Recurrence, progression and survival in bladder cancer. A retrospective analysis of 232 patients with greater than or equal to 5-year follow-up

A retrospective study of 232 bladder tumours with minimum follow-up 5 years is presented. The carcinoma was superficial in 66%, muscle-invasive in 31% and could not be staged in 3%. Primary treatment was mainly transurethral resection for superficial tumour, but was cystectomy or radiotherapy in 22 of 29 T1 G3. Of the superficial tumours, 71% recurred. Progression to higher T stage occurred in 15% of Ta and 29% of T1 tumours, and half of these patients died of bladder cancer. The corrected 5-year survival rates in grades 1, 2A, 2B and 3-4 were 96, 84, 64 and 43%, and in stages Ta, T1, T2 and T3 they were 94, 69, 40 and 31%. All patients with T4 tumour died within 4 years. Among the 45 patients with 40 Gy irradiation + cystectomy, the corrected 5-year survival rate was 83% in superficial and 64% in muscle-invasive tumours, and among the 38 with radical radiotherapy the rates in T1-3 were 46, 36 and 13%. Transurethral resection was successful in most Ta cases. Most T1 tumours were, like T2-4, of higher grade than Ta. Prognosis was worse in T1 than in Ta. After progression to muscle-invasive disease, even during close follow-up the outlook was poor, as poor as for patients with primary muscle-invasive disease.     

Intravenous urography in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The incidence and implications of ureteral obstruction.

In order to study the value of excretory urography in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and also the incidence and implications of ureteral obstruction, 100 consecutive patients were studied. Of 73 patients with superficial tumours (stages Tis, Ta, T1) only 1 (1,4%) had hydronephrosis as a result of the bladder tumour. However, 2 further patients had hydronephrosis secondary to synchronous ureteral tumours. Of the 27 patients with muscle-invasive tumours, 10 (37%) had hydronephrosis at the time of diagnosis. Four patients who had normal upper tracts initially, developed hydronephrosis during follow-up: 1 due to progression of a superficial tumour to stage T3, 1 due to the development of an ureteral tumour, and 2 due to fibrosis of the intramural ureter after transurethral resection of superficial tumours. The presence of ureteral obstruction at the time of diagnosis most often implies a muscle-invasive tumour, but the possibility of a synchronous ureteral tumour must also be considered. Fibrous strictures of the distal ureter can occur after transurethral resection of superficial bladder tumours.     

The value of a second transurethral resection for T1 bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a series of repeat transurethral resections (TURs) of tumour in patients with T1 bladder cancer, usually used to ensure a complete resection and to exclude the possibility muscle-invasive disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 136 consecutive patients had a second TUR because of a histopathological diagnosis of T1 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) after their initial TUR. Of the 136 patients, 101 were first presentations and 35 had recurrent tumours. The second TUR was done 4-6 weeks later. The evaluation included the presence of previously undetected residual tumour, changes to histopathological staging/grading, and tumour location. RESULTS: In all, 71 patients (52%) had residual disease according to findings from specimens obtained during the second TUR. The staging was: no tumour, 65 (48%); Ta, 11 (8%); T1, 32 (24%); Tis, 15 (11%); and > or = T2, 13 (10%). Histopathological changes that worsened the prognosis (>T1 and or concomitant Tis) were found in 21% of patients. Residual malignant tissue was found in the same location as the first TUR in 86% of the patients, and at different locations in 14%. Overall, 28 patients (21% of the original 136) had a radical cystectomy as a consequence of the second TUR findings. CONCLUSIONS: A routine second TUR should be advised in patients with T1 TCC of the bladder, to achieve a more complete tumour resection and to identify patients who should have a prompt cystectomy.     

Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is the second most common malignancy affecting the urinary tract and represents 3% of all cancer deaths in the United Kingdom. The most common presentation is visible haematuria which accounts for 85% of cases. Initial evaluation utilizes white light flexible cystoscopy and upper urinary tract imaging, through ultrasound or CT urography. Alternatives to white light cystoscopy include photodynamic diagnosis and narrow-band imaging which may improve detection of tumours. Initial treatment is with transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT). En-bloc resection using either laser or electrocautery shows promise in improving the quality of transurethral resection. For patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, robot-assisted radical cystectomy has been shown to be oncologically equivalent to open radical cystectomy with recent evidence showing benefit reducing pain and in inpatient stay. Bladder preservation treatment in muscle-invasive cancer is trimodal therapy utilizing transurethral resection and chemoradiotherapy in selected patients. Management of locally advanced and metastatic disease has rapidly advanced through the use of systemic immunotherapy agents targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 axis.     

