Seminal Vesical Sparing Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer is Feasible with Good Functional Results without Impairing Oncological Outcomes: A Longitudinal Long-Term Propensity-Matched Single Center Study.

PURPOSE: Seminal vesicle-sparing radical cystectomy has been reported to improve short-term functional results without compromising oncological outcomes. However, there is still a lack of data on long-term outcomes after seminal vesicle-sparing radical cystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare oncological and functional outcomes in patients after seminal vesicle-sparing vs nonseminal vesicle-sparing radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oncological and functional outcomes of 470 consecutive patients after radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal reservoir from 2000 to 2017 were evaluated. They were stratified into 6 groups according to nerve-sparing and seminal vesicle-sparing status as attempted during surgery: no sparing at all (55), unilateral nerve sparing (159), bilateral nerve sparing (132), unilateral seminal vesicle-sparing and unilateral nerve sparing (30), unilateral seminal vesicle sparing and bilateral nerve sparing (45), and bilateral seminal vesicle sparing (49) and used propensity modeling to adjust for preoperative differences. RESULTS: Median followup among the entire cohort was 64 months. Among the 6 groups, our analysis showed no difference in local recurrence-free survival (p=0.173). However, progression-free, cancer-specific and overall survival were more favorable in patients with seminal vesicle-sparing radical cystectomy (p <0.001, p=0.006 and p <0.001, respectively). Proportions of patients with erectile function recovery were higher in the seminal vesicle-sparing groups at all time points in all analyses, respectively, with pronounced earlier recovery in patients with bilateral seminal vesicle sparing. Importantly, patients with seminal vesicle sparing were significantly less in need of erectile aids to achieve erection and intercourse. Over the whole period, daytime urinary-continence was significantly better in the seminal vesicle sparing groups (OR 2.64 to 5.21). CONCLUSIONS: In a highly selected group of patients, seminal vesicle sparing radical cystectomy is oncologically safe and results in excellent functional outcomes that are reached at an earlier time point after surgery and remain superior over a longer period of time.

More extended lymph node dissection template at radical prostatectomy detects metastases in the common iliac region and in the fossa of Marcille.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of adding lymph nodes (LNs) located along the common iliac vessels and in the fossa of Marcille to the extended pelvic LN dissection (PLND) template at radical prostatectomy (RP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 485 patients underwent RP and PLND at a referral centre between 2000 and 2008 (historical cohort: classic extended PLND template) and a total of 268 patients between 2010 and 2015 (contemporary cohort: extended PLND template including LNs located along the common iliac vessels and in the fossa of Marcille). Descriptive analyses were used to compare baseline, pathological, complication and functional data between the two cohorts. A logistic regression model was used to assess the template's effect on the probability of detecting LN metastases. RESULTS: Of 80 patients in the historical cohort with pN+ disease, the sole location of metastasis was the external iliac/obturator fossa in 23 (29%), and the internal iliac in 18 (23%), while 39 patients (49%) had metastases in both locations. Of 72 patients in the contemporary cohort with pN+ disease, the sole location of metastasis was the external iliac/obturator fossa in 17 patients (24%), the internal iliac in 24 patients (33%), and the common iliac in one patient (1%), while 30 patients (42%) had metastases in >1 location (including fossa of Marcille in five patients). Among all 46 patients in the contemporary cohort with ≤2 metastases, three had one or both metastases in the common iliac region or the fossa of Marcille. The adjusted probability of detecting LN metastases was higher, but not significantly so, in the contemporary cohort. There were no differences between the two cohorts in complication rates and functional outcomes. CONCLUSION: A more extended template detects LN metastases in the common iliac region and the fossa of Marcille and is not associated with a higher risk of complications; however, the overall probability of detecting LN metastases was not significantly higher.

