tunica albuginea by increased collagen fibers, subtunical deposition of fat, and decreased sinusoidal space by severe cavernosal smooth muscle hyperplasia with fibrosis were observed in the BPA treated animals. These results suggest that xenoestrogen BPA may affect the erectile function through evident histological changes of the penis in low dose.
Animals ; Collagen ; Fibrosis ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Penis ; Rabbits ; Relaxation

Primary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare malignant testicular tumor with a poor prognosis. Here we report the case of a 54-year-old man with right hydronephrosis that was detected before the diagnosis of the primary testicular lesion. During the evaluation of the right hydronephrosis by use of abdominopelvic computed tomography, a painless, hard, solid lesion was found on the right testis. The patient underwent radical orchiectomy, and the pathologic examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. Multiple metastases were present at the time of diagnosis. The patient received combined chemotherapy after the surgery but lived only 8 months after the initial diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orchiectomy ; Prognosis ; Rete Testis ; Testis