Computed-tomography based scoring system predicts outcome for clinical lymph node-positive patients undergoing radical cystectomy

ABSTRACT Purpose: Contrast-enhanced CT scan is the standard staging modality for patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). Involvement of lymph nodes (LN) determines prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. The detection of LN metastasis by CT scan is still insufficient. Therefore, we investigated various CT scan characteristics to predict lymph node ratio (LNR) and its impact on survival. Also, pre-operative CT scan characteristics might hold potential to risk stratify cN+ patients. Materials and Methods: We analyzed preoperative CT scans of patients undergoing RC in a tertiary high volume center. Retrospectively, local tumor stage and LN characteristics such as size, morphology (MLN) and number of loco-regional LN (NLN) were investigated and correlation to LNR and survival was analyzed. CT scan characteristics were used to develop a risk stratification using Kaplan-Maier and multivariate analysis. Results: 764 cN0 and 166 cN+ patients with complete follow-up and imaging data were included in the study. Accuracy to detect LN metastasis and locally advanced tumor stage in CT scan was 72% and 62%. LN larger than 15mm in diameter were significantly associated with higher LNR (p=0.002). Increased NLN correlated with decreased CSS and OS (p=0.001: p=0.002). Furthermore, CT scan based scoring system precisely differentiates low-risk and high-risk profiles to predict oncological outcome (p <0.001). Conclusion: In our study, solely LN size >15mm significantly correlated with higher LNR. Identification of increased loco-regional LN was associated with worse survival. For the first time, precise risk stratification based on computed-tomography findings was developed to predict oncological outcome for clinical lymph node-positive patients undergoing RC.

Correspondencia ecográfica y tomográfica en el diagnóstico de cáncer de vejiga / Echographic and tomographic correspondence in the diagnosis of bladder cancer

Introducción: El diagnóstico eficaz y precoz del cáncer vesical es de extrema importancia para lograr un tratamiento potencialmente curativo y, con ello, elevar la supervivencia de los afectados. Objetivo: Describir los hallazgos ecográficos y tomográficos en pacientes con tumores malignos de vejiga. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal de 250 pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de cáncer vesical a los cuales se les había realizado previamente ecografía y tomografía en el Servicio de Imagenología del Hospital Provincial Clínico-Quirúrgico Docente Saturnino Lora de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero de 2013 hasta diciembre de 2017. Resultados: En la serie resultaron más frecuentes los hombres mayores de 60 años. Al analizar los hallazgos ecográficos se obtuvo un predominio de la estructura ecogénica, así como de los tumores bien definidos, mayores de 3 cm y vascularizados, además de otras características como calcificaciones, necrosis, adenopatías e infiltración en estructuras vecinas. En la tomografía se observaron mayormente la estructura mixta, los tumores captantes y prácticamente las mismas características encontradas en la ecografía, de manera que hubo una coincidencia casi absoluta entre ambos medios diagnósticos. Conclusiones: La imagen ecográfica del cáncer de vejiga es ecogénica y mixta en comparación con la tomográfica, lo que posibilita un diagnóstico indiscutible de la enfermedad; no obstante, la tomografía perfila las características y los detalles coherentes en correspondencia con los hallazgos aportados por otras técnicas imagenológicas.

Introduction: The effective and early diagnosis of vesical cancer is of extreme importance to achieve a potentially healing treatment and, with it, to elevate the survival in those affected. Objective: To describe the echographic and tomographic findings in patients with bladder malignancies. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 250 patients with confirmed diagnosis of vesical cancer was carried out to whom had been previously performed echography and tomography in the Imagenology Service of the Saturnino Lora Teaching Clinical-Surgical Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from January, 2013 to December, 2017. Results: In the series men over 60 years were more frequent. When analyzing the echographic findings there was prevalence of the echogenic structure, as well as of the bigger than 3 cm and vascularized very well defined tumors, besides other characteristics as calcifications, necrosis, adenopathies and infiltration in close structures. In the tomography the mixed image, captant tumors and practically the same characteristics found in the echography were mostly observed, so that there was an almost absolute coincidence between both diagnostic means. Conclusions: The echographic image of bladder cancer is echogenic and mixed in comparison with the tomographic image, what facilitates an unquestionable diagnosis of the disease; nevertheless, the tomography profiles the characteristics and the coherent details in correspondence with the findings contributed by other imaging techniques.

