Background: Current cross-sectional imaging modalities exhibit heterogenous diagnostic performances for the detection of a lymph node invasion (LNI) in bladder cancer (BCa) patients. Recently, the Node-RADS score was introduced to provide a standardized comprehensive evaluation of LNI, based on a five-item Likert scale accounting for both size and configuration criteria. In the current study, we hypothesized that the Node-RADS score accurately predicts the LNI and tested its diagnostic performance. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed BCa patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC) and bilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection, from January 2019 to June 2022. Patients receiving preoperative systemic chemotherapy were excluded. A logistic regression analysis tested the correlation between the Node-RADS score and LNI both at patient and lymph-node level. The ROC curves and the AUC depicted the overall diagnostic performance. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for different cut-off values (>1, >2, >3, >4). Results: Overall, data from 49 patients were collected. Node-RADS assigned on CT scans images, was found to independently predict the LNI after an adjusted multivariable regression analysis, both at the patient (OR 3.36, 95%CI 1.68–9.40, p = 0.004) and lymph node (OR 5.18, 95%CI 3.39–8.64, p < 0.001) levels. Node-RADS exhibited an AUC of 0.87 and 0.91 at the patient and lymph node levels, respectively. With increasing Node-RADS cut-off values, the specificity and PPV increased from 57.1 to 97.1% and from 48.3 to 83.3%, respectively. Conversely, the sensitivity and NPV decreased from 100 to 35.7% and from 100 to 79.1%, respectively. Similar trends were recorded at the lymph node level. Potentially, Node-RADS > 2 could be considered as the best cut-off value due to balanced values at both the patient (77.1 and 78.6%, respectively) and lymph node levels (82.4 and 93.4%, respectively). Conclusions: The current study lays the foundation for the introduction of Node-RADS for the regional lymph-node evaluation in BCa patients. Interestingly, the Node-RADS score exhibited a moderate-to-high overall accuracy for the identification of LNI, with the possibility of setting different cut-off values according to specific clinical scenarios. However, these results need to be validated on larger cohorts before drawing definitive conclusions.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) in patients with symptomatic BPH. Materials and methods From January 2020 to January 2022, 63 prospectively enrolled patients underwent TPLA with a 1064-nm continuous-wave diode laser (EchoLaser, Elesta SpA). Primary endpoints were the change in IPSS, QoL, Qmax, PVR and prostate volume at 3 and 12 months. Results At 3 months, IPSS improved from 20.8 ± 7.4 to 11.0 ± 6.6 (p < 0.001), QoL from 4.7 ± 1.4 to 1.5 ± 1.2 (p < 0.001) and Qmax from 8.6 ± 3.5 mL/s to 13.2 ± 5.7 mL/s (p = 0.083). PVR decreased from 124.8 ± 115.4 mL to 43.6 ± 53.6 mL (p < 0.001), and prostate volume decreased from 63.6 ± 29.7 mL to 45.6 ± 21.8 mL (p = 0.003). At 12 months, IPSS improved from 20.8 ± 7.4 to 8.4 ± 5.9 (p < 0.001), QoL from 4.7 ± 1.4 to 1.2 ± 0.8 (p < 0.001), and Qmax from 8.6 ± 3.5 mL/s to 16.2 ± 4.3 mL/s (p = 0.014). PVR decreased from 124.8 ± 115.4 mL to 40.6 ± 53.6 mL (p = 0.003), and prostate volume decreased from 63.6 ± 29.7 mL to 42.8 ± 14.2 mL (p = 0.071). Transient complications consisted of two patients with prostatic abscess (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa) and one patient with orchitis (Clavien-Dindo grade II). Conclusions TPLA for symptomatic BPH provides clinical benefits at 3 and 12 months, and the treatment is well tolerated.

This comprehensive review aims to explore the applications of indocyanine green (ICG) in robot-assisted urological surgery through a detailed examination of fluorescence-guided techniques. An extensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus, using keywords such as “indocyanine green,” “ICG”, “NIRF”, “Near Infrared Fluorescence”, “robot-assisted”, and “urology”. Additional suitable articles were collected by manually cross-referencing the bibliography of previously selected papers. The integration of the Firefly® technology in the Da Vinci® robotic system has opened new avenues for the advancement and exploration of different urological procedures. ICG is a fluorophore widely used in near-infrared fluorescence-guided techniques. The synergistic combination of intraoperative support, safety profiles and widespread availability comprises an additional asset that empowers ICG-guided robotic surgery. This overview of the current state of the art illustrates the potential advantages and broad applications of combining ICG-fluorescence guidance with robotic-assisted urological surgery.

Background Radical cystectomy for bladder cancer represents a high demolitive surgical procedure with a significative impact on quality of life. Sexuality preserving techniques have been proposed in order to improve functional outcomes. Although sex-sparing techniques would provide women with the chance of having pregnancy, experience is still limited when malignant conditions are considered. We report the outcomes of pregnancy and delivery in a 43-year-old woman with a Padua ileal orthotopic neobladder after robot-assisted sexuality preserving cystectomy for muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer performed four years earlier, at age 39. Case presentation Since pregnancy was confirmed, the patient had been under close urological and gynecological observation. Hydronephrosis and voiding-relating complications were reported and treated by inserting a nephrostomy tubes and indwelling bladder catheter. At the time of delivery, elective caesarian section was performed without complications. Conclusions Sexuality preserving cystectomy could be an option in selected and highly motivated young patients with diagnosis of bladder cancer. A multidisciplinary team of experts included gynecologists, urologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists and neonatologists is required for the optimal management of pregnancy and peripartum care in women with urinary diversion.