Published papers

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to elucidate predictors of survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients in an International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium favorable risk group treated with frontline therapy without immune checkpoint inhibitors. Methods: A total of 238 patients with mRCC were reviewed. Among them, 55 patients in favorable risk group treated with single-agent systemic therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and pathological data were retrieved and analyzed retrospectively. The prognostic effect of each marker on overall survival (OS) was investigated with univariate and multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression models. Results: After a median follow-up of 46.2 months after first-line treatment initiation, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 29.3 months, and the median OS has not been reached. The estimated percentage of patients who were alive at 12 and 24 months were 96.1 and 94.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the long-term duration of first-line treatment (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.972, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.944-0.997, p = 0.0299) and the metastases limited to lung (HR: 3.852, 95% CI: 1.080-24.502, p = 0.0361) were independent predictors for longer OS in favorable risk mRCC patients. Conclusion: First-line systemic therapy for favorable risk mRCC patients with a single agent resulted in relatively longer PFS and OS. A longer duration of first-line treatment and lung only metastases are correlated with longer OS.

56歳男性。紫斑病性腎炎による慢性腎不全にてX-19年血液透析導入、同年血液型適合生体腎移植施行。維持免疫抑制剤はシクロスポリン(CyA)、ミコフェノール酸モフェチル(MMF)、プレドニゾロン(PSL)であった。X年に頭重感と微熱を主訴に来院、CTにて肺一部にすりガラス影を認め、鼻咽頭PCRにてSARS-CoV-2陽性となり緊急入院。MMF減量しファビピラビル、セフトリアキソン投与開始した。さらに抗生剤をタゾバクタム/ピペラシリンに、PSLをデキサメタゾンとしMMFを中止した。肺炎増悪したためメチルプレドニゾロン(mPSL)90mg/day投与、抗凝固療法開始しCyA減量した。呼吸状態増悪のため人工呼吸器管理としCyA中止、レムデシビル投与開始、腹臥位療法を施行した。一時血液透析を3回施行。徐々に酸素化は改善しmPSLは漸減とした。細菌性肺炎合併を疑い抗生剤をバンコマイシンとメロペネムとし、肺炎は改善した。下気道PCRにてSARS-CoV-2陰性を2回確認後CyA、MMFを再開し退院となった。(著者抄録)

Purpose: Inguinal hernia (IH) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is a complication that impairs quality of life; however, the factors contributing to IH after RP remain unclear. Therefore, we herein attempted to identify the factors responsible for the development of IH after RP. Methods: We reviewed 622 patients who underwent laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic RP at our hospital between December 2011 and April 2020. The total fat area and visceral fat area were calculated at the level of the umbilicus using computed tomography, and the subcutaneous fat area (SFA) was calculated by subtracting the visceral fat area from the total fat area. The psoas muscle area was measured at the third lumbar vertebrae level using computed tomography to calculate the psoas muscle mass index, which is used in sarcopenia as an index of muscle mass. We investigated the risk factors for IH after laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic RP. Results: IH developed in 88 patients (16.7%). Fifty-seven of these patients underwent hernia repair at our hospital, and 56 (98.2%) had indirect hernias. A multivariate analysis identified SFA (odds ratios: 0.383, p < 0.001) as an independent predictor for the development of IH. Two-year IH-free survival rates were 77.3% in the small SFA group (SFA < 123 cm2) and 88.7% in the large SFA group (SFA ≥ 123 cm2) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Subcutaneous fat was associated with the development of IH, particularly indirect IH, after laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic RP. An indirect IH prevention technique needs to be considered, particularly for patients with less subcutaneous fat.