Nerve-sparing radical cystectomy has a beneficial impact on urinary continence after orthotopic bladder substitution, which becomes even more apparent over time.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse urinary continence in long-term survivors after radical cystectomy (RC) and orthotopic bladder substitution (OBS) according to attempted nerve-sparing (NS) status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed 180 consecutive patients treated at our department between 1985 and 2007, who underwent RC with OBS, and survived ≥10 years after RC. We stratified patients by attempted NS status and evaluated continence outcomes using descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazards regression models. A secondary analysis evaluated erectile function as a quality control for attempted NS. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at RC was 62 (57-71) years. Of 180 patients, attempted NS status was none in 24 (13%), unilateral in 100 (56%), and bilateral in 56 (31%). After a median (IQR) follow-up of 169 (147-210) months, 160 (89%) patients were continent during daytime and 124 (69%) during night-time. In multivariable analysis, any degree of attempted NS was significantly associated with daytime continence (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-4.11; P = 0.04). Correspondingly, any attempted NS was significantly associated with night-time continence (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.08-5.85; P = 0.03). Recovery of erectile function at 5 years was also significantly associated with attempted NS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Nerve-sparing during RC and OBS was associated with better long-term continence outcomes. This becomes more apparent as the patients age with their OBS. We advocate a NS RC whenever an OBS is considered.

Patients with an Orthotopic Low Pressure Bladder Substitute Enjoy Long-Term Good Function.

PURPOSE: Orthotopic bladder substitution has been performed on a regular basis for more than 30 years and yet data on long-term functional outcomes are still lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 181 men and 19 women who underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion with ileal orthotopic bladder substitution from 1985 to 2004 and who had 10 years or more of followup. RESULTS: Median age at radical cystectomy was 63 years (IQR 57-69). Median followup was 167 months (IQR 137-206). Daytime and nighttime continence rates peaked 24 months postoperatively and decreased slightly thereafter during almost 2 decades. At 10, 15 and 20 years daytime continence rates were 92%, 90% and 79%, and nighttime continence rates were 70%, 65% and 55%, respectively. During the day and at night fewer than 3% and 10% of patients, respectively, had urine loss 100 ml or greater at any time 10 years or longer after surgery. At 10 and 20 years 11 of 200 patients (6%) and 1 of 29 (3%), respectively, had to perform clean intermittent self-catheterization. After an initial postoperative decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate the subsequent decrease was less than 1 ml/minute/1.73 m(2) per year. A total of 81 complications were observed in 42 of the 200 patients (21%) 10 years or longer after radical cystectomy with pyelonephritis as the most frequent cause. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who survive up to 20 years after radical cystectomy and diversion with an ileal orthotopic bladder substitution may enjoy satisfactory urinary continence and retain the ability to void spontaneously while experiencing no more than a physiological decrease in renal function.

Superior functional outcome after radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder substitution with restrictive intraoperative fluid management: a followup study of a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Continuous intraoperative norepinephrine infusion combined with restrictive deferred hydration improves surgical field visibility, and significantly decreases intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. We determined whether the intraoperative fluid regimen would affect functional results (continence and erectile function) 1 year after orthotopic ileal bladder substitution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed a subgroup of 93 patients who received an ileal orthotopic bladder substitute. The subgroup was part of a randomized trial in 167 patients initially allocated to continuous norepinephrine administration starting with 2 µg/kg per hour combined with 1 ml/kg per hour initially and 3 ml/kg per hour crystalloid infusion after cystectomy (norepinephrine/low volume group of 51) or a standard crystalloid infusion of 6 ml/kg per hour throughout surgery (42 controls). We prospectively assessed daytime and nighttime continence, and erectile function 1 year postoperatively in the 93-patient subgroup. RESULTS: Daytime continence was reported by 44 of 51 patients (86%) in the norepinephrine/low volume group and by 27 of 42 controls (64%) (p = 0.016), and nighttime continence was reported by 38 (75%) and 25 (60%), respectively (p = 0.077). Erectile function recovery was reported by 26 of 33 preoperatively potent patients (79%) in the norepinephrine/low volume group and by 11 of 29 controls (38%) (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder substitution with continuous norepinephrine infusion and restrictive hydration during surgery have significantly better daytime continence and erectile function 1 year postoperatively.

