Retzius-Sparing vs Modified Anatomical Structure Preserving and Retzius-Repairing Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Prospective Randomized Comparison on Functional Outcomes with a 1-Year Follow-Up.

Objectives: To compare the short-term and 1-year follow-up functional outcomes of modified anatomical structure preserving and Retzius-repairing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (APR-RARP) compared with Retzius-sparing (RS) RARP. Methods: Eighty consecutive patients 40-75 years of age with low-intermediate risk prostate cancer were prospectively randomized to APR-RARP or RS-RARP. Urinary continence (UC) recovery rates were evaluated from catheter removal up to 1 year follow-up. Postoperative UC was defined as 0 pads/one security pad per day. UC recovery rates from catheter removal to 1 year were calculated by Kaplan-Meier curve; log-rank test was used for the curve comparison. Postoperative potency was evaluated at 3 and 12 months after surgeries. Perioperative complications, positive surgical margin (PSM), and biochemical recurrence rates represent secondary outcomes reported in the study. Results: At the catheter removal, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, 52.5% (confidence interval [CI] 95%: 37.6-67), 82.5% (CI 95%: 70.8-94), 95% (CI 95%: 88.3-99.1), 97.5% (CI 95%: 92.5-99.9), and 97.5% (CI 95%: 92.5-99.9) of men undergoing the APR-RARP were continent (0 pads/one security pad per day), compared with 61.5% (CI 95%: 46.5-76.6), 89.7% (CI 95%: 80.3-98.1), 97.5% (CI 95%: 92.6-99.9), 97.5% (CI 95%: 92.6-99.9), and 97.5% (CI 95%: 92.6-99.9) undergoing the RS-RARP, respectively, and the Kaplan Meier curve showed no statistically significant difference for both technique at any time point (log-rank p = 0.556). The median (95% CI) time to UC recovery was 9.8 (5.2-14.4) days for the APR-RARP vs 6.7 (3.2-10.2) days for the RS-RARP group. Potency rates were similar in both groups at 3 and 12 months after surgeries. The two compared approaches; in terms of rate of complications, PSM was similar. Conclusions: Surgeons can achieve functional results comparable to the RS technique with the modified reconstructive anterior approach, without changing the surgical technique they are used to.

Does Switching Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Strains During Maintenance Therapy Affect the Outcome in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the patients who have received 1 type of BCG strain during maintenance therapy with patients treated with multiple BCG strains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 279 patients treated with BCG between January 2012 and May 2019, retrospectively. The primary endpoints of the study were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates among patients receiving same BCG strain (Group-1) and multiple BCG strains (Group-2). Matching analysis was performed to balance the groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for estimating RFS and PFS. The difference between the 2 groups in terms of adverse effects was evaluated using the chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 225 (80.6 %) patients were treated with single BCG strain, and 54 (19.4 %) were treated with multiple BCG strains. Overall, recurrence and progression was observed in 86 (30.8%) and 38 (13.6%) patients, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival on both without matching and with propensity score match analysis (log rank; P=.760 and P=.559, P=.533 and P=0509 for non-match and matched analysis respectively). Most of the patients in both groups experienced BCG therapy related side effects, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups (P=.235/.833). CONCLUSIONS: Switching the BCG strain because of unavailability of the induction strain does not decrease the effectiveness of the treatment. When it is not possible to reach the starting BCG strain, treatment can be safely continued with any available strain.

Perioperative adverse events and functional outcomes following open and robot-assisted prostatectomy in patients over age 70.

AIM: To evaluate the safety (perioperative adverse events) of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and functional outcomes (continence and erectile dysfunction) of open and robotic radical prostatectomy in elderly patients. METHODS: The data of patients (≥70 years old) who underwent open retropubic radical prostatectomy (ORRP) and RARP within the period from November 2014 to February 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The perioperative adverse events and the functional outcomes of both surgical approaches were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 149 men (59.3%) underwent ORRP, and 102 men (41.7%) underwent RARP. The mean age in the ORRP group was 73.6 ± 3.2 years, and that in the RARP group was 74.7 ± 4.1 years. The rate of grade 3 or higher (major) complications for the ORRP group was 4.7% (7 out of 149), and that for the RARP group was 4.9% (5 out of 102). The 24 months full continence and potency rates of the ORRP and RARP groups were 78.5% vs 79.4% and 21.8% vs 22.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The perioperative adverse events are similar in elderly patients undergoing ORRP and in RARP. The continence rates are favourable and reasonable, although the potency rates are low in elderly men who underwent prostatectomy. The results of the present study may be useful for surgeons in their decision making and counselling of elderly patients.

Individual-risk-score for urinary tract malignancy in patients with microscopic hematuria.

AIM: To determine the patients who can be safely exempted from undergoing unnecessary diagnostic procedures for microscopic hematuria (MH) evaluation by using the developed individual-risk-scoring system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients who underwent a complete urological evaluation for MH were identified retrospectively. The risk factors for urinary malignancy which defined in the 2020 American Urological Association/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction guidelines were recorded for each patient. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to establish a predictive risk-scoring system. The odds ratios obtained as a result of the logistic regression analysis were scored. RESULTS: A total of 1461 patients who had undergone a complete urological evaluation for MH were identified. The urinary malignancy rate was 3.4% (50 of the 1461 patients). According to the odds ratios, age >40 was calculated as 1 point; male gender, 2 points; smoking history, 4 points; presence of occupational risk factor, 1 point; and presence of macroscopic hematuria, 2 points. For the cut-off risk score, 5 points was found to be the most appropriate score according to the sensitivity and specificity levels. The patients with risk scores of 5 points or lower were considered to be in the low-risk group for urinary tract malignancy. CONCLUSION: The patients with a risk score of 5 points or above require complete urological evaluation. The results of the present study may reduce the number of patients undergoing unnecessary urological evaluation.

Comparison of Microscopic Hematuria Guidelines as Applied in 1018 Patients With Microscopic Hematuria.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the 2012 American Urological Association (AUA) and 2020 AUA/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) microscopic hematuria (MH) guidelines as applied in 1,018 patients with MH, to confirm of risk groups and to investigate the natural history of patients with MH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone a complete urological evaluation for MH according to the 2012 AUA MH guidelines were identified retrospectively. All the patients were then classified into low-, intermediate-, or high-risk for urinary tract malignancy according to the updated 2020 AUA/SUFU MH guidelines, for a second evaluation. The results of the first and second evaluations using the previous 2012 AUA and updated 2020 AUA/SUFU MH guidelines, respectively, were then compared. RESULTS: A total of 1018 patients with MH were identified. The urinary tract malignancy rate was 3.3% (34 of the 1,018 patients). According to the 2020 AUA/SUFU MH guidelines, there were 218 patients (21.4%) in the low-risk group, 447 patients (43.9%) in the intermediate-risk group, and 353 patients (34.6%) in the high-risk group. All the 34 patients with malignancy were from the intermediate- or high-risk group who require further urological evaluation. There was no patient with newly developed urinary tract malignancy at the median follow-up time of 28 months (12-58). CONCLUSION: The use of the updated 2020 AUA/SUFU MH guidelines may reduce the number of diagnostic procedures without compromising the diagnosis of life-threatening malignant lesions.

The effect of renal artery-only or renal artery-vein clamping during partial nephrectomy on short and long-term functional results: Is clamping technique important?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of artery-only (AO) and artery-vein (AV) clamping during partial nephrectomy (PN) on short- and long-term renal function outcome. METHODS: Medical records of 154 patients in the AO group and 192 patients in the AV group who underwent open and minimally invasive (laparoscopic/robotic) PN between January 2011 and January 2018 were retrospectively assessed. Preoperative patient and tumor-specific characteristics in addition to perioperative factors and renal function outcomes were compared. The change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from postoperative 1-3 days, 12 and 24 months after surgery was calculated. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was defined a as a > 25% reduction in eGFR. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the clamping techniques in terms of postoperative 1-3 days, 12 and 24 months eGFR change percentage and risk of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). No significant difference in short- and long-term renal functions was found between the minimally invasive or open AO and AV clamping subgroups at any time point. In multivariate analysis, the R.E.N.A.L score (AO group p = 0.026, AV group p < 0.001) and preoperative eGFR (AO group p < 0.001, AV group p = 0.010) were strong predictors of the acute kidney injury in both groups. Older age (AO group p = 0.045, AV group p = 0.010) and preoperative eGFR (AO group p = 0.008, AV group p = 0.002) were significantly associated with CKD progression at 2-year follow-up in both groups. CONCLUSION: AV clamping does not adversely affect postoperative renal function compared to AO clamping. Preoperative patient- and tumor-related factors are more important for renal function regardless of the clamping technique.

Combined Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy and Partial Nephrectomy, Rare Coincidence.

The incidence of second primary cancer detection in patients with prostate cancer undergoing cross-sectional imaging for staging workup is 1.5%.1 Concomitant prostate cancer and clear-cell renal cell carcinoma is a rare condition. The coexistence of 2 synchronous neoplasm is highly infrequent. In this case, we present a combined robot-assisted operation for both procedures concurrently with a port strategy allowing reuse of ports.

The Effect of Time to Castration Resistance on Overall Survival and Success of Docetaxel Treatment in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic role of time to castration resistance(TTCR) in patients who have received solely Docetaxel chemotherapy regimen(DCR) for castration resistant prostate cancer(CRPC). METHODS: Between Jan 2004 and Dec 2015, data of 162 patients who have received DCR for CRPC were gath-ered. Patients were divided into three groups according to TTCR: Group 1(? 12 months), group 2(13-24 months), and group 3(>24 months). Data of age, clinical stage, Gleason grade(GG), previous treatments, site of metastases, Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values, TTCR, overall survival, biochemical progression free survival(PFS) and PSA response to docetaxel were recorded. RESULT: The mean age of the 162 patients was 74.4 ± 8.5 years. Data on mean age, type of castration, adding estra-mustine to docetaxel, secondary hormonal manipulation, Gleason grade, clinical T stage at initial diagnosis and site of metastases were comparable between three groups. PSA values were higher in group 1 than other groups. PSA response to docetaxel was 59.2% in all patient and it was worse in group 1 than other groups (P = .009). Two years overall survival rates were 7.6%, 25% and 32.3% in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Median survival rates were 7, 14 and 23 months in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (P=.016). On multivariate analysis, TTCR was found to be independent prognostic factor for overall survival and response to docetaxel treatment. CONCLUSION: TTCR appears to be an independent prognostic factor for patients who are candidates for DCR.

Effect of Treatment Modality on Long Term Renal Functions in Patients With Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare of changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) and multimodal treatment (MMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 472 consecutive patients who underwent RC or treated with MMT for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) at our institution, between January 1995 and December 2010. After ex-cluding the patients who died within 5 years or without 5 years of follow-up, 175 and 59 patients who were treated with RC and MMT, respectively were included to the study. GFR was measured before treatment and every 6 months after treatment till the end of 60th month. RESULTS: The mean age and mean baseline GFR were 66.5±5.7 years and 85.1±18.2 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively for all patients. We detected statistically significant higher decrease rates for GFRs in MMT group compared to RC group at every follow up period till 42nd month. Renal function decreasing was found to be more prominent during first year of follow-up (79.1 to 65.9 mL/min/1.73m2) in MMT group. However, GFR decreased more reg-ularly in RC group (~4 mL/min/1.73m2 per year). MMT, lower baseline GFR, Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, and ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture development were associated with low GFR under 60 and 45 mL/min at the end of five years. CONCLUSION: Decreased renal function is noted in many MIBC patients after RC or MMT in the long-term fol-low-up. Renal function deterioration is more prominent within the first year after MMT.

Significance of second transurethral resection on patient outcomes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients treated with bladder-preserving multimodal therapy.

PURPOSE: Although the role of second transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURB) is well established in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study regarding the role of a second transurethral resection (TUR) after a complete first TURB in multimodal therapy (MMT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of a second TUR on disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) rates in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients who were treated with MMT. METHODS: We assessed the data of 90 patients (stage T2-4, N0-1, M0 urothelial cancer) who were treated with MMT at our clinic between January 2000 and June 2014. Patients with incomplete initial TURB were excluded. A total of 43 patients had a second TUR before starting radiochemotherapy of MMT (group 1), and 47 patients (group 2) were treated with MMT without having a second TUR. The impact of second TUR on DSS and OS rates was the primary outcome measure of the study. RESULTS: Mean (SD, range) age and mean follow-up of the patients were 65.1 (7.1, 52-81) years and 60.3 (38.3, 6-159) months, respectively. The two groups were similar with regard to sex, age, presence of hydronephrosis, lymph node involvement and stage. The 5-year DSS rate was better in group 1 compared to group 2 (68 vs. 41 %) (p = 0.046). The 5-year OS rates of the patients were 63.7 and 40.1 % in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.054). Multivariate analysis revealed that second TUR, lymph node involvement, presence of hydronephrosis and tumor stage were independent prognostic factors for DSS. CONCLUSIONS: Second TUR should be performed in patients with MIBC who are going to be treated with bladder-preserving MMT protocols.

Do blood groups have effect on prognosis of patients undergoing radical cystectomy?

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ABO blood groups and Rhesus (Rh) factor on prognosis of patients undergoing radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, total number of 290 patients who underwent radical cystectomy between January 1990 and September 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were grouped as O and non-O according to ABO antigens; also positive and negative according to Rh factor. Parameters such as age, sex, stage, lymph node involvement and positive surgical margins were investigated. Disease-free and overall survival rates have been compared. Multivariate analysis were performed to determine independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 260 (89.7 %) male and 30 (10.3 %) female patients participated in the study. Mean follow-up was 37.7 ± 18.9 months. A total of 180 patients were non-O (62.1 %),while the 110 patients had the blood group O (37.9 %). The number of Rh positive and negative patients were 247 (85.2 %) and 43 (14.8 %), respectively. According to the univariate and multivariate analyses, ABO blood groups and Rh factor did not exhibit any significant impact on overall and disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: ABO blood group and Rh factor were not associated with the prognosis of bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy. However, prospective studies are needed in larger patient series for further evaluations.