The optimum timing of radical cystectomy for patients with recurrent high-risk superficial bladder tumour

OBJECTIVE: To establish the optimum time of radical cystectomy (RC) for patients with recurrent high-risk superficial bladder tumours after the failure of intravesical therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 318 patients with transitional cell carcinoma treated with RC and with no neoadjuvant therapy, there were 46 with clinical stage Ta, T1 or Tis refractory to transurethral resection associated with intravesical therapy. These patients had at least one of: (i) high-risk superficial bladder tumours after failure of two consecutive induction courses of intravesical therapy; (ii) superficial bladder tumours with prostatic stromal invasion; (iii) superficial bladder tumours with mucosa/ducts involvement after failure of one course of intravesical therapy; (iv) uncontrolled superficial tumours with transurethral resection associated or not with intravesical therapy. Progression and cause-specific survival of these patients were compared to those with muscle-invasive tumours. Univariate and multivariate analyses of predictive factors for cause-specific survival were also used in patients with superficial tumours. The incidence of significant prognostic factors was compared in both superficial and muscle-invasive tumours, as were the progression pattern and survival. RESULTS: The progression-free and cause-specific survival of patients with superficial tumours was 54% and 67%, respectively, with no significant difference from those with muscle-invasive tumours. In multivariate analysis, positive lymph-nodes and prostatic stromal invasion were significant and independent variables for survival. The incidence of positive lymph nodes was 15% vs 30% (P < 0.05) and of stromal invasion was 32% vs 1.5% (P < 0.001) in patients with superficial and muscle-invasive tumours, respectively. Accounting for the progression pattern in patients with superficial tumours, extravesical urothelial recurrence prevailed over local or distant recurrences (30% vs 15%), whereas in patients with muscle-invasive tumours the opposite occurred (5% vs 33%, respectively). The cause-specific survival of patients with superficial tumour and prostatic stromal invasion was one of three, and in those who developed extravesical urothelial recurrence was 28.5%. CONCLUSION: In patients with recurrent high-risk superficial bladder cancer after intravesical therapy, our criteria for RC were inappropriate, and patients had a survival rate similar to those with muscle-invasive tumours. RC might have been used too late, as there was a high incidence of prostatic stromal invasion and extravesical urothelial recurrence after RC. Both events seem to be responsible of the low cause-specific survival. Predictive factors for progression are needed to indicate early RC in patients with recurrent high-risk superficial tumours. From a previous analysis the pathological pattern of the clinical lack of response (T1, G3, bladder carcinoma in situ and prostate involvement) to intravesical therapy evaluated at 3 months might be important for predicting progression, and an early RC at that time might be useful.     

Urothelial atypia concomitant with primary bladder tumour. Incidence in a consecutive series of 500 unselected patients

A consecutive series of 500 primary bladder tumours from a single clinic is presented, with distribution of the tumours according to T category and histologic type and grade. Mucosal biopsies were obtained from pre-selected sites at initial cystoscopy or initial transurethral resection of the tumour in 396 cases. In 54% of the patients with grade III tumour there was concomitant urothelial atypia, either carcinoma in situ (urothelial atypia grade III, 30%) or urothelial atypia grade II (24%). In 30% of the patients with invasive grade II bladder tumour and in 14% of those with noninvasive grade II tumour there was concomitant urothelial atypia, mostly grade II. Since concomitant urothelial atypia predicts new tumour growth after successful transurethral surgery or radiotherapy, mucosal biopsies should be performed at preselected sites during initial cystoscopy or transurethral tumour resection in order to identify high-risk patients.     

