No abstract

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract, having one of the highest recurrence rates and progression from non-muscle to muscle invasive bladder cancer that commonly leads to metastasis. Cystoscopy and urine cytology are the standard procedures for its detection but have limited clinical sensitivity and specificity. Herein, a microfluidic device, the UriChip, was developed for the enrichment of urothelial exfoliated cells from fresh and frozen urine, based on deformability and size, and the cancer-associated glycan Sialyl-Tn explored as a putative bladder cancer urinary biomarker. Spiking experiments with bladder cancer cell lines showed an isolation efficiency of 53%, while clinical sample analyses revealed retention of cells with various morphologies and sizes. in situ immunoassays demonstrated significantly higher number of Sialyl-Tn-positive cells in fresh and frozen voided urine from bladder cancer patients, compared to healthy individuals. Of note, urothelial exfoliated cells from cryopreserved urine sediments were also successfully isolated by the UriChip, and found to express significantly high levels of Sialyl-Tn. Remarkably, Sialyl-Tn expression is correlated with tumor stage and grade. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of UriChip and Sialyl-Tn to detect urothelial bladder cancer cells in follow-up and long-term retrospective studies.

No abstract

The widespread use of imaging technology as a diagnostic tool has resulted in the identification of many previously unknown, clinically benign lesions. The current era of easy access to imaging studies places physicians in a difficult position, since many lesions are not precisely diagnosed by imaging. For example, the accurate diagnosis of non-functioning adrenal lesions remains a clinical challenge. This report describes a patient with the incidental CT finding of an uncommon adrenal ganglioneuroma. Clinical and radiological findings can guide suspicion towards this rare lesion; however, the actual diagnosis is based on histological findings. Specific characteristics of adrenal ganglioneuromas that would allow their diagnosis without invasive procedures have not been established. This case report is an attempt to add more data that will help to establish diagnostic criteria for this rare disease.

Small renal or pararenal masses and retroperitoneum lesions are extremely difficult to diagnose. Imaging technology is a precious diagnostic tool; however, it places physicians in a difficult position since many lesions are not precisely diagnosed. Clinical and radiological findings can guide suspicion towards the diagnosis; however, in our current practice most diagnoses are based on histological findings. We aim to present a pararenal sclerosing perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa), a rare entity, whose diagnosis is only possible through invasive approaches and histological analysis. This rare lesion not only is difficult to diagnose but also has an uncertain behaviour, which is of major importance concerning its follow-up and prognosis. This case report is an attempt to add more data that will help establish criteria for diagnosis and follow-up of this rare disease.