Bladder cancer local staging about muscle invasion: 3.0T MRI performance following transurethral resection / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the performance of 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging examination (MRI) for the local detecting of muscle invasive bladder cancer following transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).@*METHODS@#Retrospective study identified 55 patients with pathology-proven bladder cancer who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging between September 2012 and April 2019 in our hospital. Two radiologists reviewed pelvic magnetic resonance imaging together and judged muscle invasive bladder cancer. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated for the presence of muscle invasion by T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) only, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) only and T2WI+DWI compared with the findings at radical cystectomy as the reference standard.@*RESULTS@#Of the 55 patients with pathological results from radical cystectomy, 3.64% (2/55) had no residual disease; 29.09% (16/55) were non-muscle invasive bladder cancer on pathology, including 13 cases in T1 and 3 cases in Ta; 34.55% (19/55) were in stage T2 depending on pathology, 25.45% (14/55) in T3, and 7.27% (4/55) in T4. The average age was 60.76 years, ranging from 42 to 82 years. There were 48 males and 7 females in our study. Before pelvic MRI examination, all the patients received transurethral resection of bladder tumor, including 16 cases taking the operation in our hospital and 39 cases in other hospitals. The interval between the pelvic MRI examination and transurethral resection of bladder tumor was more than 2 weeks in all the patients. They all underwent radical cystectomy within 1 month after the pelvic MRI examination, and no patient underwent radiotherapy or chemotherapy in our study during the interval between the MRI examination and radical cystectomy. T2WI only, DWI only, and T2WI+DWI of 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging for readers were with sensitivity: 94.59%, 83.78%, 91.89%; with specificity: 66.67%, 77.78%, 72.22% and with accuracy: 85.45%, 81.82%, 85.45%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#3.0T MRI may have a role in diagnosing muscle invasive bladder cancer following TURBT. T2WI has the advantage of detecting the location of bladder tumor, and DWI has the advantage of differentiating between the benign and malignant lesion. 3.0T MRI T2WI+DWI has a good utility in the detection of muscle invasive bladder cancer following TURBT with satisfied accuracy.

Metastatic non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with cervical lymph node metastasis

ABSTRACT Bladder cancer is a common cancer that may present as superficial, invasive, or metastatic disease. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represents the majority of bladder cancer diagnoses, but represents a spectrum of disease with a variable clinical course, notably for significant risk of recurrence and potential for progression. NMIBC metastasis to distant organs without local invasion or regional metastasis is a very rare occurrence, so there are limited case reports about early metastasis in the literature.

Synchronous presentation of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of bladder and peritoneal malign mesothelioma

ABSTRACT Introduction Cancer is one of the most important leading cause of death in man and woman in the world. The occurrence of new cancer has become more frequent in recent years due to strict screening protocols and occupational and environmental exposure to carcinogens. The incidence of secondary malignancies has also increased due to close medical follow-up and advanced age. Herein, we report a case and its management diagnosed as synchronous peritoneal malignant mesothelioma and muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Case Description A 71-year-old male presented with macroscopic hematuria and abdominal distension increasing gradually. A contrast enhanced computerized tomography demonstrated bladder mass and diffuse ascites with nodular peritoneal thickening and umbilical mass. He was treated with the multidisciplinary team working including urologist, medical oncologist and general surgeon. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case of peritoneal malign mesothelioma with synchronous muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Because of the rarity of this condition, there is still no consensus on the definitive treatment protocols, yet. Individualized treatment with multidisciplinary close follow-up might improve the survival outcomes.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with novel orthotopic neobladder with bilateral isoperistaltic afferent limbs: initial experience

