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C Mazzariol

Publications and source records attributed to C Mazzariol.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

980-nm diode laser treatment for recurrent urethral strictures.

OBJECTIVES: Our experience with laser treatment of urethral strictures with a 980-nm diode laser is reported. METHODS: 45 consecutive patients with relapsing urethral strictures (mean age 65, range 25-85 years) were treated between February 1995 and February 1998. The fibrous and scar tissue was cut and vaporized at the 6 o'clock position with the laser beam. RESULTS: 44/45 patients were available for follow-up at 1 year and 32/43 at 2 years. At 12 months the average peak flow rates of the patients was 18 ml/s, and at the second year assessment it was 15.5 ml/s. Of the patients 21/44 (47.7%) were extremely satisfied (0-1 of the quality-of-life, QoL, assessment index) with the procedure, 14/44 (31.8%) were satisfied (2 of the QoL assessment index), and 9/44 (20.4%) were not satisfied (> or = 3 of the QoL assessment index) due to the low flow rate or the recurrence of the stricture. (The sum of the first two categories is 79.5%.) At the second year assessment the percentage of satisfied patients reached 78%, with 71% of the patients stable without any dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Usually in recurrent strictures of the urethra open surgery is suggested, but we believe that there is still a place for endoscopy. With the laser we can make an incision at the 6 o'clock position without significant bleeding, very easily opening the urethra. We had 79.5 and 71% good results at the 1- and 2-year assessments (mean peak flow rate of 18 and 15.5 ml/min), respectively. To date, no definitive conclusions can be drawn, but we believe that laser treatment is indicated for recurrent strictures in high risk or elderly patients and in those who demand a minimally invasive procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Synchronous and metachronous bilateral tumors of the testis: a single institution experience of 11 cases and review of the literature].

Bilateral testicular tumors represent a very rare event and account for 2.7% of all testicular neoplasms. 15% of bilateral testicular tumors occurs simultaneously in both testicles, but in 85% of cases the second neoplasia appears in the remaining testicles of patients affected by unilateral testicular tumor after a very variable period of time. The aim of this work was to value our experience on 11 cases of bilateral testis tumors: six arised simultaneously in both gonads (five germ cell tumors and one Leydig cell tumor) and five with metachronous appearance (all germ cell tumors). A comprehensive valuation has been made considering other cases reported in literature until 1996, in order to identify predisposing conditions to bilateral disease. Examining separately synchronous and metachronous neoplasms, as far as we know, only 218 cases of simultaneous bilateral testicular tumors are reported in literature, and most of them are pure seminomas; however, after 1988 this result has been reversed in favour of neoplasms with non-seminomatous elements: this data suggests inadequate classification in the past. Moreover, considering 243 cases of metachronous neoplasms, 126 of them (51.9%) began as non-seminomatous tumors: this disagrees with an old belief that patients affected by seminoma are more prone to develop a second tumor in the remaining testicle. It has been also possible to confirm that testis sparing surgery allows to maintain both fertility and endocrinous function. This technique can be used in any potentially benign neoplasms (as Leydig cell tumors) while the same treatment modality, although already reported in literature, needs more experience to be considered as a successful therapy for germinal tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Free DNA in urine: a new marker for bladder cancer? Preliminary data.

The aim of the present preliminary study was to investigate the presence of free DNA (FDNA) in urine as a possible marker for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. Naturally voided morning urine specimens were collected from 57 patients with suspected bladder cancer before cystoscopy. A standard urine test was performed; the specimens were then processed in order to obtain a quantitative evaluation of the presence of free DNA in the urine. Twenty-two patients were excluded from the study because they had leukocyturia and/or bacteriuria. Free DNA concentrations higher than 250 ng/mL were found in all 16 patients showing bladder cancer at cystoscopy and in seven (36.8%) of the 19 patients with negative cystoscopy. Urinary FDNA seems to have an excellent sensitivity: we observed no false negative cases and 36.8% false positive cases. By contrast, only 6.25% of the bladder cancer patients had positive urine cytology. Our results seem promising, although further studies and larger numbers are needed to define urinary free DNA as a reliable marker of bladder cancer.

Aged↗