Uro-oncology deals with cancers of the urinary system and male reproduction system. These include cancers of kidney, adrenal gland, ureter, bladder, prostate, urethra, penis and testis.
RENAL CANCER:
Radical Nephrectomy
It is the surgery for removal of entire kidney affected by the cancer. The affected kidney is removed by an incision on the abdomen or flank region (open) or by laparoscopic method. Patient with kidney cancer needs to be hospitalized for 4-5 days depending on the recovery of the patient. The kidney removed will be sent for histopathological examination to identify what sort of a tumor it is and then make a final plan of follow up.
Partial Nephrectomy
If the kidney tumor is involving a small portion of the kidney, only that part of kidney is removed sparing rest of the normal kidney. This surgery also can be done by open or laparoscopic method. This is called Nephron Sparing Surgery where the remaining kidney can be left behind to carry on with the normal kidney functions.
PROSTATE CANCER:
Bilateral Orchidectomy
Both the testes are removed surgically as a part of the treatment for carcinoma prostate. This is to block the hormonal supply to the prostate and control the prostatic cancer.
TURP
Transurethral resection of prostate is done for advanced prostatic cancer causing obstruction to urinary flow. It includes 2-3 days of hospitalization in which enlarged obstructing prostate is resected by transurethral route.
Radical Prostatectomy
In a patient with early stage of prostate cancer, when it has not spread beyond the prostate gland, Radical prostatectomy is done to remove entire prostate gland along with the tumor. Small glands which drain the prostate (Lymph nodes) will also be removed in this surgery. The bladder neck is directly attached to the urinary passage beyond the prostate.
URINARY BLADDER CANCER:
TURBT
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor is the procedure in which the instruments providing a video image are inserted per urethra and the growth/tumor in the urinary bladder is identified, resected and removed completely. Tissue is sent for biopsy examination. If it is low stage or early cancer, patient will require intravesical medications and follow up cystoscopies in future but if it is high stage cancer he will need bladder removal surgery (Radical cystectomy).
Radical Cystectomy
Radical cystectomy is done for high stage bladder cancer where the muscle of the urinary bladder is involved with the tumor. Through abdominal incision, entire urinary bladder is removed and patient's urine is diverted by connecting his both ureters to the small loop of bowel which is taken out through an abdominal stoma or creating a new bladder using portion of bowel.
TESTICULAR CANCER:
High Inguinal Orchidectomy
This is the procedure done to remove the testicular mass. Depending on the tumor markers like the βHCG, AFP and LDH and the biopsy of the testicular mass further treatment needs to be planned like chemotherapy, radiotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.
PENILE CANCER:
Partial Penectomy
Ulcerative or proliferative growth limited to the tip of the penis (Glans) or to the distal part of the penile body (Shaft) is excised and the remaining penis is left behind to function normally.
Total Penectomy
Total removal of the penis due to the complete involvement of the penile body with cancerous growth is total penectomy. Patient will pass urine from a small opening constructed in the perineum (Perineal Urethrostomy).
Ilioinguinal Lymph node dissection
Treatment of the penile cancer is mainly about managing the lymph nodes drained by the penis. Small masses (Lymph nodes) in the groin and inside the lower abdomen (Pelvic lymph nodes) need to be removed along with the treatment of the primary tumor when required.