ABSTRACT Purpose To introduce a new method of constructing an orthotopic ileal neobladder with bilateral isoperistaltic afferent limbs, and to describe its clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods From January 2012 to December 2013, 16 patients underwent a new method of orthotopic ileal neobladder after laparoscopic radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. To construct the neobladder, an ileal segment 60cm long was isolated approximately 25cm proximally to the ileocecum. The proximal 20cm of the ileal segment was divided into two parts for bilateral isoperistaltic afferent limbs. The proximal 10cm of the ileal segment was moved to the distal end of the ileal segment for the right isoperistaltic afferent limb, and the remaining proximal 10cm ileal segment was reserved for the left isoperistaltic afferent limb. The remaining length of the 40cm ileal segment was detubularized along its antimesenteric border to form a reservoir. The neobladder was sutured to achieve a spherical configuration. Results All procedures were carried out successfully. The mean operative time was 330 min, mean blood loss was 328mL, and mean hospital stay was 12.5 days. The mean neobladder capacity 6 and 12 months after surgery was 300mL and 401mL, respectively. With a mean follow-up of 22.8 months, all patients achieved daytime continence and 15 achieved nighttime continence. The mean peak urinary flow rate was 11.9mL/s and 12.8mL/s at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. Conclusions This novel procedure is feasible, safe, simple to perform, and provides encouraging functional outcomes. However, comparative studies with long-term follow-up are required to prove its superiority.

Is [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose FDG-PET/CT better than ct alone for the preoperative lymph node staging of muscle invasive bladder cancer?

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate whether the use of [F-18]-FDG-PET/CT can accurately predict pelvic lymph node metastasis in patients with muscle invasive TCC of the bladder undergoing radical cystectomy. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer had undergone FDG-PET/CT scan from the skull base to the mid-thighs after IV injection of 6.5MBq (Mega-Becquerel)/Kg of FDG. After intravenous hydration IV furosemide was given to overcome the difficulties posed by urinary excretion of 18F-FDG. PET/CT data were analyzed as PET and CT images studied separately as well as fused PET/CT images. The imaging findings were correlated with the histopathology of the nodes (gold standard). Results: CT and FDG-PET had demonstrated positive lymph nodes in 9 & 8 patients respectively. Among the 15 patients 3 had documented metastasis on histopathology. Both CT and PET could detect the nodes in all these 3 patients (100% sensitivity). Nodes were histologically negative amongst 6&5 patients who had node involvement by CT and PET respectively. Therefore, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) & negative predictive value (NPV) for CT and PET/CT were 50%, 33.3%, 100% and 58.3%, 37.5%, 100% respectively. Conclusion: The theoretical advantage of this cutting edge technology for whole body imaging has not been translated into clinical practice as we found minimal advantage of combined FDG-PET/CT over CT alone for nodal staging of muscle invasive bladder cancer. This may be due to substantial overlap between standardized uptake values (SUVs) from active inflammatory processes with those of malignant lesion.

Urothelial neoplasm of the bladder in childhood and adolescence: a rare disease

ABSTRACT Purpose: Bladder tumors are rare in children and adolescents. For this reason, the diagnosis is sometimes delayed in pediatric patients. We aimed to describe the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up methods of bladder urothelial neoplasms in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective multicenter study involving patients who were treated between 2008 and 2014. Eleven patients aged younger than 18 years were enrolled in the study. In all the patients, a bladder tumor was diagnosed using ultrasonography and was treated through transurethral resection of the bladder (TURBT). Results: Nine of the 11 patients (82%) were admitted with gross hematuria. The average delay in diagnosis was 3 months (range, 0–16 months) until the ultrasonographic diagnosis was performed from the first episodes of macroscopic hematuria. A single exophytic tumor (1–4cm) was present in each patient. The pathology of all patients was reported as superficial urothelial neoplasm: two with papilloma, one with papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP), four with low grade pTa, and four with low grade pT1. No recurrence was observed during regular cystoscopic and ultrasonographic follow-up. Conclusions: Regardless of the presence of hematuria, bladder tumors in children are usually not considered because urothelial carcinoma in this population is extremely rare, which causes a delay in diagnosis. Fortunately, the disease has a good prognosis and recurrences are infrequent. Cystoscopy may be unnecessary in the follow-up of children with bladder tumors. We believe that ultrasonography is sufficient in follow-up.

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: virtual CT cystoscopic findings.