The Impact of Pelvic Venous Pressure on Blood Loss during Open Radical Cystectomy and Urinary Diversion: Results of a Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Blood loss and blood substitution are associated with higher morbidity after major abdominal surgery. During major liver resection low local venous pressure decreases blood loss. Ambiguity persists concerning the impact of local venous pressure on blood loss during open radical cystectomy. We determined the association between intraoperative blood loss and pelvic venous pressure as well as factors affecting pelvic venous pressure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this single center, double-blind, randomized trial pelvic venous pressure was measured in 82 patients in a norepinephrine-low volume group and in 81 controls with liberal hydration. As secondary analysis patients from each arm were stratified into subgroups with pelvic venous pressure less than 5 mm Hg, or 5 or greater as measured after cystectomy, which is the optimal cutoff for identifying patients with relevant blood loss according to the Youden index. RESULTS: Median blood loss was 800 ml (range 300 to 1,600) in 55 of 163 patients (34%) with pelvic venous pressure less than 5 mm Hg and 1,200 ml (range 400 to 3,000) in 108 of 163 (66%) with pelvic venous pressure 5 mm Hg or greater (p <0.0001). Pelvic venous pressure less than 5 mm Hg was measured in 42 of 82 patients (51%) in the norepinephrine-low volume group and in 13 of 81 controls (16%) (p <0.0001). Pelvic venous pressure decreased significantly after removing abdominal packing and abdominal lifting in each group at all time points, that is at the beginning and end of pelvic lymph node dissection, and the end of cystectomy (p <0.0001). No correlation was detected between pelvic venous pressure and central venous pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Blood loss was significantly decreased in patients with low pelvic venous pressure. Factors affecting pelvic venous pressure were fluid management and abdominal packing.

[Acute urinary retention: a few simple rules for a successful catheterization]. / Die akute Harnverhaltung in der Praxis.

Acute urinary retention is a common emergency condition in elderly men. Transurethral and suprapubic catheterization are easy and safe procedures provided that a few simple rules are followed. Primarily, a transurethral catheter is placed if there is no urethral injury or stricture. Local anaesthesia of the urethra up to the sphincter region and a well-stretched penis warrant an atraumatic insertion of the catheter into the bladder. The use of a thick catheter with a round tip or of a catheter with a bended tip under rectal guidance facilitate the insertion of the catheter in difficult conditions. Alternatively, a suprapubic catheterization can be performed provided that no contraindication such as history or suspicion of transitional cell carcinoma is present. Optimal interventional conditions using ultrasound-guidance are mandatory in patients after abdominal surgery and with hemorrhagic diathesis in view of a safe and straight-forward placement of the suprapubic catheterization. In case of persistent bleeding after insertion of a suprapubic catheter, the suprapubic catheter should be replaced by one with a balloon blocked and kept under tension for several minutes.

Metastases in normal-sized pelvic lymph nodes: detection with diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with prostate and/or bladder cancer staged as N0 with preoperative cross-sectional imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by an independent ethics committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients with no enlarged lymph nodes on preoperative cross-sectional images who were scheduled for radical resection of the primary tumor and extended pelvic lymph node dissection were enrolled. All patients were examined with a 3-T MR unit, and examinations included conventional and DW MR imaging of the entire pelvis. Image analysis was performed by three independent readers blinded to any clinical information. Metastases were diagnosed on the basis of high signal intensity on high b value DW MR images and morphologic features (shape, border). Histopathologic examination served as the standard of reference. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated, and bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained with the bootstrap method. The Fleiss and Cohen κ and median test were applied for statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 4846 lymph nodes were resected in 120 patients. Eighty-eight lymph node metastases were found in 33 of 120 patients (27.5%). Short-axis diameter of these metastases was less than or equal to 3 mm in 68, more than 3 mm to 5 mm in 13, more than 5 mm to 8 mm in five; and more than 8 mm in two. On a per-patient level, the three readers correctly detected metastases in 26 (79%; 95% CI: 64%, 91%), 21 (64%; 95% CI: 45%, 79%), and 25 (76%; 95% CI: 60%, 90%) of the 33 patients with metastases, with respective specificities of 85% (95% CI: 78%, 92%), 79% (95% CI: 70%, 88%), and 84% (95% CI: 76%, 92%). Analyzed according to hemipelvis, lymph node metastases were detected with histopathologic examination in 44 of 240 pelvic sides (18%); the three readers correctly detected these on DW MR images in 26 (59%; 95% CI: 45%, 73%), 19 (43%; 95% CI: 27%, 57%), and 28 (64%; 95% CI: 47%, 78%) of the 44 cases. CONCLUSION: DW MR imaging enables noninvasive detection of small lymph node metastases in normal-sized nodes in a substantial percentage of patients with prostate and bladder cancer diagnosed as N0 with conventional cross-sectional imaging techniques.

