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M F van Driel

Publications and source records attributed to M F van Driel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Sexual functioning after treatment for testicular cancer: comparison of treatment modalities.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study evaluates changes in sexual functioning after treatment for testicular cancer and investigates whether there is a relationship with different treatment modalities. METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire was sent to 337 men who had been treated for testicular cancer at the University Hospital Groningen between 1977 and 1994. Medical information was obtained from the patient records. RESULTS: A response was received from 287 men (85%); 264 patients were included in this study (78%). The mean patient age at follow-up was 37.7 years (range, 17-71 years). The mean follow-up period was 6.7 years (range, 0.25-18 years). Decrease in sexual functions was reported by 40% of patients (decrease in libido: 19%; arousal: 12% erection: 12.5%; orgasm: 19%; and ejaculation: 26%). Moreover, 23.5% of patients responding reported decreased sexual activity and 12.5% were dissatisfied with their sexual functioning. Patients with Stage II-IV nonseminoma who had been treated with polychemotherapy (PCT) with or without resection of residual retroperitoneal tumor mass (RRRTM) (PCT +/- RRRTM) reported a significantly sharper decrease in sexual functioning than patients who had been followed with a wait-and-see policy (W & S) (Stage I nonseminoma patients). It was noteworthy that patients treated by PCT alone reported more sharply decreased sexual functioning than patients treated by PCT + RRRTM. Patients treated by radiotherapy (Stage I-IIA seminoma) did not report findings significantly different from the W & S group. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular cancer patients are at risk for reduced sexual functioning, especially when treated by chemotherapy, with or without resection of residual tumor. Although chemotherapy may influence somatic aspects of sexual functioning, it appears that psychologic factors arising from the confrontation with testicular cancer play a strongly mediating (if not determining) role.

Adult

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy changes the incidence of bilateral testicular cancer.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of cisplatin-based chemotherapy has remarkably increased the survival of testicular cancer patients. With this success, the concern for a contralateral testicular tumor has increased. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the risk for contralateral testicular tumor development was influenced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: The incidence of a contralateral testicular tumor among 365 consecutive patients with a nonseminoma testicular tumor, diagnosed in the period 1980 and 1995, was established and related to previous therapy. RESULTS: Eleven of 365 men (3%) developed a contralateral testicular tumor. After a total of 2403 person-years at risk, 4 of 225 chemotherapy-treated patients (1.8%) developed a contralateral testicular tumor, and 7 of 140 patients (5%) treated with orchidectomy alone developed a contralateral tumor. In comparison to this surveillance subgroup, patients previously treated with chemotherapy have a relative risk of 0.30 to develop a second testicular tumor. CONCLUSIONS: In Dutch men with a nonseminoma testicular tumor, the incidence of a contralateral testicular tumor is 3%, which is 60-fold the expected incidence rate of testicular cancer. A three times lower incidence rate of a contralateral testicular tumor was found in the chemotherapy subgroup compared with those on surveillance. This supports the hypothesis that cisplatin-based chemotherapy may eradicate carcinoma in situ or early testicular cancer.

Adult

Current concepts about testicular cancer.