前立腺がんにおいて腫瘍発生領域が根治的前立腺全摘除術後再発に及ぼす影響を検討した。Pz発生腫瘍はTz発生腫瘍と比較してpT3症例169例において有意に生物学的再発リスクが高かった(HR:3.0、95%CI:1.1〜7.9、p=0.045)。腫瘍発生領域はpT3前立腺がんにおける術後再発予測に有用な可能性が示唆された。(著者抄録)

Objective: The indications of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for lymph node-positive upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) have not been investigated regarding improved survival outcomes. Our specific aim was to compare the clinical outcomes of clinically node-positive UTUC patients who were treated by NAC followed by radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) or upfront RNU followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (AC). Materials and methods: Among 966 UTUC patients, we identified 89 with clinical nodal involvement who received either NAC before RNU nor AC after upfront RNU. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy modality on the oncological outcomes. Results: Of the patient cohort, 36 (40.4%) received NAC followed by RNU, whereas 53 (59.6%) underwent RNU followed by AC. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size ≥3 cm, clinical T4, and gemcitabine and cisplatin regimen were independent risk factors for disease recurrence, whereas NAC followed by RNU was an independent factor for favorable RFS. Furthermore, regarding cancer-specific survival (CSS), NAC followed by RNU remained an independent factor for favorable CSS. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 1-year and 2-year RFS were 67.9% and 47.0%, respectively, in the NAC+RNU group, which were significantly higher than those in the RNU+AC group (43.9% and 24.6%, respectively, P = 0.006). Moreover, the 1-year and 2-year CSS were 80.5% and 64.2%, respectively, in the NAC+RNU group, which were higher than those in the RNU+AC group (68.6% and 48.2%, respectively, P = 0.016). Conclusion: For node-positive UTUC patients, NAC followed by RNU was more clinically beneficial than RNU followed by AC.

Background: Abnormalities in homologous recombination contribute to the aggressive nature of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Retinoblastoma transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) exist close to each other in the same chromosome, and the significance of their concurrent loss has become a hot topic in the field of cancer research. Case presentation: A 61-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of a mass on his head and was diagnosed as multiple bone metastases from prostate cancer. He was treated with standard medication, but he died 2 years 6 months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Simultaneous biallelic loss of RB1 and BRCA2 as well as a truncating mutation of tumor protein p53 (TP53) were revealed by genomic analysis. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with BRCA2 and RB1 co-loss and TP53 mutation. To establish a treatment strategy for highly malignant cases with such multiple genetic features is important.

INTRODUCTION: To prospectively clarify whether endoscopic contact laser vaporization of the prostate (CVP) can be safely performed even in patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy. METHODS: Fifty-five patients treated with CVP were enrolled. Patients were assigned to: (i) the antithrombotic therapy group (n = 21, 38%); or (ii) control group without antithrombotic therapy (n = 34, 62%). All patients in the antithrombotic therapy group continued all antithrombotic agents during the perioperative period and thereafter. RESULTS: No difference was noted in patient background between the two groups. In primary endpoints, decreases in the postoperative hemoglobin level were remarkable in the antithrombotic therapy group, while no serious effects were noted in either group. The control and antithrombotic therapy groups did not show a significant difference in the occurrence of catheter obstruction due to blood clots or serious hematuria following catheter removal. During follow-up, transurethral coagulation for hemostasis was needed only in the antithrombotic therapy group, with a frequency of transurethral coagulation of up to 14%. In secondary endpoints, no difference in the occurrence of perioperative or late-onset complications after surgery was noted between the two groups. Finally, no difference was noted in improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life score, overactive bladder symptom score, maximum flow rate, or post-voiding residual urine volume between the two groups throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: CVP can be performed safely and effectively in patients undergoing continuous antithrombotic therapy. However, the possibility of secondary bleeding after discharge in a subset of patients, such as those undergoing antithrombotic therapy, may be noted.