Removal of limited nodal disease in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: long-term results confirm a chance for cure.

PURPOSE: In 2003 we reported on the outcomes of 88 patients with node positive disease who underwent radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (median 21 nodes) between 1989 and 1999. Patients with limited nodal disease appeared to have a good chance of long-term survival, even without immediate adjuvant therapy (androgen deprivation therapy and/or radiotherapy). In this study we update the followup in these patients and verify the reported projected probability of survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The projected 10-year cancer specific survival probability after the initially reported followup of 3.2 years was 60% for these patients with node positive disease. The outcome has been updated after a median followup of 15.6 years. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients with 1 positive node 7 (18%) remained biochemically relapse-free, 11 (28%) showed biochemical relapse only and 21 (54%) experienced clinical progression. Of these 39 patients 22 (57%) never required deferred androgen deprivation therapy and 12 (31%) died of prostate cancer. All patients with 2 (20) or more than 2 (29) positive nodes experienced biochemical relapse and only 5 (10%) of these 49 experienced no clinical progression. Of these 49 patients 39 (80%) received deferred androgen deprivation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical relapse is likely in patients with limited nodal disease after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, but for 46% of patients this does not imply death from prostate cancer. Patients with 1 positive node have a good (75%) 10-year cancer specific survival probability and a 20% chance of remaining biochemical relapse-free even without immediate adjuvant therapy.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging detects significant prostate cancer with high probability.

PURPOSE: We prospectively assessed the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for detecting significant prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 111 consecutive men with prostate and/or bladder cancer who underwent 3 Tesla diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis without an endorectal coil before radical prostatectomy (78) or cystoprostatectomy (33). Three independent readers blinded to clinical and pathological data assigned a prostate cancer suspicion grade based on qualitative imaging analysis. Final pathology results of prostates with and without cancer served as the reference standard. Primary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for detecting significant prostate cancer with significance defined as a largest diameter of the index lesion of 1 cm or greater, extraprostatic extension, or Gleason score 7 or greater on final pathology assessment. Secondary outcomes were interreader agreement assessed by the Fleiss κ coefficient and image reading time. RESULTS: Of the 111 patients 93 had prostate cancer, which was significant in 80 and insignificant in 13, and 18 had no prostate cancer on final pathology results. The sensitivity and specificity of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for detecting significant PCa was 89% to 91% and 77% to 81%, respectively, for the 3 readers. Interreader agreement was good (Fleiss κ 0.65 to 0.74). Median reading time was between 13 and 18 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (3 Tesla) is a noninvasive technique that allows for the detection of significant prostate cancer with high probability without contrast medium or an endorectal coil, and with good interreader agreement and a short reading time. This technique should be further evaluated as a tool to stratify patients with prostate cancer for individualized treatment options.