In the past 20 years, testicular cancer, which occurs in the young, has become a curable malignancy; 90% of the patients treated will achieve long-term survival. However, there is a significant morbidity associated with the management of the disease process. The literature was reviewed concerning the current treatment strategies and prognosis, as well as the long-term sequelae of the various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Surveillance has become a key element in the management of patients with a primary (stage I) testicular non-seminoma. Although approximately 25% of these patients will relapse, 100% survival can be achieved with cisplatin in combination with etoposide and bleomycin (BEP). Patients with a disseminated non-seminoma are usually treated with 4 courses of BEP; an 80% survival rate can be achieved. The long-term effects of chemotherapy include Raynaud's phenomenon, acral paraesthesia, hyperlipidaemia, nephrotoxicity, infertility and hormonal disturbances. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or resection of residual disease following chemotherapy are associated with a low mortality and morbidity rate, ejaculatory dysfunction excepted. However, with specific modifications in technique (e.g. nerve-sparing) antegrade ejaculation can be preserved in the majority of patients. Radiotherapy is used in stage I and II seminoma. With the conventional dose of 25-30 Gy to the retroperitoneal and ipsilateral iliac lymph nodes, temporary dysfunction of the germ and Leydig cells of the remaining testis may occur by scatter radiation. Patients with advanced seminoma are treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. To date, testicular cancer patients can receive appropriate curative treatment with acceptable acute toxicity, depending on the therapy given. The detrimental effects of late toxicities require careful study and follow-up. However, little attention is paid currently to quality of life aspects, in particular the impact of the disease and its treatment on general well-being, including sexual function.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Sexual functioning in testosterone-supplemented patients treated for bilateral testicular cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of intramuscular injections with testosterone (Sustanon) on sex-hormone levels, sexual functioning and general well-being in patients treated with orchidectomy for bilateral testicular cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised seven men (median age 38 years, range 25-46) who had undergone orchidectomy for bilateral testicular cancer. Patients received intramuscular injections with testosterone every 3 weeks and blood samples for hormone analysis were collected from each patient at three times: one day after testosterone injection (t1), halfway between subsequent injections (t2) and just before injection (t3). Plasma hormone levels were then related to sexual function, as assessed by self-reported data on sexuality and general well-being, measurements of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) and erectile function elicited by visual erotic stimulation (VES), determined at t1, t2 and t3. RESULTS: During the 3-week interval between injections, there was a sixfold decrease in plasma testosterone level (mean testosterone 35.8, SD 7.8, and 6.0, SD 2.5 nmol/L, at t1 and t3, respectively). At t1, five of the men had a plasma testosterone level above the upper normal limit (> 35 nmol/L) and at t2 and t3, testosterone levels were below the reference range (< 10 nmol/L) in three and six men, respectively. Oestradiol (E2) levels showed the same pattern: at t1 the mean (SD) E2 level was 0.17 (0.07) nmol/L and at t3 0.07 (0.01) nmol/L. In contrast to follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH) mirrored the decline in plasma testosterone after injection, with the lowest levels at t1 and the highest at t3. Other hormone levels remained unchanged. Three patients reported loss of libido, decreased arousal, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and mood depression. However, neither the arousal nor the erectile problems could be verified by VES. There was no relationship between plasma testosterone levels, the reported sexual dysfunctions and the results of NPTR and VES measurements. Although unrelated to a specific testosterone level, three patients reported increased irritability, excessive sweating, hot flushes and heat intolerance at the end of the injection interval. These adverse effects of declining plasma testosterone were related to loss of libido and other sexual problems. CONCLUSION: In most patients castrated for bilateral testicular cancer and receiving intramuscular injections with testosterone, plasma testosterone levels were outside the normal range. After injection, there was a rapid decline of plasma testosterone to levels below the lower normal limit. With the exception of oestradiol, sex-hormone levels were not correlated to testosterone levels. Sexual functioning was not affected by the fluctuations of plasma testosterone level. However, at the end of the injection interval, adverse psychological and physical effects had a significant impact on libido and arousal.

Adult

Sexual functioning after multimodality treatment for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor.

PURPOSE: We determined sexual functioning after chemotherapy for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor, and evaluated the impact of resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 155 consecutive patients treated with chemotherapy for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor (between 1980 and 1994) was questioned about their sexual functioning. The patients were divided in 2 subgroups: patients treated with or without resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor. Volume and location (divided into left para-aortal or right paracaval/interaortacaval) of the resected tumor were related to absence of ejaculation as well as decreased semen amount. In addition, libido, arousal, erection and orgasm were related to ejaculatory dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (27.7%) was treated with chemotherapy only and 112 (72.3%) had additional resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor mass. Overall, 22.4% reported loss of libido, 14.1% decreased arousal, 16% erectile dysfunction, 23.1% decreased orgasmic intensity, 17.4% decreased semen amount and 18.7% complete absence of antegrade ejaculation. With exception of absence of ejaculation, sexual dysfunctions were reported in similar frequencies in both treatment subgroups. In the resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor subgroup, 25.9% of the patients had complete absence of ejaculation. The other sexual dysfunctions were related neither to decreased semen amount nor to complete absence of ejaculation. The mean volume of resected tumor was higher (95 cm.3) in patients with absence of ejaculation than in those without (40 cm.3), and patients with right paracaval/interaortacaval tumor (20 of 58, 34.5%) reported more often absence of ejaculation than those with left para-aortal tumor (9 of 54, 16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor, post-chemotherapy sexual morbidity cannot be neglected. Except for loss of antegrade ejaculation, sexual dysfunctions are not related to resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal mass. A high volume of tumor and a right paracaval/interaortacaval location predispose to loss of antegrade ejaculation.

