Purpose

Gender disparities have long existed in medicine but they have not been well examined in urology. We analyzed a large cohort of graduating urology residents to investigate gender disparities in academic productivity, as measured by peer reviewed publications and academic career choice.

Materials and methods

We assembled a list of urology residents who graduated from 2002 through 2008 who were affiliated with the top 50 urology hospitals, as ranked by 2009 U.S. News & World Report. PubMed® was queried to determine the publication output of each resident during the last 3 years of residency. We used an Internet search to determine the fellowship training, career choice and academic rank of each subject. Gender effects on each factor were evaluated.

Results

A total of 459 male (84.5%) and 84 female (15.5%) residents were included in analysis. During residency women produced fewer total publications (average 3.0 vs 4.8, p = 0.01) and fewer as first author (average 1.8 vs 2.5, p = 0.03) than men. A higher proportion of women than men underwent fellowship training (54.8% vs 48.5%, p = 0.29) and ultimately chose an academic career (40.5% vs 33.3%, p = 0.20), although these differences were not statistically significant. Of residents who chose an academic career a higher proportion of men than women (24.7% vs 2.9%, p = 0.01) obtained associate vs assistant professor rank.

Conclusions

Women produced fewer peer reviewed publications than men during residency but they were equally likely to undergo fellowship training and choose an academic career. During the study period a higher proportion of men achieved associate professor rank.

Purpose

The proportion of renal cell carcinoma cases diagnosed at stage I is known to be increasing significantly. We characterized stage I tumors further in terms of tumor size at diagnosis using a large national cancer registry.

Materials and methods

The National Cancer Data Base captures approximately 75% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in the United States. The database was queried for all adults who were diagnosed between 1993 and 2004 with stage I renal cell carcinoma. Trends were assessed in mean size with time as well as in the proportion of stage I tumors diagnosed at less than 2.0, less than 2.5 and less than 3.0 cm.

Results

There were 104,150 patients in the National Cancer Data Base diagnosed with stage I renal cell carcinoma during the study period. A total of 10,279 stage I tumors (9.9%) were less than 2.0 cm, 26,621 (25.6%) were 2.5 cm or less and 39,879 (38.3%) were 3.0 cm or less. Analysis of stage I renal cell carcinoma diagnoses with time demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the proportion of renal masses 3.0 cm or less between 1993 and 2004 (32.5% vs 43.4%). Of tumors 3.0 cm or less the proportion smaller than 2.0 cm increased significantly during the study period from 24.1% in 1993 to 29.4% in 2004. Mean tumor size decreased from 4.1 to 3.6 cm between 1993 and 2004 (p <0.001).

Conclusions

Tumor size at diagnosis is decreasing with time in patients with stage I renal cell carcinoma. These data likely underestimate the proportion of all enhancing renal masses diagnosed at a small size. Patients with small masses may be appropriate candidates for nephron sparing surgery, energy based ablative therapy or active surveillance. Better technologies are needed to determine the diagnosis and prognosis of small enhancing renal masses.

Purpose

Selective transarterial embolization for renal angiomyolipomas is effective in preventing or limiting hemorrhage and preserving normal parenchyma. Data are insufficient regarding the safety and efficacy of embolic agents. We compared transarterial embolization of angiomyolipomas using embolic agents of different sizes.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective review of all transarterial angiomyolipoma embolizations from 1999 to 2010, and evaluated demographics, procedural data, embolization response and outcomes comparing smaller (less than 150 microns) and larger (more than 150 microns) embolic agents.

Results

Overall 48 patients underwent 66 embolization procedures for 72 angiomyolipomas. Smaller agents were used more commonly (58%). Age, gender, indications, pre-embolization angiomyolipoma size and prevalence of tuberous sclerosis were similar between the groups. Angiomyolipomas decreased a mean±SD 25%±18% after embolization with no differences between the groups (p=0.24). There were 10 angiomyolipomas that required 14 repeat embolizations (median 14 months). Repeat embolization of the same mass was almost sixfold more likely in those embolized with smaller agents (OR 5.88, 95% CI 1.64-20.8, p=0.002). Complications were similar between the groups, although 2 of 3 patients with acute respiratory distress underwent embolization with smaller agents. Patients with tuberous sclerosis had similar angiomyolipoma size, decrease in angiomyolipoma size, followup, complications and need for repeat embolization. Practice patterns changed regarding embolization agent size during the study period.

Conclusions

Angioembolization with larger embolic agents is associated with higher long-term efficacy compared to smaller agents. Due to concerns for serious pulmonary complications, we no longer use agents smaller than 150 microns. Prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the optimal embolization technique to achieve durable outcomes without increasing patient morbidity.

BACKGROUND:Pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) is associated with a high risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). The effect of the type of posterior urethral disruption repair on erectile function has not been clearly established. We systematically reviewed and conducted a meta-analysis of the proportion of patients with ED at (i) baseline after pelvic fracture with PFUI, (ii) after immediate primary realignment, and (iii) after delayed urethroplasty. METHODS:Using search terms for primary realignment or urethroplasty and urethral disruption, we systematically reviewed PubMed and EMBASE. A meta-analysis of the proportion of patients with ED was conducted assuming a random-effects model. RESULTS:Of 734 articles found, 24 met the inclusion criteria. The estimate of the proportion (95% confidence interval) of patients with ED after (i) PFUI was 34 (25-45)%, after (ii) immediate primary realignment was 16 (8-26)%, and after (iii) delayed urethroplasty was an additional 3 (2-5)% more than the 34% after pelvic fracture in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS:After pelvic fracture, 34% of patients had ED. After primary endoscopic alignment, patients had a lower reported rate of ED (16%). Delayed urethroplasty conferred an additional 3% risk above the 34% associated with PFUI alone, with 37% of patients having de novo ED. The difference in de novo ED after primary endoscopic alignment vs. delayed urethroplasty is probably due to reporting differences in ED and/or patients with less severe injury undergoing primary realignment.