Restrictive deferred hydration combined with preemptive norepinephrine infusion during radical cystectomy reduces postoperative complications and hospitalization time: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Anesthetics and neuraxial anesthesia commonly result in vasodilation/hypotension. Norepinephrine counteracts this effect and thus allows for decreased intraoperative hydration. The authors investigated whether this approach could result in reduced postoperative complication rate. METHODS: In this single-center, double-blind, randomized, superiority trial, 166 patients undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion were equally allocated to receive 1 ml·kg·h of balanced Ringer's solution until the end of cystectomy and then 3 ml·kg·h until the end of surgery combined with preemptive norepinephrine infusion at an initial rate of 2 µg·kg·h (low-volume group; n = 83) or 6 ml·kg·h of balanced Ringer's solution throughout surgery (control group; n = 83). Primary outcome was the in-hospital complication rate. Secondary outcomes were hospitalization time, and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: In-hospital complications occurred in 43 of 83 patients (52%) in the low-volume group and in 61 of 83 (73%) in the control group (relative risk, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55-0.88; P = 0.006). The rates of gastrointestinal and cardiac complications were lower in the low-volume group than in the control group (5 [6%] vs. 31 [37%]; relative risk, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.07-0.39; P < 0.0001 and 17 [20%] vs. 39 [48%], relative risk, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.60; P = 0.0003, respectively). The median hospitalization time was 15 days [range, 11, 27d] in the low-volume group and 17 days [11, 95d] in the control group (P = 0.02). The 90-day mortality was 0% in the low-volume group and 4.8% in the control group (P = 0.12). CONCLUSION: A restrictive-deferred hydration combined with preemptive norepinephrine infusion during radical cystectomy and urinary diversion significantly reduced the postoperative complication rate and hospitalization time.

Outcomes of radical cystectomy with extended lymphadenectomy alone in patients with lymph node-positive bladder cancer who are unfit for or who decline adjuvant chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the long-term outcomes of patients with lymph node (LN)-positive bladder cancer, who did not receive any adjuvant therapy after radical cystectomy (RC) and extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, combined cohort analysis based on two prospectively maintained cystectomy databases from the University of Southern California and the University of Bern. Eligible patients underwent RC with ePLND for cN0M0 disease but were found to have LN-positive disease. No patient had neoadjuvant therapy, and all had negative surgical margins. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Subgroup comparisons were performed using log-rank tests, and multivariable analysis was based on Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Of 521 patients with LN-positive disease, 251 (48%) never received adjuvant therapy. Although the pathological stage distribution was similar, the 251 patients who did not receive adjuvant therapy were older and had both fewer total and positive LNs than those who underwent adjuvant therapy. The median RFS for patients treated with RC alone was 1.6 years. Recurrences mainly occurred <2 years after RC, resulting in 5- and 10-year RFS rates of 32 and 26%, respectively. Pathological T stage, the total number of LNs and the number of positive LNs detected were independent predictors of RFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 25% of patients with documented LN metastases who did not receive adjuvant therapy were cured with RC and ePLND; however, a few relapses may occur later than 3 years. Predictors of survival were pathological T stage, the number of total LNs and the number of positive LNs identified.

Ureteroileal strictures after urinary diversion with an ileal segment-is there a place for endourological treatment at all?

PURPOSE: We compared the long-term results of minimally invasive endourological intervention and open surgical revision in patients with a nonmalignant ureteroileal stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 74 patients (85 renal units) treated for unilateral or bilateral nonmalignant ureteroileal strictures. Overall, 96 endourological and 35 open surgical procedures were performed. Balloon dilatation and Acucise® or Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy were used as minimally invasive endourological interventions. Open surgical revision with stricture resection and open ureteroileal end-to-side-reanastomosis was the alternate therapy. Treatment success was defined as radiological normalization or improvement of upper urinary tract morphology combined with absent flank pain, infection, ureteral stents or percutaneous nephrostomies. RESULTS: Median followup was 29 months (range 2 to 177). The overall success rate was 26% (25 of 96 cases) for endourological intervention vs 91% (32 of 35) for open surgical revision (p <0.001). Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in the success rate of minimally invasive endourological interventions vs open surgical revision for strictures greater than 1 cm (3 of 52 cases or 6% vs 19 of 22 or 86%, p <0.001). The success rate of endourological and open surgical procedures for strictures 1 cm or less was 50% (22 of 44 cases) and 100% (13 of 13), respectively. After adjusting for multiple preoperative stricture characteristics, only stricture length was strongly and inversely associated with a successful outcome (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Open surgical revision produces better results than minimally invasive endourological intervention for ureteroileal strictures, particularly those greater than 1 cm. The success rate of endourological intervention is acceptable only for ureteroileal strictures 1 cm or less. Therefore, ureteroileal strictures greater than 1 cm should be primarily managed by open surgical revision.

Local recurrence after retropubic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer does not exclusively occur at the anastomotic site.

