Biomedical subjects

Axel Heidenreich

Publications and source records attributed to Axel Heidenreich.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Modern approach of diagnosis and management of acute flank pain: review of all imaging modalities.

Acute flank pain is a common and complex clinical problem which might be caused by a variety of urinary and extraurinary abnormalities among which ureterolithiasis being the most frequent cause. Plain abdominal radiographs combined with intravenous urography (IVU) have been the standard imaging procedures of choice for the evaluation of acute flank pain over the last decades. Direct detection of even small ureteral calculi is achieved in 40-60%, whereas using indirect signs such as ureteral and renal pelvic dilatation stone detection is possible in up to 80-90% of all cases. However, IVU might be hampered by poor quality due to lack of bowel preparation, by nephrotoxicity of contrast agents, by serious allergic and anaphylactic reactions in 10% and 1% of the patients, respectively, and by significant radiation exposure. The use of ultrasonography (US) in the management of acute flank pain has been growing and when combining the findings of pyeloureteral dilatation, direct visualization of stones, and the absence of ureteral ejaculation, the sensitivity to detect ureteral dilatation can be as high as 96%. Recently, unenhanced helical CT (UHCT) has been introduced as imaging modality with a high sensitivity and specificity for the evaluation of acute flank pain. UHCT has been demonstrated to be superior since (1) it detects ureteral stones with a sensitivity and specificity from 98% to 100% regardless of size, location and chemical composition, (2) it identifies extraurinary causes of flank pain in about one third of all patients presenting with acute flank pain, (3) it does not need contrast agent, and (4) it is a time saving imaging technique being performed within 5min. Based on the data published, one can predict that UHCT will become the imaging procedure of choice for evaluation of acute flank pain within the next years. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the role all imaging modalities available for a modern approach of diagnosis and management of acute flank pain with regard to their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and their complications, toxicicty and morbidity.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Bilateral fine-needle administered local anaesthetic nerve block for pain control during TRUS-guided multi-core prostate biopsy: a prospective randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: Transrectal multi-core biopsies of the prostate can cause substantial discomfort with the need for high dose systemic analgesics. In a prospective randomised trial we investigated the efficacy of fine-needle administered local anaesthesia for bilateral prostatic nerve block prior to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight men suspected of having cancer of the prostate were randomised to receive TRUS-guided bilateral prostate nerve block prior to biopsy or not, when having no history of previous prostate biopsies (groups I and II, n=68). In group III (n=40) all patients with history of previous biopsies exclusively received local anaesthesia injection. Patients routinely underwent a 10-core biopsy regimen. For repeat biopsy 12 cores were taken. The consented patients documented pain on a visual analogue pain score. RESULTS: In the randomised groups I and II average pain score was 1.85 with versus 3.29 without periprostatic nerve block (p<0.0001). In group III the difference in pain stated for the present biopsy with local anaesthesia nerve block in comparison to the pain experienced with the previous biopsy solely under transrectal lidocaine gel was even higher (1.71 versus 4.59; p<0.0001). Pain relief was independent of the number of biopsy cores sampled. Overall cancer detection rate was 46% (50/108). CONCLUSION: Bilateral local anaesthesia nerve block prior to multi-core TRUS-guided prostate biopsy significantly reduces pain independent of the number of cores taken.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed2002

Contralateral testicular biopsy procedure in patients with unilateral testis cancer: is it indicated?

About 5% of all patients with unilateral testis cancer harbor testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN) in their contralateral testicle, which will progress into an invasive germ-cell tumor over time. Accurate diagnosis of TIN by a random surgical testis biopsy examination and effective therapy by local radiation has led to the concept of a contralateral screening biopsy procedure in all testis cancer patients. Screening and preventive treatment, however, only are indicated if (1) therapeutic outcome of the screened population is improved and (2) physiologic function of the affected organ might be maintained. Based on a critical review of the literature, some drawbacks of this policy have to be considered and the routine indication for contralateral testis biopsy procedure has to be questioned: (1) all TIN-negative patients still have to undergo meticulous follow-up evaluation for metachronous testis cancer owing to a false-negative biopsy diagnosis rate of 0.3%; (2) testis biopsy procedure is associated with a 15% to 20% complication rate, which might a negative impact on endocrine and exocrine testicular function; (3) local radiation of TIN results in irreversible infertility owing to eradication of spermatogenesis; (4) local radiation of TIN results in an impairment of endocrine Leydig cell function in 25% of patients; (5) therapeutic outcome and prognosis will not be improved in irradiated patients as compared with patients on surveillance; (6) local tumor resection for the management of metachronous testicular cancer represents an effective and viable option. The current literature does not support the strategy to perform contralateral testis biopsy procedures in all patients with unilateral testicular germ-cell tumors. Testis biopsy procedures might, however, be offered to high-risk (34%) patients for contralateral TIN with a testicular volume less than 12 mL, a history of cryptorchidism, and an age less than 30 years.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ-cell tumors: surgery or watchful waiting, still an issue?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The optimal management for clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ-cell tumors is still a subject open to controversy. The main options of standard-care surveillance and primary nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection result in the same high cure rate (close to 100%). It is the purpose, here, to present a critical review of recent developments concerning primary therapy for clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ-cell tumors and to identify potential new prognostic risk factors predicting occult metastatic retroperitoneal lymph node disease. RECENT FINDINGS: In accordance with the primary goal to improve quality of life, to protect fertility and to reduce long-term toxicity in survivors of testicular cancer, the major advantage of surveillance protocols is that adjuvant therapy will be administered only to those patients who require therapy. This advantage has to be balanced against a constant psychological threat and a relapse rate of 20-25% necessitating extensive polychemotherapy. Primary nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection has diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in low-volume disease; as local relapses are extremely rare, an effective and cost-saving follow-up concentrating on pulmonary recurrences can be initiated. Nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection represents the initial approach for mature teratomas; patients with purely embryonal carcinoma have a high risk for systemic relapses and might be better served by primary chemotherapy. The advantages of nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection have to be balanced against surgery-related complications, which develop in about 17% of the patients. With regard to prognostic risk factors, the percentages of embryonal carcinoma and vascular invasion remain the most significant predictors for lymph node metastases. SUMMARY: Surveillance and primary nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection result in the same high cure rate (approaching 100%). The advantages and disadvantages of both treatment modalities must be discussed extensively with the patient, and it will be basically his decision as to which therapeutic approach is chosen.

Germinoma↗

PubMed2002

Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: high incidence of lymph node metastasis.

PURPOSE: Lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer is limited to obturator and external iliac lymph nodes, although the internal lymph nodes represent the primary landing zone of lymphatic drainage. We performed anatomically adequate extended pelvic lymphadenectomy to assess the incidence of lymph node metastasis in cases of clinically localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 103 consecutive patients underwent extended pelvic lymphadenectomy at radical retropubic prostatectomy comprising 9 selective fields, namely the external iliac, internal iliac, obturator and common iliac lymph nodes bilaterally, and the presacral lymph nodes. Histopathological findings were compared with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), histopathological stage, preoperative biopsy and postoperative prostatectomy Gleason score. Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy was compared with radical retropubic prostatectomy and standard lymphadenectomy in 100 consecutive patients in terms of complications, the number of lymph nodes dissected and operative time. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, preoperative PSA or mean biopsy Gleason score in patients who underwent extended pelvic and standard lymphadenectomy. Metastases were diagnosed in 27 of the 103 patients (26.2%) who underwent the extended procedure. A mean of 28 lymph nodes (range 21 to 42) were dissected. Metastases were identified in the internal iliac and presacral regions despite negative obturator lymph nodes. Of the 27 patients 1 to 3 lymph nodes involved with metastasis were detected in 15, 9 and 1, respectively. In 26 of the 27 patients (95.8%) with lymph node metastasis PSA was greater than 10.5 ng./ml. and preoperative biopsy Gleason sum was 7 or greater. A low risk of 2% for lymph node disease was noted in patients with serum PSA less than 10.5 ng./ml. and biopsy Gleason sum less than 7. There were no significant differences in regard to intraoperative and postoperative complications, lymphocele formation or blood loss in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy is associated with a high rate of lymph node metastasis outside of the fields of standard lymphadenectomy in cases of clinically localized prostate cancer. Lymphadenectomy including the internal iliac lymph nodes should be performed in all patients with prostate cancer who are at high risk for lymph node involvement, as indicated by PSA greater than 10.5 ng./ml. and biopsy Gleason sum 7 or greater. In the low risk group pelvic lymphadenectomy can be omitted.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of circulating tumor cells in patients with renal cell carcinoma by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for G250/MNCA-9: results of a prospective trial.

OBJECTIVES: Radical nephrectomy displays the standard procedure for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma. The transperitoneal approach is often favored compared to the retroperitoneal approach because of the early ligation of the renal vessels, thereby tumor cell shedding by manipulation of the tumor is thought to be avoided. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of the surgical technique on intraoperative tumor cell shedding. Furthermore, we evaluated the clinical course of the patients being operated on with either method in terms of complications, postoperative recovery, and hospital stay. METHODS: A total of 55 consecutive patients with renal tumors suspicious for malignancies were evaluated for this study. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 44 patients at admission, intraoperatively (before and after kidney removal), and before discharge. Ribonucleic acid was extracted, converted to complementary deoxyribonucleic acid, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific for G250/MNCA-9 was performed. Data regarding the clinical course of the patients were analyzed retrospectively by reviewing patient files. RESULTS: The clinical course for patients undergoing retroperitoneal nephrectomy was statistically different compared to the transperitoneal approach group regarding operating time and duration of drains, favoring the retroperitoneal approach group. Evaluation of MNCA-9 RT-PCR revealed no difference according to operative technique, tumor-nodes-metastasis, or clinical tumor stage. Despite this result, we found positive RT-PCR signals for MNCA-9 in patients with transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and benign renal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: There is no clinical relevant difference between the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches for radical nephrectomy. Furthermore, the retroperitoneal approach does not bear the risk of intraoperative tumor cell shedding by the handling of the tumor.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels of cellular fibronectin in patients with localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Clinical markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are lacking. Fibronectin is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in cellular attachment and cell spread. The aim of this study was to test the clinical suitability of cellular fibronectin (cFN) in plasma as a tumor marker for RCC and to determine a possible relationship between cFN plasma levels and stage of disease. Therefore, cFN was determined in the plasma of patients with localized (n = 40) and metastatic (n = 20) RCC using a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay. Fifty patients with different non-malignant urological disorders were recruited as a control group. In the control group, mean cFN plasma levels amounted to 553 ng/ml. In patients with localized RCC, plasma concentrations of cFN were increased (1,295 ng/ml; p < 0.01). Patients with metastatic disease had the highest concentrations (3,842 ng/ml). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant difference between controls, and patients with localized and metastatic RCC (p < 0.01), with a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 78% and a positive predictive value of 81% using a cutoff value of 540 ng/ml (receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis). These data suggest that cFN is not a realistic marker for the detection of RCC. However, elevated plasma levels in more advanced disease and an acceptable predictive value could indicate that cFN is useful as a follow-up tool in the management of RCC patients.

Aged↗