Radical transurethral resection and chemotherapy in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (T2-T4a) by radical transurethral resection (TUR) and cisplatin-methotrexate systemic chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder (nine T2, 36 T3 and five T4a) were treated by 'complete' TUR of the bladder tumour followed by 2-6 cycles of cisplatin (70 mg/m2) and methotrexate (40 mg/m2) chemotherapy. The median (range) tumour size was 3 (1-7 cm). In six patients, attempted TUR at the dome of the bladder led to intraperitoneal perforation; the tumour was excised by partial cystectomy in these patients. The latest follow-up results from 57 patients treated by radical TUR and methotrexate alone, reported previously, are included. RESULTS: At the first evaluation cystoscopy immediately after completing chemotherapy, 38 patients were tumour-free, eight had persistent muscle-invasive TCC and four had Ta, T1+CIS disease. With an overall median follow-up of 47 months, 10 additional patients relapsed with muscle-invasive carcinoma in the bladder after a median interval of 15.6 months; three patients developed Ta, T1 tumours, three Ta, T1 + CIS, and six CIS only. Six of the 10 recurrent invasive tumours were at the same site, but four were at a different site in the bladder. Although during follow-up 12 patients developed superficial recurrence that required endoscopic treatment, the bladder was preserved (free of muscle-invasive cancer) in 37 of 50 patients. In 30 of these 37, this was achieved with no need for salvage radiotherapy or cystectomy. Six patients died from metastatic TCC with no tumour in the bladder. CONCLUSION: In this selected group of patients, muscle-invasive bladder cancer was controlled by TUR and systemic chemotherapy, preserving normal bladder function in 60% of patients without apparently comprising overall survival.     

5-ALA荧光膀胱镜的应用对非肌层浸润性膀胱癌早期复发率的影响

目的：探讨5-氨基乙酰丙酸（5-ALA）荧光膀胱镜的应用对非肌层浸润性膀胱癌术后早期复发率的影响。方法：将90例非肌层浸润性膀胱癌患者随机分为两组,每组45例,分别在白光膀胱镜和5-ALA荧光膀胱镜下行TURBt,术后6周所有患者均行5-ALA荧光膀胱镜检查以观察肿瘤复发情况,并对复发肿瘤行二次TURBt。结果：行二次TURBt后,90例患者中,25例（27．7％）发现有肿瘤发生,其中自光膀胱镜组18例（40％）,荧光膀胱镜组7例（15．5％）,两组间比较差异有统计学意义（P=0．05）。结论：5=ALA荧光膀胱镜对膀胱肿瘤的诊断和治疗具有较高价值,可以显著降低非肌层浸润性膀胱癌术后早期复发率。     

The management of T1G3 bladder cancer

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of T1G3 bladder cancer is still a controversial issue. Nowadays, intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation is considered to be the treatment of choice for patients with high-grade superficial bladder tumour after transurethral resection of all visible tumour. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the effects and results of this approach, recurrence and progression rates in patients with T1G3 superficial bladder tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 43 patients (28 male, 15 female; mean age 65.5 years, range 21-82) with T1G3 TCC (transitional cell carcinoma) bladder tumour underwent transurethral resection and subsequent intravesical BCG according to Morales protocol, in the period 1993-1998 at our institution. The mean follow-up period was 52.5 (range 30-96) months. RESULTS: After one or more initial courses of therapy, 33 patients were disease-free. Twelve patients (27.90%) had recurrent tumour after a median of 7 (range 3-46) months. After a second course of BCG treatment, 6 patients had no evidence of disease, 3 patients had progression and 3 had recurrence. Progression occurred in 7 (16.27%) patients after a median of 19 (range 3-43) months. Five patients underwent radical cystectomy and the remaining 2 underwent bladder-preserving therapies. Two patients died of TCC and 3 due to disease-unrelated conditions. CONCLUSION: Intravesical BCG instillation can be recommended as treatment modality for responders with T1G3 TCC bladder tumour. The benefit of the second course of intravesical BCG therapy has to be confirmed in further investigations.     

Coincident vesical transitional cell carcinoma and prostatic carcinoma. Clinical features and treatment

Twenty-two patients with vesical urothelial carcinoma associated with prostatic carcinoma were reviewed. They represented 1.5% of the bladder and prostatic tumours treated in our department within a 12-year period from 1968 to 1979. Their management included several treatment policies, based on the separate assessment of each tumour variant. For non-infiltrating bladder tumours, transurethral tumour resection was combined with hormonal treatment, external radiotherapy or resection of the prostate depending on the stage of the prostatic tumour. Radical cystoprostatectomy was performed for two cases of infiltrating bladder tumour with well localised prostatic tumours. A conservative primary approach seems justifiable in the management of double carcinoma of the bladder and prostate. The coincidence of bladder urothelial carcinoma and prostatic carcinoma per se is not an adverse prognostic factor; prognosis is more closely related to the pathological stage and grade of the bladder tumour. Cystoprostatectomy for patients with infiltrating bladder tumours could be curative, in selected cases, for the prostatic cancer as well.     