UNLABELLED: What's known on the subject? and what does the study add?: Local recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) for clinically organ-confined prostate cancer is largely assumed to occur at the anastomotic site, as reflected in European and North American guidelines for adjuvant and salvage radiotherapy after RP. However, the exact site of local recurrence often remains undetermined. The present study shows that roughly one out of five patients with local recurrence after RP has histologically confirmed tumour deposits at the resection site of the vas deferens, clearly above the anastomotic site. This should be considered when offering 'blind' radiotherapy to the anastomotic site in patients with biochemical recurrence alone. OBJECTIVE: To determine the anatomical pattern of local recurrence and the corresponding clinical and pathological variables of patients treated with retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 41 patients with biopsy confirmed local recurrence after extended pelvic lymph node dissection and RRP performed between January 1992 and December 2009 at a single tertiary referral academic centre were retrospectively studied. The site of local recurrence as assessed on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was reviewed. Two sites were identified: the vesicourethral anastomotic site and the cranial resection margin of the surgical bed, where the vas deferens was transected and clipped. Age and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at RRP, pathological tumour and nodal stage, Gleason score, tumour location, surgical margin status, age and serum PSA level at the time of local recurrence, and time to diagnosis of local recurrence were assessed for the two sites and compared with the chi-square or Wilcoxon rank sum tests as appropriate. RESULTS: Local recurrence occurred at the anastomotic site in 31/41 (76%) patients and at the resection site of the vas deferens in nine of 41 (22%) patients. One patient had distinct lesions at both sites. There was no significant difference in any of the clinical and pathological variables between patients with local recurrence in the former and latter site. CONCLUSION: Most local recurrences after RRP occur exclusively at the anastomotic site. However, 22% of locally recurrent cases had tumour at the resection site of the vas deferens. This should be taken into account when considering adjuvant or salvage radiation therapy.

Unaltered oncological outcomes of radical cystectomy with extended lymphadenectomy over three decades.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate oncological outcome trends over the last three decades in patients after radical cystectomy (RC) and extended pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the University of Southern California (USC) RC cohort of patients (1488 patients) operated with intent to cure from 1980 to 2005 for biopsy confirmed muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer. To focus on outcomes of unexpected (cN0M0) LN-positive patients, the USC subset was extended with unexpected LN-positive patients from the University of Berne (UB) (combined subgroup 521 patients). Patients were grouped and compared according to decade of surgery (1980-1989/1990-1999/≥2000). Survival probabilities were calculated with Kaplan-Meier plots, log-rank tests compared outcomes according to decade of surgery, followed by multivariable verification. RESULTS: The 10-year recurrence-free survival was 78-80% in patients with organ-confined, LN-negative disease, 53-60% in patients with extravesical, yet LN-negative disease and ≈30% in LN-positive patients. Although the number of patients receiving systemic chemotherapy increased, no survival improvement was noted in either the entire USC cohort, or in the combined LN-positive USC-UB cohort. In contrast, patient age at surgery increased progressively, suggesting a relative survival benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Radical surgery remains the mainstay of therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Yet, our study reveals predictable outcomes but no survival improvement in patients undergoing RC over the last three decades. Any future survival improvements are likely to result from more effective systemic treatments and/or earlier detection of the disease.

Is bilateral extended pelvic lymphadenectomy necessary for strictly unilateral invasive bladder cancer?

PURPOSE: We determined the necessary extent of pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with strictly unilateral bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with cystectomy and unilateral bladder cancer preoperatively underwent flexible cystoscopy guided injection of radioactive technetium into the contralateral bladder wall. Preoperatively single photon emission computerized tomography was done in all cases to detect and localize radioactive lymph nodes. Radioactive lymph nodes were confirmed intraoperatively by a γ probe and removed separately. Backup extended pelvic lymph node dissection and ex vivo examination of the whole specimen with a γ camera were done to preclude missed radioactive lymph nodes. Single photon emission computerized tomography and intraoperative findings were used to generate a 3-dimensional projection model of each lymph node site. RESULTS: A total of 228 radioactive lymph nodes (median 6, range 1 to 17) were detected, including 193 (85%) on the ipsilateral side of injection and 35 (15%) on the contralateral side. Of the contralateral lymph nodes 6%, 5% and 4% were in the external iliac, obturator fossa and common iliac region, respectively, but none were in the contralateral internal iliac region. At least 1 radioactive lymph node per patient was detected on the ipsilateral side. Additional lymphatic drainage to the contralateral side was found in 40% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Crossover lymphatic drainage is a common phenomenon and unilateral pelvic lymph node dissection would have missed radioactive lymph nodes in 40% of patients. However, we noted no lymphatic drainage to the contralateral internal iliac region. Thus, when bladder tumors are strictly unilateral, contralateral pelvic lymph node dissection can be limited to the obturator fossa, and the external and common iliac regions. Consequently preserving the contralateral autonomic nerves situated close to the internal iliac vessels does not compromise surgical radicality.

Super extended versus extended pelvic lymph node dissection in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: There is evidence from retrospective studies that radical cystectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection provides better staging and outcomes than limited lymph node dissection. However, the optimal limits of extended lymph node dissection remain unclear. We compared oncological outcomes at 2 cystectomy centers where 2 different extended lymph node dissection templates are practiced to determine whether removing lymphatic tissue up to the inferior mesenteric artery confers an additional survival advantage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing radical cystectomy and extended lymph node dissection with curative intent from 1985 to 2005 were included in analysis if they met certain criteria, including clinically organ confined urothelial bladder carcinoma (cN0M0), pathological stage pT2-pT3, negative surgical margins and no neoadjuvant therapy. Survival and recurrence data were analyzed. RESULTS: Demographic data and pathological subgroup distribution (pT2 and pT3) were similar in the 554 University of Southern California and 405 University of Bern patients. University of Southern California patients had higher median number of lymph nodes removed than University of Bern patients (38 vs 22, p <0.0001) and a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (35% vs 28%, p = 0.02). However, the University of Southern California and University of Bern groups had similar 5-year recurrence-free survival for pT2pN0-2 (57% vs 67%) and pT3pN0-2 (32% vs 34%) disease (p = 0.55 and 0.44, respectively). The overall recurrence rate was equal at the 2 institutions (38%). CONCLUSIONS: Meticulous extended lymph node dissection up to the mid-upper third of the common iliac vessels appears to provide survival and recurrence outcomes similar to those of a super extended template up to the inferior mesenteric artery. Complete skeletonization in the extended lymph node dissection template is more important than nodal yield. This does not exclude the possibility that certain patient subgroups with suspicious nodes or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy may benefit from more extensive lymph node dissection.

Induction chemotherapy for unresectable urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVE: • To analyse the outcome in selected patients with initially unresectable or minimally metastatic muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer who underwent induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by radical cystectomy (RC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: • Thirty patients with initially unresectable, locally advanced or minimally metastatic bladder cancer underwent platinum-based IC followed by RC with curative intent at our institution from 2000 to 2007. • They received a median of four cycles (range 2-6 cycles) of cisplatin and gemcitabine (n= 19), carboplatin and gemcitabine (n= 9) or other platinum combinations (n= 2). • We retrospectively analysed all 30 patients for complete pathological remission (pT0), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier analyses, and Cox univariate modelling were used. RESULTS: • Before IC, 30 patients were deemed unresectable because of locally advanced tumour classification (cT4, 18/30) and/or clinically suspected lymph node (LN) metastasis (21/30) or suspected distant metastasis (3/30). • At re-staging after IC there was a complete regression of all enlarged LN in 16/21 patients, a partial LN response in one patient or stable LN size in the remaining four patients. • After RC, 9/30 (30%) of patients had attained pT0. • The median follow-up was 28 months (range 4-97 months). The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 42% and 46%, respectively, for all patients. • In the pT0 patients, the DFS (83%) and OS (71%) rates were significantly higher than in non-pT0 patients. CONCLUSION: • Patients undergoing IC followed by RC showed encouraging response and survival rates, suggesting that selected patients with initially unresectable bladder cancer benefit from this combined regimen.