Background: Analysis of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) localisation at both the tissue and subcellular levels can provide important insights into the cell types that are important for their function. Methods: By applying new fluorescent in situ hybridisation technique called hybridisation chain reaction (HCR), we achieved a high-throughput lncRNA visualisation and evaluation of clinical samples. Results: Assessing 1728 pairs of 16 lncRNAs and clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) specimens, three lncRNAs (TUG1, HOTAIR and CDKN2B-AS1) were associated with ccRCC prognosis. Furthermore, we derived a new lncRNA risk group of ccRCC prognosis by combining the expression levels of these three lncRNAs. Examining genomic alterations underlying this classification revealed prominent features of tumours that could serve as potential biomarkers for targeting lncRNAs. We then derived combination of HCR with expansion microscopy and visualised nanoscale-resolution HCR signals in cell nuclei, uncovering intracellular colocalization of three lncRNA (TUG1, HOTAIR and CDKN2B-AS1) signals such as those located intra- or out of the nucleus or nucleolus in cancer cells. Conclusion: LncRNAs are expected to be desirable noncoding targets for cancer diagnosis or treatments. HCR involves plural probes consisting of small DNA oligonucleotides, clinically enabling us to detect cancerous lncRNA signals simply and rapidly at a lower cost.

Purpose: The postoperative course of renal function remains unclear in Cushing syndrome. We examined changes in renal function after adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing syndrome and attempted to identify predictors of renal impairment. Methods: The study population comprised 76 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for Cushing and subclinical Cushing syndrome between 2001 and 2018. Renal function and other factors were evaluated pre-operation, at 1 postoperative month, and 1 postoperative year. We defined a ≥10% decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 postoperative year as renal impairment, and predictors associated with this reduction were investigated. The relationship between renal function and steroid replacement after surgery was also examined. Results: Mean pre-operative estimated glomerular filtration rate was 82.2 ml/min/1.73 m2. While mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower at 1 postoperative month than the pre-operative value (71.7 ml/min/1.73 m2 [89.1%], p < 0.001), no significant differences were observed between 1 postoperative year and pre-operation (79.5 ml/min/1.73 m2 [97.6%], p = 0.108). Twenty-six patients (34.2%) developed renal impairment. A multivariate analysis identified a low pre-operative adrenocorticotropic hormone level as an independent predictor of renal impairment (odds ratio 6.30, p = 0.031). Among 43 patients with available records of steroid replacement history, 18 (41.9%) developed renal impairment. The ratio of patients with a reduced steroid replacement dose at 1 postoperative month was significantly lower among patients with renal impairment than those without (22.2% vs. 56.0%, p = 0.027). Conclusions: The pre-operative adrenocorticotropic hormone level was a predictor of renal function after adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing or subclinical Cushing syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Almost half of patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (mRCC) are classified as intermediate risk by the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) model. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predict overall survival (OS) in intermediate-risk group mRCC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 107 intermediate-risk group mRCC patients receiving first-line targeted therapy were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the correlation between baseline CRP levels as well as other indices and OS. RESULTS: Of the 107 patients with intermediate-risk disease, 46 patients (43%) were classified as having elevated CRP levels. The elevation of pretreatment serum CRP levels was the independent prognostic factor of OS in patients with intermediate risk (hazard ratio, 4.609; P = .001). The 1- and 3-year survival rates of patients with intermediate-nonelevated CRP were 90.0% and 64.7% compared to the favorable-risk group, at 92.1% and 68.5%, respectively. In contrast, the 1- and 3-year survival rates of patients with intermediate-elevated CRP were 80.5% and 37.4% compared to the poor-risk group, at 65.2% and 24.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Baseline CRP levels could divide mRCC patients in the intermediate-risk group into 2 prognostic subgroups.