Second resection and prognosis of primary high risk superficial bladder cancer: is cystectomy often too early?

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic significance of a second transurethral resection in patients with moderately and poorly differentiated T1 bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 47 patients with primary T1 bladder cancer were evaluated. A second transurethral resection was performed in 42 patients in case of moderately or poorly differentiated T1 bladder tumor or concomitant carcinoma in situ in the first resection. Five patients underwent immediate cystectomy due to large, multifocal and moderately or poorly differentiated pT1 disease. RESULTS: Of the 42 patients who underwent repeat resection 15 (36%) had no tumors. Up staging and change of treatment strategy due to the result of the second resection occurred in 10 (24%) cases. Mean followup was 60 months. An R0 second resection correlated with a 33% recurrence rate at followup compared with 57%, 75% and 87.5% in patients with pTa, Tis and T1 residual tumor, respectively, in the second resection. The rate of organ preservation was also related to the result of the second resection with 100% organ preservation in patients with no tumor in the second procedure. After immediate radical cystectomy 3 of 5 patients died during followup due to disease progression. Of this group 2 patients survived without clinical or radiological signs of disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge residual tumor after the first transurethral resection is a fact in bladder cancer treatment. The second transurethral resection offers the possibility to preserve the bladder. Furthermore, residual disease can be detected and removed in due time. In case of up staging to muscle infiltrating tumor, cystectomy is the next therapeutic step.     

Does cystoscopy correlate with the histology of recurrent papillary tumours of the bladder?

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the cystoscopic appearance of recurrent papillary bladder tumours with the histology after transurethral resection, and thus ascertain whether cystoscopy can reliably identify low-grade, noninvasive papillary tumours suitable for outpatient fulguration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 150 recurrent papillary tumours of the bladder identified at outpatient flexible cystoscopy were classified as either low-grade and noninvasive (TaG1), high-grade and noninvasive (TaG3), or invasive (TIG3) tumours, and correlated with urine cytology and histology of tumour stage and tumour grade after transurethral resection. RESULTS: Cystoscopy classified 84 of the 150 papillary tumours as TaG1 and 66 as either TaG3 or T1G3. Cystoscopy correctly predicted the histology of 78 of 84 (93%) TaG1 tumours, 71 of 72 (98%) TaG1 tumours associated with a negative urine cytology, and 92% of TaG3 or T1G3 tumours. CONCLUSIONS: A skilled urologist can identify noninvasive, low-grade recurrent papillary bladder tumours on follow-up cystoscopy that do not require biopsy and that may be treated by outpatient fulguration alone.     

A population-based study of 538 patients with newly detected urinary bladder neoplasms followed during 5 years

OBJECTIVE: To describe in detail the diagnosis and clinical course of an unselected population-based cohort of patients with newly diagnosed bladder neoplasms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 538 patients registered in the Stockholm region with newly diagnosed primary bladder neoplasms (transitional cell carcinomas) in 1995 and 1996 were followed for at least 5 years. All hospitals and urology units in the region participated in the study. Treatment and follow-up were performed according to a standard-of-care programme. Routine pathological reports were used. Original case records were scrutinized on location in 2001. In addition, a tumour bank of freshly frozen tumour tissue was established. RESULTS: The calculated 5-year cancer-specific survival rate for the 538 patients in the cohort was 78%. No patient (0/29) with TaG1 tumours showed progression or died of bladder cancer. Only 2/187 patients (1%) with stage Ta and grade 2A or 2B tumours died of bladder cancer. In contrast, after 5 years of follow-up, patients with TaG3 and T1G2B tumours had disease-specific death rates of 20% and 27%, respectively. The result of the first cystoscopy examination after the initial resection of non-invasive tumours was of prognostic value. Recurrent disease was present in 62% (248/402) of all patients with Ta and T1 tumours at diagnosis and patients with T1 tumours had recurrences earlier than those with Ta tumours. Moreover, 32% (35/110) of the patients who presented with T1 tumours at diagnosis progressed to muscle-invasive disease during the follow-up period. The overall prognosis for patients presenting with muscle-invasive tumours (T2+) was dismal, with 69% (80/116) of the patients dying of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: We analysed a population-based cohort of patients with urinary bladder neoplasms in order to establish a clearly defined and unselected clinical series, with the main aims of comparing and evaluating the clinical utility of new molecular biology techniques. In the present series, TaG1 tumours behaved benignly. The disease-specific mortality rate was low for initial TaG2 tumours, intermediate for initial TaG3 and T1 tumours and high for initial T2+ tumours.     

