Peyronie’s disease is a disfiguring and psychologically devastating disease, which continues to pose a significant clinical conundrum to the attending doctor. Many forms of therapy have been trialled but results have been inconsistent at best. Non-surgical therapy revolves around oral, intralesional and shockwave therapies. The focus of this paper is on intralesional agents, their evolution and efficacy of treatments. The mere fact that so many agents have been tried is a testament to the incomplete knowledge that we have with regards to the underlying pathophysiology of the disease. Currently, the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved agent that has shown fairly consistent results is Clostridium histiolyticum collagenase (XiaflexTM), whereas calcium channel blockers and interferons (IFN) remain as off-label options.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual problem affecting many men irrespective of cultures, beliefs and nationalities. While medical therapy for ED has been revolutionized by the advent of oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and intracavernosal injection of vasoactive agents, recent technological advances such stem cell therapy, low intensity shock wave and newer generation of penile prosthesis implant offer hope to men who do not respond to conventional medical therapy. In contrast, traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) focuses on the restoration and better overall bodily regulation with the use of various herbal and animal products as well as exercises to invigorate qi (energy) in vital organs. Western medicine involves an analysis of ED symptom and underlying causes that contribute to ED, while TCM emphases the concept of holism and harmonization of body organs to achieve natural sexual life. The following article reviews our current understanding regarding the philosophical approach, and evaluates the evidence surrounding various ED therapies between mainstream Western Medicine and TCM.
Metastatic disease is common in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with a third of cases being synchronous. RCC is known to metastasize to any organ in the body; however, isolated splenic metastasis is extremely rare. We report a case of synchronous splenic metastasis from type II papillary RCC with 80% sarcomatoid change. He was successfully treated with a right radical nephrectomy with en-bloc right liver resection and splenectomy with negative margins to achieve removal of the primary tumour and complete metastasectomy. He underwent 6 cycles adjuvant chemotherapy with Gemcitabine. The patient developed disease recurrence in the spine at the 6th post-operative month with a pathological fracture at T3 and cord indentation for which he underwent posterior decompression and instrumentation and palliative radiotherapy. He recovered well and remains ambulant. Surveillance scans 16 months post-surgery revealed no tumour recurrence or new metastasis.
Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) is a potentially fatal complication of malignancy or its treatment. This uncommon syndrome comprises laboratory findings of hyperuricaemia, hypocalcaemia, hyperkalaemia and hyperphosphataemia. A literature search revealed a total of eight patients, with testicular cancer, who had TLS. All these patients had metastatic disease. We present a unique case of a 47-year-old gentleman we saw in clinic, who presented with a rapidly growing right groin mass and acute breathlessness, and discuss the diagnosis and management of TLS. TLS is extremely rare in testicular cancer but necessitates the awareness of urologists. TLS can occur spontaneously in testicular malignancy. Cell lysis in a rapidly proliferating germ cell tumour is a possible mechanism. The prompt identification and institution of management for TLS is crucial to improve clinical outcomes.
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