PURPOSE: Monitoring the serum level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is indispensable for surveillance after radical therapy, and the aim of this study was to establish the optimal follow-up schedule. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological data of 1,010 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. After excluding patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy and those without a nadir PSA level<0.2ng/ml, the remaining 779 patients were enrolled. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as elevation of PSA to >0.2ng/ml. We investigated the PSA doubling time (PSA-DT) following BCR at various times after surgery. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 8.8 years, BCR occurred in 180/779 patients. The annual BCR rate was 6% in the first year after surgery, 6% between 1 and 2 years, 3% between 2 and 3 years, 3% between 3 and 5 years, and 2% at >5 years postoperatively. During these periods, the minimum PSA-DT after BCR was 1.6, 2.4, 3.1, 6.1, and 6.4 months, respectively. These minimum PSA-DTs were used to determine the optimal follow-up interval during each period after surgery. If the baseline level is 0.1ng/ml, PSA should be measured at approximately 3-month intervals for the first year, at 4-month intervals between 1 and 2 years, at 6-month intervals between 2 and 3 years, and annually thereafter to definitely detect BCR before the serum PSA level exceeds 0.4ng/ml. CONCLUSION: The PSA-DT following BCR varies according to the time after surgery. Our data on minimum PSA-DT values after BCR are useful for setting the optimal follow-up schedule.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cabazitaxel in Japanese patients affected by metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen. In this retrospective study, 41 patients with mCRPC treated with cabazitaxel at Keio University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Cabazitaxel at a dose of 20-25 mg/m(2) was administered every 3 or 4 weeks. Clinicopathological factors and laboratory data were collected to assess the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). An upfront dose-reduction was required in 52.5% of patients due to their reduced general condition or advanced age. Prophylactic G-CSF was prescribed to all the patients. Grade >/=3 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 21 patients (53.6%) and 3 patients (6.8%), respectively. Treatment was generally well tolerated, with a median of 5 cycles (range 1-17). Median PFS and OS from the start of cabazitaxel treatment were 4.4 and 15.0 months (95% CI 8.9-21.2), respectively. Waterfall plot analysis revealed that a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline >50% was noticed in n = 11 patients receiving cabazitaxel (26.8%). Univariate analysis revealed that poor performance status, PSA >/=100 ng/mL prior to cabazitaxel treatment, visceral metastasis, absence of grade 3/4 neutropenia during cabazitaxel therapy and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were significantly associated with shorter overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that poor performance status, visceral metastasis, and the absence of grade 3/4 neutropenia during cabazitaxel therapy were the independent prognostic indicators for OS. The practical implication of our results might be to tailor cabazitaxel dosing on the basis of its hematological effects.

© 2019, Japan Society of Clinical Oncology. Background: Our specific aim was to investigate the prognostic value of effective duration of first androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and to evaluate the clinical impact on early docetaxel administration with oncological outcomes in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients treated with docetaxel. Methods: We identified 148 mCRPC patients who were treated with 75 mg/m 2 docetaxel. We defined 16 months as the threshold for the effective duration of ADT, and defined 12 months as the cut-off time for starting docetaxel from the onset of CRPC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the prognostic indicators that influenced the survival outcomes. Results: Overall, 81 (54.7%) patients died. The median 1st ADT response was 22.2 months and the median time interval from CRPC onset to docetaxel treatment was 11.7 months. Multivariate analysis indicated that visceral metastasis, bone metastasis extent of disease (EOD) ≥ 2, and effective duration of ADT < 16 months were the independent prognostic indicators for progression-free survival (PFS). Referring to cancer-specific survival (CSS), besides visceral metastasis and effective duration of ADT < 16 months, late docetaxel treatment ≥ 12 months became as the predictors for poor prognosis. Among the ADT poor-responder group (ADT < 16 months), Kaplan–Meier method showed that 1-year and 2-year CSS rates were 96.0% and 80.0% in the patients who introduced docetaxel in early setting (< 12 months), which were significantly higher than those who introduced in late settings (93.6% and 30.8%, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CRPC patients who had poor response during 1st ADT would obtain survival benefit by introducing docetaxel treatment in early stage.

© 2018 Dustri-Verlag Dr. K. Feistle. Introduction: To evaluate nephrostomy catheter displacement, we assessed the cumulative nephrostomy catheter displacement rate in patients with percutaneous nephrostomy and compared the nephrostomy displacement rates between pigtail and balloon catheters. Materials and methods: Between 2003 and 2011, 87 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy catheter placement and more than one subsequent catheter replacement were retrospectively identified. We evaluated their inadvertent nephrostomy catheter displacement. Results: 20 patients (23.0%) experienced incidental nephrostomy catheter displacement during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the 1-year nephrostomy catheter displacement-free survival rate was 62 ± 9%. No significant independent risk factors for predicting nephrostomy catheter displacement were identified, including the type of catheter. The median time from initial placement to displacement of pigtail catheters was shorter than that of balloon catheters. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the nephrostomy catheter displacement-free survival rates between the two types of catheters. Regardless of the type of catheter, our results indicated that careful handling and guiding during catheter placement are important for all patients because of the high risk of inadvertent events.

