Introduction and objectives: PSA elevation is associated with prostate cancer and it is used in screening programs for its diagnosis. It is one of the most common indications for referral to an urologist. There’s no consensus about what to do in PSA elevation management. Antibiotics, nutraceuticals or anti-inflammatories are commonly prescribed in daily practice. Our objective was to verify the effect on the PSA value of a short 30-day trial of a curcuma extract, than to discuss the implications in terms of reducing the number of prostate biopsies performed. Patients and methods: We enrolled 50 consecutive patients admitted at our attention for a first PSA over the level of 4 ng/ml or for a suspected PSA rising defined as PSA velocity (PSAv) > 0.75 ng/ml/years. They received treatment with curcuma extract, 2 tablets per day for 30 day. All patients received a second PSA measurement and TRUS within 6 days from the end of the therapy. In case of PSA reduction below 4 ng/ml, patients were reassured and invited to repeat a PSA control over the time. When PSA level were persistently high over 4 ng/ml or in case of any rising, patients underwent a transrectal ultrasound guided 12-core prostatic biopsy (TRUSbx). Results: Mean age of the patients was 64.56 ± 8.88 (range, 42- 81 years). Prostate volume was 48.34 ± 15,77 ml (range, 18-80 ml). At visit 1, PSA value was in mean 6,84 ± 3.79 ng/ml (range 2.93-21ng/ml). Consequently, mean PSA density value was 0.16 ± 0.16 (range 0.05-1.11). PSA free and PSA total ratio at baseline was 16.85 ± 3.9% (range 8-26%). At visit 2, the prostate volume did not change. Total PSA was 4.65 ± 2,67 ng/ml (range 1-16.82 ng/ml). PSA free and PSA total ratio (PSAF/T) after treatment was 19.68 ± 5.35 % (range 7.8-29%). The differences of total PSA and PSAF/T between visit 1 and visit 2 were < 0.0001 and p < 0.0036, respectively. We performed 26 TRUSbx. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 6 cases, PIN HG in 2 cases and non neoplastic findings in the remnants 18 patients. Conclusions: Use of the Curcuma extract is able to lower the PSA value after a 30-day intake period. We are not able to state that the reduction of PSA after intake of this Curcuma extract may exclude a prostate cancer. We need further studies to evaluate that.
Objective: Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rare, life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis primarily affecting the perineal, genital, and perianal regions. This rapidly progressing bacterial infection predominantly affects middleaged and elderly men. This multicenter study aims to describe the management in a wide cohort of Fournier's gangrene cases that presented to three tertiary centers with early extensive surgical debridement. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collect data from patients with FG who were referred to the Urology Clinic of the Department of Medicine and Surgery (Perugia), the Urological Andrological Surgery and Minimally Invasive Techniques Unit (Terni) of the University of Perugia, and the Urology Unit of the Surgery Department of the Macerata Civic Hospital between January 2019 and March 2024 for onset of classic signs and symptoms of FG. Extensive surgical debridement was immediately performed under general anesthesia to reach normochromic and vascularized tissue in wide and depth extension, assuring vital and healthy margins. For all patients, intravenous daptomycin plus piperacillin/tazobactam were administered. Results: 28 male patients with FG underwent early surgical debridement. In two cases, orchidectomy and partial penectomy were required during surgical debridement due to extensive necrosis. Colon diversion and urinary diversion were not necessary for any of the patients. 32.1% complications were recorded according to the Clavien Dindo classification; 6 patients died in the perioperative. Excluding death data, the average duration of antibiotic therapy was 22.0±9.1 days, and the average length of stay was 17.6±11.8 days. Conclusions: Fournier's gangrene has high mortality rates. It requires timely surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy to achieve positive outcomes. This study shows that a primary extensive debridement can help reduce the need for further intervention and shorten the hospital stay.
Background: Sclerosing perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, typically benign but occasionally exhibiting aggressive behavior. This study reports a case of sclerosing PEComa of the adrenal gland that was treated with robotic partial adrenalectomy, with 13 years of follow-up and a review of the literature. Methods: A 48-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a 10 × 9 cm adrenal mass displacing adjacent structures. MRI and 18F-FDG PET-CT suggested angiomyolipoma. Robotic partial adrenalectomy was performed. Intraoperative frozen section analysis identified the mass as angiomyolipoma, while final histopathology confirmed it as a sclerosing PEComa. Results: This case highlights the advantages of robotic surgery in the management of large adrenal tumors, allowing complete tumor removal while preserving functional adrenal tissue. The extended 13-year follow-up is significant, given the potential for recurrence or malignant transformation reported in other cases. A literature review identified 39 reported cases of sclerosing PEComas, with few documenting long-term outcomes. Conclusions: This is a documented case of robotic partial adrenalectomy for sclerosing PEComa. The findings support robotic surgery as a safe effective approach for managing this rare tumor, with excellent functional and oncological results. Extended follow-up reinforces the tumor’s benign behavior and the importance of long-term monitoring in PEComas.