Adult

Sexual dysfunction in nonseminoma testicular cancer patients is related to chemotherapy-induced angiopathy.

PURPOSE: To establish the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions after different treatment modalities for nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor (NSTGCT) and to investigate whether treatment-induced angiopathy and neuropathy is related to sexual dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A questionnaire assessing sexual dysfunction was sent to 255 NSTGCT survivors. Polychemotherapy (PCT) regimens (cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin [PVB], vinblastine substituted by etoposide [BEP], or cisplatin substituted by carboplatin [CEB], etoposide combined with cisplatin [EP], or with ifosfamide and cisplatin [VIP] were compared regarding treatment-induced angiopathy and neuropathy. Sexual dysfunctions were related to Raynaud's phenomenon and acral paresthesia. RESULTS: Among the 215 responders, 56 (26%) had been treated by orchidectomy and surveillance, 42 (19.6%) by PCT, and 117 (54.4%) by PCT and resection of residual retroperitoneal tumor mass (RRRTM). Overall, loss of libido was reported by 19.1%, decreased arousal by 11.2%, erectile dysfunction by 12.1%, decreased intensity of orgasm by 20%, and ejaculatory problems by 28%. Patients treated with PVB suffered more often from Raynaud's phenomenon compared with those treated with other regimens (40.4% v 29%; P < .05) and from paresthesia (31.6% v 14.7%; P < .05). Patients with Raynaud's phenomenon had more often erectile dysfunction (28.8%) compared with those without (8.4%) (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Compared with orchidectomy alone, PCT, with or without RRRTM, induced more often posttreatment sexual dysfunction. Compared with other chemotherapeutic regimens, signs of angiopathy and neuropathy were most prevalent in those treated with PVB. Erectile dysfunction was related to the chemotherapy-induced Raynaud's phenomenon but not to acral paresthesia.

Adult

Orgasm after radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability to obtain and the quality of orgasm after radical prostatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The orgasms experienced after undergoing radical prostatectomy were evaluated in 20 men (median age 65 years, range 56-76) using a semi-structured interview and a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, the patients were asked to write a brief statement about their experiences and sensations during orgasm before and after the operation. RESULTS: Eighteen patients returned the questionnaire and 17 completed a statement indicating what their orgasm was like before and after radical prostatectomy. After the operation, no patient was able to maintain a completely rigid erection, but for five patients the erection was sufficient for sexual intercourse. Nine patients used a vacuum device or intracavernosal self-injection. Half the patients reported diminished sexual desire (libido) and arousal after the operation and reported the same to occur in their partners. During their "dry' orgasm post-operatively, none of the patients experienced the exquisite sensation of inevitability, the so-called "point of no return'. Seven of the 14 patients experiencing orgasm complained that their orgasmic sensation was weakened. Four patients reported normal pleasure and sensation compared to that experienced pre-operatively. Surprisingly, nine of the 14 patients had involuntary loss of urine at orgasm; for five of them this was sufficient reason to avoid any sexual contact with their partner. CONCLUSION: Radical prostatectomy may have serious consequences on libido and erectile function but sometimes other important factors, such as the absence of prostate and seminal vesicle contractions, the loss of ejaculation and involuntary loss of urine, may also compromise the orgasm.

Aged

Endourological management of ureteral obstruction after renal transplantation.

