Faculty Bibliography

There has been a rising incidence of small renal masses and concomitant downward stage migration. This has led to an evolution in the management of kidney cancer from radical nephrectomy to nephron-sparing treatment options including observation. The adoption of partial nephrectomy continues to increase but is still incomplete leading to significant disparities in the delivery of care throughout the country. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice for small kidney cancers; however, ablative therapies and active surveillance are emerging as reasonable options for select patients. With continued refinements in treatment options and improvements in ability to risk stratify SRMs, the current treatment trends will likely continue to evolve.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patient-specific 3D printed renal tumor models change pre-operative planning decisions made by urological surgeons in preparation for complex renal mass surgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From our ongoing IRB approved study on renal neoplasms, ten renal mass cases were retrospectively selected based on Nephrometry Score greater than 5 (range 6-10). A 3D post-contrast fat-suppressed gradient-echo T1-weighted sequence was used to generate 3D printed models. The cases were evaluated by three experienced urologic oncology surgeons in a randomized fashion using (1) imaging data on PACS alone and (2) 3D printed model in addition to the imaging data. A questionnaire regarding surgical approach and planning was administered. The presumed pre-operative approaches with and without the model were compared. Any change between the presumed approaches and the actual surgical intervention was recorded. RESULTS: There was a change in planned approach with the 3D printed model for all ten cases with the largest impact seen regarding decisions on transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach and clamping, with changes seen in 30%-50% of cases. Mean parenchymal volume loss for the operated kidney was 21.4%. Volume losses >20% were associated with increased ischemia times and surgeons tended to report a different approach with the use of the 3D model compared to that with imaging alone in these cases. The 3D printed models helped increase confidence regarding the chosen operative procedure in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative physical 3D models created from MRI data may influence surgical planning for complex kidney cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how ipsilateral (ipsi) and contralateral (contra) systematic biopsies (SB) impacts detection of clinically significant versus insignificant prostate cancer (PCa) in men with unilateral MRI lesion undergoing MRI fusion target biopsy (MRF-TB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 211 cases with one unilateral MRI lesion were subjected to SB and MRF-TB. Biopsy tissue cores from the MRF-TB, ipsi-SB and contra-SB were analyzed separately. RESULTS: A direct relationship was observed between MRI suspicious score (SS) and detection of any cancer, Gleason 6 PCa and Gleason > 6 PCa. MRF-TB alone, MRF-TB + ipsi-SB and MRF-TB + contra-SB detected 64.1%, 89.1% and 76.1% of all PCa, respectively, 53.5%, 81.4% and 69.8% of Gleason 6 PCa, respectively, and 73.5%, 96.0% and 81.6% of Gleason >6 PCa, respectively. MRF-TB + ipsi-SB detected 96% of clinically significant PCa and avoided detection of 18.6% of clinically insignificant PCa. MRF-TB + contra-SB detected 81.6% of clinically significant PCa and avoided detection of 30.2% of clinically insignificant PCa. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that ipsi-SB should be added to MRF-TB as detection of clinically significant PCa increases with only a modest increase in clinically insignificant PCa detection. Contra-SB in this setting may be deferred since it primarily detects clinically insignificant PCa.

PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive overview and update of the joint consultation of the International Consultation on Urological Diseases (ICUD) and Societe Internationale d'Urologie for the treatment of localized high-risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). METHODS: A detailed analysis of the literature was conducted reporting on treatment modalities and outcomes in localized high-risk UTUC. An international, multidisciplinary expert committee evaluated and graded the data according to the Oxford System of Evidence-based Medicine modified by the ICUD. RESULTS: Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is the standard of treatment for high-grade or clinically infiltrating UTUC and includes the removal of the entire kidney, ureter and ipsilateral bladder cuff. The distal ureter can be managed either by extravesical or transvesical approach, whereas endoscopically assisted procedures are associated with decreased intravesical recurrence-free survival. Post-operative intravesical chemotherapy decreases the risk of subsequent bladder tumour recurrence. Regional lymph node dissection is of prognostic importance in infiltrative UTUC, but its extent has not been standardized. Renal-sparing surgery is an option for manageable, high-grade tumours of any part of the upper tract, especially of the distal ureter, as an alternative to RNU. Endoscopy-based renal-sparing procedures are associated with a higher risk of recurrence and progression. CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal approach should be considered in localized high-risk UTUC to improve outcomes. RNU is the standard of treatment in high-risk disease. Renal-sparing approaches may be oncologically equivalent alternatives to RNU in well-selected patients, especially in those with distal ureteric tumours.

Purpose To provide recommendations for the management options for patients with small renal masses (SRMs). Methods By using a literature search and prospectively defined study selection, we sought systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, prospective comparative observational studies, and retrospective studies published from 2000 through 2015. Outcomes included recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival. Results Eighty-three studies, including 20 systematic reviews and 63 primary studies, met the eligibility criteria and form the evidentiary basis for the guideline recommendations. Recommendations On the basis of tumor-specific findings and competing risks of mortality, all patients with an SRM should be considered for a biopsy when the results may alter management. Active surveillance should be an initial management option for patients who have significant comorbidities and limited life expectancy. Partial nephrectomy (PN) for SRMs is the standard treatment that should be offered to all patients for whom an intervention is indicated and who possess a tumor that is amenable to this approach. Percutaneous thermal ablation should be considered an option if complete ablation can reliably be achieved. Radical nephrectomy for SRMs should only be reserved for patients who possess a tumor of significant complexity that is not amenable to PN or for whom PN may result in unacceptable morbidity even when performed at centers with expertise. Referral to a nephrologist should be considered if chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2) or progressive chronic kidney disease occurs after treatment, especially if associated with proteinuria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a combination of PCA3 and MRI suspicion score (mSS) could further optimize detection of prostate cancer on MRF-TB among men with no previous history of biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 187 men presenting to our institution between 6/12 and 8/14 who underwent multiparametric MRI and PCA3 prior to MRF-TB. Biopsy results, stratified by biopsy indication and PCA3 score, were recorded. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and multivariable logistic regressions were utilized to model the association of PCA3 and mSS with cancer detection on MRF-TB. RESULTS: PCA3 is associated with cancer detection on MRF-TB for men with no prior biopsies (AUC = 0.67, 95% CI 0.59-0.76). Using a cutoff of >/=35, PCA3 was associated with cancer risk among men with mSS 2-3 (p=0.004), but not among those with mSS 4-5 (p=0.340). The interaction of PCA3 and mSS demonstrated significantly higher discrimination for cancer than mSS alone (AUC: 0.83 vs. 0.79, p=0.0434). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary PCA3 is associated with mSS and the detection of cancer on MRF-TB for men with no prior biopsies. PCA3 notably demonstrates a high negative predictive value among mSS 2-3. However, in the case of high suspicion mpMRI, PCA3 is not associated with cancer detection on MRF-TB adding little to cancer diagnosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the utility of PCA3 in predicting cancer among men with normal mpMRI.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to conduct a prospective pilot study comparing the diagnostic performance of MRI alone and F-FDG simultaneous PET/MRI using a diuresis protocol in bladder cancer patients. METHODS: Twenty-two bladder cancer patients underwent F-FDG PET/MRI, using intravenous furosemide and oral hydration for bladder clearance. A radiologist scored probability of tumor in 3 locations (urinary bladder, pelvic lymph nodes, nonnodal pelvis) using 1- to 3-point scale (1 = negative, 2 = equivocal, 3 = definite tumor). A nuclear medicine physician reviewed fused PET/MRI images, after which scores were reassigned based on combined findings. Follow-up pathologic and imaging data served as reference. Performances of MRI alone and PET/MRI were compared. RESULTS: Of these patients, 82%, 38%, and 18% were positive for bladder, pelvic nodal, and nonnodal pelvic tumor, respectively. At a score of 3, PET/MRI exhibited greater accuracy for detection of bladder tumor (86% vs 77%), metastatic pelvic lymph nodes (95% vs 76%), and nonnodal pelvic malignancy (100% vs 91%). In the bladder, PET changed the level of suspicion in 36% of patients (50% increased suspicion, 50% decreased suspicion), with 75% of these changes deemed correct based on reference standard. For pelvic lymph nodes, PET changed suspicion in 52% (36% increase, 64% decrease), with 95% of changes deemed correct. For nonnodal pelvis, PET changed suspicion in 9% (100% increase), with 100% deemed correct. CONCLUSIONS: Additional PET information helped to appropriately determine level of suspicion in multiple anatomic sites for otherwise equivocal findings on MRI alone. Although requiring larger studies, findings suggest a possible role for simultaneous PET/MRI to assist bladder cancer management.