A 74-year-old man underwent multidetector CT virtual cystoscopy due to macroscopic hematuria. A large, irregularly-surfaced, solid bladder mass was detected, infiltrating the perivesical fat, the seminal vesicles and the prostate. CT examination of the chest and abdomen showed no distant metastases. Radical cystectomy was performed and pathology reported pure small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Carcinosarcoma of the Renal Pelvis and Urinary Bladder: A Case Report

Carcinosarcomas are rare biphasic malignant neoplasms with an epithelial and a spindle cell component. We present a 62-year-old man with a history of noticeably abdominal distension, proved by surgery to be caused by carcinosarcoma of the renal pelvis and urinary bladder, occupying the entire left abdominal flank. We also illustrate the appearance of this rare entity on sonography and computed tomography.

value of radiology and ultrasonography in diagnosis of bladder tumour

This paper reports experience of 60 cases of carcinoma of urinary bladder diagnosed on radiographic and ultrasound techniques in the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Liaquat Medical College Hospital, Jamshoro from August 1992 to July 1995. 51 were males, and 9 were females, Lateral walls were involved in 28 patients, posterior walls in 17 patients, posterio-lateral walls in 10 cases and anterior wall in 5 cases. The diagnosis was confirmed in each case by histopathology. Transitional, cell carcinoma was detected in 93.33% cases and metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma in 6.66% patients

Role of ultrasonogrphy [US] and computed tomography [US] in staging of cancer urinary bladder

Forty patients with cancer urinary bladder of different stages were studied to evaluate the role of U/S and C.T. in staging of cancer bladder. All patients were submitted to full clinical examination, Plain and intravenous urography cystoscopy, pre-operative histopathology, transabdominal ultrasound [U.S.] and peIvic computed tomography [C.T.] and post-operative histopathology. The accuracy of trans abdominal ultrasonography for staging of cancer urinary bladder was 82.5%, 5% were overstaged and 12.5% were under staged. The accuracy of computed tomography for staging of cancer urinary bladder was 90%, 7.5% were overstaged and 2.5% were understaged. So, we can conclude that ultrasonography should always be the primary imaging technique after I.V.U. in evaluating cancer urinary bladder and it is an important tool in the staging of bladder cancer as it has high sensitivity in addition of being readily, cheap and relatively easy to perform. However, C.T. scan in superior because C.T contrast enhancement can demostrate extravesical tumor spread and lymph enhancement can demonstrate extravesical tumor spread and lymph node enhancement with high sensitivity more than ultrasound which is limited by poor tumor visualization in obese patients, in those with small bladder capacity, gases and rigid abdominal wall

Urologically operated suprapubic ultrasonography in the evaluation of bladder tumors

40 patients [29 males and 11 females] with an age range of 38-70 years [mean = 56 years], were scanned by transabdominal [suprapubic] ultrasound either because of clinical suspicion of bladder carcinoma [26 cases] or as a follow-up previously diagnosed lesions [14 cases]. The scanning was performed prior to cystoscopy by the same examiner [i.e urologically operated]. The accuracy of detection regarding tumor diameter was 68% and 100% in tumors of 0.5-1.0cm and > 2cm respectively; tumors < 0.5cm were not detected. The accuracy of detection regarding tumor site was 33% and 93% in dome and posterior wall tumors respectively, tumors of the bladder neck and the anterior wall were hard to detect. The sensitivity of the technique was 72% and the specificity was 83%. Although suprapubic scanning cannot replace cystoscoy in the detection and follow-up of bladder tumors yet when it is urologically operated it spares extra time and effort and it can spare also an extra negative cystoscopic check

value of radiological assessment in monitoring the response of bilharzial cancer bladder to loco regional intra-arterial chemotherapy

Between 1989 and 1992, 22 patients with pathologically proved invasive cancer bladder have been treated with loco regional intra-arterial cisplatin in Theodore Bilharz Research Institute. All patients were submitted to radical cystetomy after failure of chemotherapy. During treatment, abdominal Ultrasonography [US] was used in the follow up of 20 cases while computed tomography [CT] was used in 7, with both modailities being used in 5. In the 5 patients followed by the 2 modailities, no significant difference was noticed between US and CT findings. Radiologically, 10 patients [45.4%] were reported to have partial or minor response while pathologically, only 1 [4.5%] showed down staging. US and CT reported progression of the tumour in 6 27.3%] which was confirmed by pathological examination. We concluded that there was no difference between US and CT in monitoring of cancer bladder response and that both were inaccurate regarding the estimation of tumour regression however, regarding monitoring of tumour gross progression, both modalities were 100% accurate when matched with pathology findings. We recommended that monitoring of bladdere tumours under non-surgical treatment modaities should be assessed pathologically rather than radiologically as the latter seems to be unreliable