OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of benign renal lesions in incidentally discovered small renal tumours, increasingly detected by the widespread use of abdominal imaging, and to evaluate whether preoperative renal core biopsy is effective in identifying benign lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a retrospective study, renal core biopsies for incidental tumours over a 5‐year period were analysed. The biopsies were correlated with the final pathology of the nephrectomy specimens, or with patient follow‐up if nephrectomy was avoided. RESULTS Of 70 diagnostic core biopsies, a third of cases were considered benign. The sensitivity and specificity for both benign and malignant lesions when compared to definitive pathology was 100% in all cases subjected to nephrectomy. Of the 30 non‐diagnostic biopsies, three were proved to be benign, and 18 likely to be benign. The only complication of renal biopsy was one case of bleeding after biopsy. CONCLUSION A higher than previously anticipated proportion of incidentally detected small renal masses are benign. Given the high sensitivity and specificity, there is value in taking a core biopsy of small incidental renal lesions, a procedure with a low complication rate (1%). When analysed by a pathologist familiar with renal biopsy, this might avoid radical nephrectomy in many patients.

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare non-atherosclerotic cause of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). We describe a 54-year-old man who presented with calf claudication and catheter angiography showed the typical scallop appearances of CAD. Surgery involved resection of the diseased segment with a femoral popliteal venous bypass graft. A literature review revealed the different theories for pathogenesis, the investigation of choice being catheter angiography and the treatment excision with bypass grafting.

Epilepsy is defined as a tendency toward recurrent seizures unprovoked by any systemic or acute neurologic insults. It is a disruption of the electrical conductivity or activity in the brain, resulting in a seizure. In the United States, approximately 120 of every 100,000 people seek medical attention due to new seizure activity. Ezogabine, known as retigabine in Europe, is an ethyl N-(2-amino-4-[{fluorophenyl}methlamino]phenylcarbamate). The drug has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency for adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults. Ezogabine exerts its therapeutic effect by enhancing transmembrane potassium channels (KCNQ ion channels), which is a novel mechanism in comparison with other antiepileptics. There are no specific documented contraindications to ezogabine. Warnings target patients that have benign prostatic hyperplasia or are receiving concomitant anticholinergic drugs due to a risk of urinary retention (2%). The FDA has required that ezogabine be part of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program in order to inform health care professionals of the risk of urinary retention. Prescribers should inform patients that ezogabine can cause urinary retention, including urinary hesitation, and instruct them to seek immediate medical attention if these symptoms occur. A medication guide has been developed for distribution to patients.

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