Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Nutritional status has been increasingly recognized as an important predictor of prognosis and surgical outcomes for cancer patients. We evaluated the effect of preoperative malnutrition on the development of surgical complications and mortality after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, we evaluated the association of poor nutritional status with 30-day postoperative complications and overall mortality after RNU from 2005 to 2015. The preoperative variables suggestive of poor nutritional status included hypoalbuminemia (< 3.5 g/dL), weight loss within 6 months before surgery (> 10%), and a low body mass index. RESULTS:A total of 1200 patients were identified who had undergone RNU for UTUC. The overall complication rate was 20.5% (n = 246), and mortality rate was 1.75% (n = 21). On univariate analysis, patients who experienced a postoperative complication were more likely to have hypoalbuminemia (25.0% vs. 11.4%; P < .001) and weight loss (3.7% vs. 1.0%; P = .003). After controlling for baseline characteristics and comorbidities, hypoalbuminemia was found to be a significant independent predictor of postoperative complications (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.38; P = .003). Hypoalbuminemia was also a significant independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio, 4.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-12.79; P = .008) on multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our results have shown that hypoalbuminemia is a significant predictor of surgical complications and mortality after RNU for UTUC. This finding supports the importance of patients' preoperative nutritional status in this population and suggests that effective nutritional interventions in the preoperative setting could improve patient outcomes.

Imaging is critically important for the diagnosis, staging, and management of men with high-risk prostate cancer. Conventional imaging modalities, including computed tomography and radionuclide bone scan have been employed for local and metastatic staging, but their performance has generally been poor. Sodium fluoride positron emission tomography is recommended when there is high suspicion for bone metastases despite a negative or indeterminate bone scan. Magnetic resonance imaging has advantages in local staging but its value depends on the extent of disease. Whole body positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging could provide both local and distant staging although the technology is not yet widely disseminated. None of the existing positron emission tomography agents are recommended in practice guidelines, however, among them, prostate specific membrane antigen-based tracers seem to hold the most promise based on sensitivity and specificity.

OBJECTIVE: To develop nomograms that predict the probability of overall PCa and clinically significant PCa (Gleason >/=7) on MRI targeted, and combined MRI-targeted and systematic, prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2012 to August 2014, MR-US fusion targeted prostate biopsy was performed on 464 men with suspicious regions identified on pre-biopsy 3T MRI along with systematic 12 core biopsy. Logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate predictors of overall and clinically significant PCa, and corresponding nomograms were generated for men who were not previously biopsied or had one or more prior negative biopsies. Models were created with 70% of a randomly selected training sample and bias-corrected using bootstrap resampling. The models were then validated with the remaining 30% testing sample pool. RESULTS: A total of 459 patients were included for analysis (median age 66 years, PSA 5.2 ng/ml, prostate volume 49 cc). Independent predictors of PCa on targeted and systematic prostate biopsy were PSA density, age, and MRI suspicion score. PCa probability nomograms were generated for each cohort using the predictors. Bias-corrected areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for overall and clinically significant PCa detection were 0.82 (0.78) and 0.91 (0.84) for men without prior biopsy and 0.76 (0.65) and 0.86 (0.87) for men with a prior negative biopsy in the training (testing) samples. CONCLUSION: PSA density, age, and MRI suspicion score predict prostate cancer on combined MRI-targeted and systematic biopsy. Our generated nomograms demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy and may further aid in the decision to perform biopsy in men with clinical suspicion of PCa.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess variability in imaging facilities' adherence to the minimum technical standards for prostate magnetic resonance imaging acquisition established by Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2 (v2). METHODS: A total of 107 prostate magnetic resonance imaging examinations performed at 107 unique imaging facilities after the release of PI-RADS v2 and that were referred to a tertiary care center for secondary interpretation were included. Image sets, DICOM headers, and outside reports were reviewed to assess adherence to 21 selected PI-RADS v2 minimum technical standards. RESULTS: Hardware arrangements were 23.1%, 1.5T without endorectal coil; 7.7%, 1.5T with endorectal coil; 63.5%, 3T without endorectal coil; and 5.8%, 3T with endorectal coil. Adherence to minimum standards was lowest on T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) for frequency resolution /=1400 s/mm2) images were included in 58.0% (calculated in 25.9%). Adherence to T2WI phase resolution and DWI inter-slice gap were greater (P < .05) at 3T than at 1.5T. Adherence did not differ (P > .05) for any parameter between examinations performed with and without an endorectal coil. Adherence was greater for examinations performed at teaching facilities for T2WI slice thickness and DCE temporal resolution (P < .05). Adherence was not better for examinations performed in 2016 than in 2015 for any parameter (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Facilities' adherence to PI-RADS v2 minimum technical standards was variable, being particularly poor for T2WI frequency resolution and DCE temporal resolution. The standards warrant greater community education. Certain technical standards may be too stringent, and revisions should be considered.