© 2019 The Author(s). Background: The magnitude of renal function recovery after kidney donation differs in donors with a heterogeneous background. Preoperative assessment of candidates with potentially unfavorable renal functional compensation is critical when baseline kidney function is marginal. We explored the significance of preserved kidney volume (PKV) and known preoperative risk factors for the prediction of unfavorable renal function compensation. Methods: We enrolled 101 living donors for whom a 1-mm sliced enhanced computed tomography scan was performed preoperatively and clinical data could be collected up to 1 year after donation. The donors whose estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1 year after donation was 70% or higher of baseline eGFR were assigned to the "favorable renal compensation" group and the others to the "unfavorable renal compensation" group. Results: Age, sex, and preoperative serum uric acid level were not significant predictors for "unfavorable renal compensation." Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA)-adjusted PKV were independent preoperative risk factors for "unfavorable renal compensation" (adjusted odds ratio, 1.342 and 0.929, respectively). Hypertension and preoperative eGFR were not independent predictors when adjusted with BMI and BSA-adjusted PKV. Receiver operative characteristic analysis revealed that the predictive equation with the two independent predictors yielded a good accuracy to detect donor candidates with unfavorable renal functional compensation (area under the curve = 0.803), and the optimal cut-off values were identified as 23.4 kg/m 2 for BMI and 107.3 cm 3 /m 2 for BSA-adjusted PKV. Conclusions: BMI and BSA-adjusted PKV may be useful to select candidates with potentially unfavorable renal function compensation before kidney donation.

© 2019 The Author(s). Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in transplant recipients are very rare and only a handful of cases have been reported to date. Here we present the first known case of a huge GIST in a kidney transplant recipient with perforation of small intestine. Case presentation: A 64-year-old male presented at our hospital with right colic pain; he had received an ABO incompatible kidney transplant 6 years earlier and was treated with cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone. Radiological evaluation revealed a huge (11 cm in diameter) solitary tumor at the small intestine without distant metastasis. The small intestinal wall at the tumor location was perforated one week after diagnosis and the patient underwent emergency surgery. The pathological findings were compatible with GIST and the tumor consisted of spindle cells with positive staining for KIT, CD34, and DOG1 and negative or weak staining for desmin and S-100 protein. A mutation in exon 11 of the c-kit gene was also detected. Cyclosporine was withdrawn and imatinib mesylate (400 mg daily) was introduced. However, thereafter, we needed to decrease the dose at 300 mg daily due to severe hyponatremia. Reduced imatinib treatment was well tolerated and recurrence was not observed for 18 months after surgery. Conclusions: The occurrence of GISTs in transplant patients is rare, and huge GISTs should be resected immediately after diagnosis because gastrointestinal tract at the tumor site could be perforated. Imatinib treatment is feasible in transplant recipients under immunosuppression, although immunosuppressive drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 should be used at a reduced dosage or withdrawn.

© 2019 Elsevier Inc. Objective: To investigate the influence of the zonal origin of prostate cancer and extraprostatic extension on biochemical recurrence (BCR). Patients and methods: We included 638 consecutive patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between 2005 and 2015 who did not receive neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy. The largest lesion was defined as the index tumor. We categorized each patient into the transition zone (TZ) or peripheral zone (PZ) group based on the lesion where the index tumor existed. Differences in the BCR defined as increasing prostate-specific antigen rate between groups were examined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: There were 293 (46%) patients with TZ cancer and 345 (54%) with PZ cancer. TZ cancer was significantly associated with a higher prostate-specific antigen (P = 0.012), lower biopsy positive core rate (P = 0.020), lower pathological Gleason score (P = 0.017), lower pathological stage (P = 0.002), and lower rate of seminal vesicle invasion (P = 0.002). During a median follow-up period of 59 months, 79 patients (12%) developed BCR. In the entire cohort, the PZ origin (hazard ratio: 1.68, P = 0.033) and extraprostatic extension were independent risk factors for BCR. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year BCR-free survival rates of patients with pT3a TZ cancer were 89%, 88%, and 86%, respectively, which were significantly better than those of patients with pT3a PZ cancer (80%, 74%, and 62%, P = 0.012), but were similar to those of the pT2 cancer cohort (92%, 91%, and 90%, P = 0.376). Conclusion: TZ cancer had more favorable pathological characteristics and oncological outcome than PZ cancer especially in pT3a cases.