PURPOSE: We evaluated endourological treatment of ureteral obstruction after renal transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1986 and December 1993, 582 kidney transplantations were performed at our center, and ureteral obstruction was suspected in 31 cases (5.3%). RESULTS: Initial treatment consisted of retrograde placement of an internal stent in 6 patients and percutaneous nephrostomy in 25. Due to upper tract dilatation obstruction could not be diagnosed in 3 patients, and rejection was the cause of decreasing renal function. Obstruction was temporary in 8 of the remaining 28 patients, including 6 in whom a Double-J stent was introduced in a retrograde manner without anesthesia. In the other 2 patients was well as the 20 with definitive obstruction, cannulation of the transplant orifice without anesthesia was unsuccessful and percutaneous nephrostomy drainage was necessary. Even with general anesthesia a guide wire could not be passed along the stricture in a retrograde or antegrade fashion in 7 of the 20 patients with definitive obstruction and open surgery was performed. The remaining 13 patients underwent dilation with (9) or without (4) diathermic incision. All 4 patients treated with dilation only had recurrent obstruction, while 9 treated with dilation and incision had no recurrence after a minimum followup of 27 months (mean 58). CONCLUSIONS: Modern endourological procedures have replaced open reconstructive surgery in the majority of patients with ureteral obstruction after renal transplantation.

Adolescent

[Dyspareunia].

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Dyspareunia

[Endo-urological drainage in urinary outflow obstruction caused by cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine indications and results of endourological upper urinary tract drainage in patients with obstruction due to malignancy. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: University Hospital Groningen. METHOD: In the period 1987-1992, 57 patients with upper urinary tract obstruction due to cancer were treated primarily with a double-J stent (n = 21) or a percutaneous nephrostomy (n = 36, later replaced by a double-J stent in 13). RESULTS: Indications were: severe renal failure following bilateral ureteral obstruction due to malignancy (n = 17), or unknown cause (n = 19), to optimise a compromised kidney function before chemotherapy (n = 7), to resolve pain caused by unilateral obstruction (n = 10), or other (n = 4). The tumours originated most often in the cervix uteri, followed by the urinary bladder, the prostate and the corpus uteri. Minor complications occurred in 34 of the 57 patients (60%): transient haematuria (22 x), urgency caused by the distal tip of the double-J catheter (8 x), dislocation (17 x) or obstruction (6 x) of the nephrostomy catheter. Major complications were observed in 5 patients with a double-J stent: sepsis (1 x), catheter break (1 x), ureteral perforation (2 x) and fistulization between the ureter and iliac artery (1 x). Survival after drainage varied from several days to 8 years (mean 23 months). In 5 patients treated with drainage only to prolong survival, survival was 0.5-16 months (mean 7.3). CONCLUSION: Endourological drainage may be applied to patients with localised disease, in whom further therapy holds the promise of prolonged survival. However, in view of the low complication rate, selected patients who are on a palliative course and still have rapidly progressive disease can also benefit from extended life-time after endourological drainage.

Adolescent

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of polyorchidism].

In a 13-year-old boy echographic investigation of the scrotum was carried out because spermatocele was suspected. On the right side an extra testicle was observed. Polyorchism is a rare anomaly with, as far as we know, 74 cases reported in the literature. It may result from transverse splitting of the urogenital ridge in the 4th till the 6th week of the embryonal phase. The accompanying disorders include inguinal hernia, cryptorchism and torsion. Malignancy in the extra testicle has been reported in 4 cases only. In the absence of any accompanying disorder and if testicular tumor can be ruled out by ultrasonography, there is no need for surgical exploration.

Adolescent

Female sexual functioning after radical surgical treatment of rectal and bladder cancer.

A computer-based search for literature on female sexual functioning after radical cystectomy and rectal cancer surgery revealed 11 articles. Although some prognostic variables are presented in the literature (age, the magnitude of surgery, hand-made vs stapled anastomoses, nerve content in the surgical specimen) there are very few definitive answers to the questions regarding which internal and external causal factors elicit and control sexual functioning after radical pelvic surgery. The review is concluded by some guidelines to help patients and their partners cope with sexual problems.

Coitus

Involvement of the inferior caval vein in adrenal metastasis.

A patient was referred to our hospital for resection of a large renal cell carcinoma with invasion of the inferior caval vein, diagnosed as such with CT, angiography and cavography. The history mentioned partial resection of the left lung for lung carcinoma 16 months before. At operation the tumor could not be removed, the patient died because of postoperative pulmonary complications. Autopsy and histopathological examination revealed a large metastatic tumor of the previous lung carcinoma in the left adrenal gland. The clinical implications and some diagnostic methods are discussed.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms