Faculty Bibliography

The role of laparoscopy in the case of nonpalpable cryptorchidism is both diagnostic and therapeutic. Laparoscopic orchiopexy for nonpalpable testes in the pediatric population has become the preferred surgical approach among pediatric urologists over the last 20 years. In contrast, laparoscopic varicocelectomy is considered one of several possible approaches to the treatment of a varicocele in an adolescent; however, it has many challengers and it has not gained universal acceptance as the gold standard. This article reviews the published evidence regarding these surgical techniques.

Ganglioneuromas are rare benign tumors arising from neural crest cells of the autonomic nervous system. These tumors may rarely localize to the bladder, and few cases have been reported in the adult literature. To date, however, bladder ganglioneuromas have not been reported in the pediatric literature. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl who presented with hematuria and a urinary tract infection and on workup was found to have a large bladder mass. Transurethral resection and pathologic examination revealed the mass to be a ganglioneuroma. The case is presented followed by a brief review of the literature.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To report our operative experience and short-term outcomes for the laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) management of large renal tumors and tumors of advanced stage. PATIENTS AND METHODS/METHODS:Ten consecutive patients underwent LESS-radical nephrectomy (RN) for large (≥ 7 cm) and/or locally advanced tumors (>T(2)). Intraoperative, postoperative, and short-term follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS:Median surgical time was 146 minutes (range 73-164 min), and median estimated blood loss was 100 mL (range 25-400 mL). No procedure needed conversion to open RN or hand-assisted laparoscopic RN. The median hospital stay was 47 hours (range 42 hours-12 days). One (10%) patient had a minor complication (postoperative fever treated with antibiotics) and one (10%) patient had a major complication (small bowel obstruction necessitating reoperation). Of the 10 tumors, 2 were pathologic stage T(1b), 4 were pathologic stage T(2), and 4 were stage T(3a). At a median follow-up of 12.3 months (range 1-16 mos), six (60%) patients were alive without evidence of recurrence, and 4 (40%) patients were alive with disease. Of those four patients, all four had known metastatic disease before surgery. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:LESS-RN for large or advanced stage renal masses is a technically challenging operation. In experienced hands, however, it is a safe and feasible therapeutic option for the management of these tumors.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW/OBJECTIVE:This review provides timely and relevant information to address the indications for repair of the adolescent varicocele. In this review, we summarize the most recent available evidence and provide clinical guidelines. RECENT FINDINGS/RESULTS:The indications for adolescent varicocelectomy commonly include testicular hypotrophy and pain but become confusing and contradictory when discussing potential infertility as an indication for repair. The preponderance of patients with varicocele in the infertile population leads to the search for causality and reversibility. However, in the era of assisted reproduction, the question of early prevention of infertility is brought to the forefront of discussion. Recent attempts have been made to determine the patient parameters that predict future infertility. Current publications have focused on predictors for clinically significant varicoceles that would benefit from intervention, such as hormonal profile and peak retrograde flow. Contradictory evidence exists regarding the significance of testicular asymmetry in adolescence. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:Substantial effort has been made to tease out the clinically significant adolescent varicocele. However, definitive evidence regarding fertility outcomes and adolescent varicocele repair remains limited and controversial. Large-scale, long-term follow-up studies are necessary to determine the true benefit of adolescent varicocele repair on decreasing the risk of fertility problems in adulthood.

A 68-year-old man who initially presented with hematuria was found on prostate biopsy to have sarcoma of the prostate with osteogenic features. Radiological examination revealed a locally advanced pelvic mass involving the prostate, seminal vesicles, and rectal wall without metastatic disease. The patient underwent total pelvic exenteration with intraoperative radiotherapy. The tumor was composed of two nodules measuring 7.5 and 4.5 cm involving the prostate, both seminal vesicles, the bladder, rectum, and perirectal fibroadipose tissue. The final diagnosis was osteogenic sarcoma of the prostate.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW/OBJECTIVE:Klinefelter syndrome, 47,XXY and its variants, is the most common chromosomal aberration among men, with estimated frequency of 1: 500 among newborns. Men with Klinefelter syndrome present with sequels of hormonal and spermatogenic testicular failure like infertility, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and low bone mineral density. This review is aimed to provide the practicing urologist with an important source of clinically relevant information about Klinefelter syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS/RESULTS:Sperm can be found in over 50% of men with Klinefelter syndrome, thus men with Klinefelter syndrome are not sterile. Recent evidence suggests that children with Klinefelter syndrome are born with spermatogonia and lose large numbers of germ cells during puberty. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the quality of life and the overall health of men with Klinefelter syndrome. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:Growing interest in Klinefelter syndrome among translational scientists and clinicians will result in better understanding of the pathophysiology of testicular failure. In some states, screening programs for Klinefelter syndrome are already in place, which will increase the number of patients with Klinefelter syndrome seen by practicing urologists in the near future. Diagnosis and management of patients with Klinefelter syndrome is within the scope and training of urologists. Development of randomized clinical trials comparing different forms of interventions in men and children with Klinefelter syndrome will allow us to standardize the care of these patients.