The value of transurethral sonography in tumours of the urinary bladder

The authors report on their first experience obtained in the field of transurethral sonography in cases of tumours of the urinary bladder. Sonography is a method without complication and risks. TNM classification of urinary bladder tumours is possible.A special advantage of this method of investigation is that sonography can be performed directly before transurethral tumour resection. Moreover, during the postoperative period, sonography can be combined with any kind of control cystoscopic investigation.The determination of the depth of infiltration and extension of the tumour is a prerequisite of therapeutic procedures in cases of cancer of the bladder.     

二次TURBt联合膀胱灌注化疗及肿瘤细胞抗原负载的树突状细胞治疗非肌层浸润性膀胱癌的临床研究

目的 观察二次TURBt联合膀胱灌注化疗及肿瘤细胞抗原负载的树突状细胞(DC)治疗非肌层浸润性膀胱癌的安全性及疗效. 方法 T1期膀胱尿路上皮癌患者80例.男59例,女21例.年龄30～ 85岁,平均65岁.入组患者均在第一次TURBt术后4～6周行二次TURBt,术后常规膀胱灌注化疗.分为2组:DC组40例,对照组40例.DC组自外周血分离出单核细胞,体外诱导分化为DC,加入该患者的肿瘤抗原共培养,获取负载肿瘤细胞抗原的DC;在二次TURBt术后6～8周将肿瘤细胞抗原负载的DC回输,每周1次,共4次,每次腹股沟皮下注射细胞数不低于1×106个,每疗程回输细胞总数＞4×106个.观察DC组免疫指标改变及不良反应,比较2组患者肿瘤复发比例.结果 80例患者第一次TURBt病理分级G117例(21.3％)、G254例(67.5％)、G39例(11.2％);二次TURBt病理检查发现残存肿瘤27例,总阳性率33.7％;Ta期8例(29.6％)、T1期19例(70.4％);G13例(11.1％)、G2 19例(70.4％)、G3 5例(18.5％).二次TURBt时Ta期8例中分级同第一次TURBt 6例,分级升高2例;T1期19例中分级同第一次TURBt 12例,分级升高5例,降级2例.单发16例,均位于原电切处;多发11例,其中原电切处可见菜花样肿瘤7例.DC回输治疗时出现寒战、发热5例,给予地塞米松10 mg静脉推注治疗后缓解.治疗前、治疗后1年及2年患者血中白细胞、SCr、ALT值比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).与治疗前比较,治疗后1年及2年CD4、CD8、CD4/CD8等指标比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05),而治疗后1年后及2年各指标比较差异无统计学意义.DC组1年内复发1例(2％),2年内复发3例(6％);对照组中1年内复发6例(20％);2年内复发9例(30％),2组复发率比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05). 结论 二次TURBt联合膀胱灌注及肿瘤细胞抗原负载的DC回输治疗是降低非肌层浸润性膀胱癌复发率较有效的方法.     

Transurethral Resection of Non–muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

Transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) is the initial and critical step in the management of bladder tumours. The aim of the procedure is to establish the histologic diagnosis, determine the tumour stage and grade, and achieve complete removal of papillary non–muscle-invasive tumours. Although TURB is a frequently performed procedure, its results are limited by the high recurrence rate and by the risk of tumour understaging. The major prerequisite for optimal outcomes is a systematically and meticulously performed procedure by a well-trained urologist. Smaller tumours can be resected en bloc; tumours >1 cm should be resected separately in fractions. Deep resection, including the detrusor muscle, is essential for correct staging. The biopsy should be taken from all areas suggestive of carcinoma in situ (CIS), and biopsies from normal-looking mucosa are recommended only in patients with positive cytology or non-papillary tumours. TURB should be performed with modern equipment, including new telescopes and video systems. Moreover, urologists should be aware of promising innovations, including new imaging techniques, and their possible benefits.Re-TUR can improve recurrence-free survival (RFS) and tumour staging. It is recommended in any patient with a T1 or high-grade tumour at initial resection and when the pathologist has reported that the specimen contained no muscle. It should also be considered in cases where the urologist is not sure that the initial resection was complete, especially in extensive and multiple tumours.     