Accidental hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature <35°C. Even with the use of multiple active rewarming methods, it has a high mortality rate. No standard treatment strategy for moderate or severe hypothermia in the absence of cardiac arrest has yet been established. We herein report three patients with severe or moderate accidental hypothermia who were treated by hemodialysis in the acute phase. This case report with a literature review describes the usefulness of hemodialysis for the treatment of moderate and severe accidental hypothermia without cardiac arrest.

Context: The oversecretion of plasma aldosterone by unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) can be cured by adrenalectomy. However, the time needed for the endocrine environment to normalize remains unclear. Objective: To clarify adequate timing for a biochemical evaluation in unilateral APA patients after adrenalectomy. Design and patients: A total of 166 unilateral APA patients were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) (pg/mL), active renin concentration (ARC) (pg/mL), aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR; PAC/ARC), serum potassium concentration and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1, 3 and 6 postoperation months (POM). Results: PAC was significantly lower at 1POM than at presurgery (presurgery; 407.2, 1 POM; 90.0 pg/mL, P <.001). ARC did not increase from baseline at 1POM, but significantly increased at 3POM (presurgery; 4.43, 1POM; 4.87, 3POM; 11.3 pg/mL, P <.001). ARR significantly decreased at 1POM (presurgery; 146.9, 1 POM; 26.3, P <.001) although ARC did not increase at 1POM. Among the 34 patients who had hypokalaemia presurgery, it was resolved in 28 (82%) at 1POM and in all (100%) at 3POM. The biochemical outcomes at 1POM were 131 (79%) complete, 20 (12%) partial and 15 (9%) absent successes, while at 3POM, 147 (89%) were complete, 9 (5%) partial and 10 (6%) absent. Twenty-three (14%) patients were reclassified into different biochemical outcomes between 1 and 3POM, whereas only 5 (3%) changed between 3 and 6POM. Conclusion: The appropriate timing for a biochemical evaluation of unilateral APA patients treated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy appears to be 3 months or more after surgery.

Purpose: Intravesical bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the standard of care for bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS). The response to BCG therapy against CIS is generally assessed by random bladder biopsy (RBB). In this study, we examined the necessity of routine RBB after BCG therapy. Methods: We retrospectively identified 102 patients who were initially diagnosed with CIS with or without papillary tumor and received subsequent 6–8-week BCG therapy. Thereafter, all patients underwent voiding cytology analysis, cystoscopy, and RBB to evaluate the effects of BCG therapy. We evaluated the association between clinical parameters (voiding cytology and cystoscopy findings) and the final pathological results by RBB specimens. Results: According to the pathological results of RBB, 30 (29%) patients had BCG-unresponsive disease (remaining urothelial carcinoma was confirmed pathologically) and 20 were diagnosed with CIS. Positive/suspicious voiding cytology and positive cystoscopy findings were well observed in patients who had BCG-unresponsive disease compared with their counterparts (p = 0.116, and p < 0.001, respectively). The sensitivity (Sen.), specificity (Spe.), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of voiding cytology were 50%, 68%, 39%, and 77%, respectively. The values for cystoscopy findings were as follows: Sen.: 87%, Spe.: 57%, PPV: 46%, and NPV: 91%. The values for their combination (having either of them) were as follows: Sen.: 100%, Spe.: 44%, PPV: 43%, and NPV: 100%. Conclusion: RBB after BCG therapy for patients with negative voiding cytology and negative cystoscopy may be omitted because their risk of BCG-unresponsive disease is significantly low (NPV: 100%).