Transurethral resection of bladder neoplasms]

The technique of removal of bladder tumours is discussed on the basis of experience with transurethral resection performed on 200 patients suffering from bladder tumour (113 benign and 87 malignant tumours). The indications for the intervention are as follows. With benign tumours, resection has to be given preference over exposure. When malignant tumours are operable and situated on the mobile part of the bladder, radical surgery is recommended. When the tumour is in some other position, transurethral resection is the procedure of choice.     

TNM-oriented therapy planning in bladder cancer

The standard diagnostic procedures for bladder carcinoma include transurethral resection, bimanual palpation of the bladder under general anaesthesia, ultrasound examination and CT scan of the abdominal and pelvic regions. An IVP is additionally carried out for the detection of concomitant upper urinary tract tumours. Preoperative urinary cytology is also performed, as in 10% of all patients the degree of malignancy of bladder cancer according to the TNM system is revealed more exactly by cytology than by histology. New computerized examination techniques have been designed in attempts to improve the accuracy of the diagnostic process. Therapeutic modalities according to the classification of bladder carcinoma in the TNM system have to be based on the different efficacies of the diagnostic procedure: In superficial low-grade tumours the diagnostic efficacy is quite high, so that transurethral resection remains the treatment of choice. Superficial high-grade tumours are attended by reduced 5-year survival rates, and patients with such tumours must therefore be regarded as a high-risk group. In muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma reduced diagnostic efficacy and unsatisfactory treatment results are seen, so that in this condition cystectomy at an early stage is indicated.     

The cost of bladder tumour treatment and follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the costs of bladder tumour treatment and follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The incidence of bladder tumours, both new and recurrences, and the cost of bladder tumour treatments with curative intent were registered during a 4-year period (1994-97). RESULTS: The incidence of new tumours varied from year to year, in contrast to the number of recurrent tumours, which remained remarkably stable. The total cost of bladder cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up was almost 7,000,000 SEK per year (2,800,000 SEK per 100,000 inhabitants per year). The number of therapeutic events per year remained stable at 256 +/- 17 (102 per 100,000 inhabitants per year). Cystectomies were responsible for 34% of the expenditure and transurethral procedures for 40%. Follow-up cystoscopies accounted for only 13% of the total cost. One-third of the routine follow-up cystoscopies resulted in a therapeutic procedure. The cost of transurethral resections and extirpations was approximately five times higher when performed with the patient hospitalized compared to when performed as day-care surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the number of follow-up cystoscopies will only produce marginal economic savings. Further savings could be made if more transurethral resections and extirpations/fulgurations were performed on an outpatient basis. Another important goal is to reduce the median cost per cystectomy.     

Indications and Oncologic Outcome of Radical Cystectomy for Urothelial Bladder Cancer

ContextRadical cystectomy (RC) offers the best opportunity for ultimate cure of high-grade and high-risk invasive bladder cancer (BCa).ObjectiveTo review the available literature on indications for and oncologic outcomes of RC for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.Evidence acquisitionA database search of the US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) was performed for relevant medical articles using the Medical Subject Headings invasive bladder cancer and radical cystectomy with restrictions to English-language publications.Evidence synthesisImmediate or early RC should be offered as a treatment of choice to all patients with recurrent or multifocal high-grade T1 tumours, T1 tumours at high risk of progression, failures of bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment, and muscle-invasive bladder tumours. RC offers excellent recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival rates as well as local tumour control in patients with organ-confined and node-negative disease. Tumour control in non–organ-confined tumours is still satisfactory, with long-term RFS rates of about 50%. For node-positive disease, surgery may only be curative in approximately one-fourth of patients.ConclusionsEvidence from the literature supports early, aggressive surgical management for invasive BCa. Risk stratification of patients with BCa based on pathologic features at initial transurethral resection or at recurrence can select those patients most appropriate for RC early. In patients with organ-confined, lymph node–negative urothelial bladder carcinoma, excellent long-term survival rates can be achieved.