How significant is upgrade in Gleason score between prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy pathology while discussing less invasive treatment options?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the oncological outcomes of patients experiencing an upgrade from their initial biopsy pathology, and to determine whether these tumours have characteristics resembling their initial biopsy Gleason score (GS) or final radical prostatectomy (RP) GS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on 632 patients undergoing open retropubic RP between January 1994 and May 2011 at Ankara University were investigated retrospectively. Data included age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), clinical stage, biopsy GS, prostate volume, RP specimen GS, surgical margin positivity, pathological T stage and biochemical recurrence. Biochemical recurrence of GS concordant and upgraded tumours was compared. RESULTS: GS concordance was found in 378 cases (59.8%) and GS upgrading was observed in 183 patients (28.9%). GS upgraded tumours were found to have higher biochemical recurrence rates than their corresponding concomitant GS group. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum PSA level, pathological T stage and GS upgrading were independent prognostic factors for biochemical recurrence. Age and prostate volume were not found to be independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Upgrade in biopsy GS is a predictor for aggressive tumours with a higher risk for biochemical recurrence than concordant tumours. It may be observed in about a quarter of patients. As it was not possible to identify correctly those patients who may experience an upgrade in GS, patients who are candidates for less invasive treatment options must be informed about the risk of upgrading and the possibility of a worse clinical course.

Does the number of cycles of cisplatin based chemotherapy have any effect on renal function in patients with testicular germ cell tumor?

PURPOSE: We assessed the effects of the number of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin cycles on long-term renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 157 patients with primary testicular germ cell tumors were treated between 1995 and 2013, of whom 113 (72%) received chemotherapy as the primary intervention. Data were collected retrospectively. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was determined using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula based on pretreatment and last followup visit serum creatinine measurements. Patients who did not receive chemotherapy were compared to those who received cisplatin based chemotherapy. The chemotherapy group was also divided into 3 subgroups according to the number of chemotherapy cycles (2, 3, or 4 or more). RESULTS: At the last followup visit serum creatinine and the estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly differed between the chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy groups. The decrease in the median estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly greater in the chemotherapy than the nonchemotherapy group (p<0.001). New onset stage 3 chronic kidney disease was observed in 19 patients (12.1%) in the chemotherapy group, including 0%, 5.9%, 13.8% and 20.9% who received 0, 2, 3, or 4 or more chemotherapy cycles, respectively. Except for the difference between the nonchemotherapy group and the 2-cycle chemotherapy group the differences between the groups in new onset chronic stage 3 kidney disease were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with testicular tumors who received cisplatin based chemotherapy showed a significant decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate and a significant increase in new onset stage 3 chronic kidney disease compared to patients who received no cycle. However, in patients at high risk with stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who elected 2 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin the chemotherapy had no statistically significant effect on these parameters compared to those in patients who received no chemotherapy.

A prospective randomized multicenter study of Turkish Society of Urooncology comparing two different mechanical bowel preparation methods for radical cystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes and complication rates of urinary diversion using mechanical bowel preparation (BP) with 3 day conventional and limited BP method through a standard perioperative care plan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective randomized multicenter trial. All patients were randomized to 2 groups. Patients in standard 3-day BP protocol received diet restriction, oral antibiotics to bowel flora, oral laxatives, and saline enemas over a 3-day period, whereas limited the BP arm received liberal use of liquid diet, sodium phosphate laxative, and self administered enema the day before surgery. All patients received same perioperative treatment protocol. The endpoints for the assessment of outcome were anastomotic leakage, wound infection, wound dehiscence, intraperitoneal abscess, peritonitis, sepsis, ileus, reoperation, and mortality. Bowel function recovery, including time to first bowel movement, time to first oral intake, time to regular oral intake, and length of hospital stay were also assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients in 3-day BP and 56 in limited BP arm were evaluable for the study end points. Postoperatively, 1 patient in limited BP and 2 patients in 3-day BP arm died. There was no statistical difference in any of the variables assessed throughout the study, however, a favorable return of bowel function and time to discharge as well as lower complication rate were observed in limited BP group. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding all endpoints, including septic and nonseptic complications, current clinical research offers no evidence to show any advantage of 3-day BP over limited BP.

Comparison of radical and partial nephrectomy in terms of renal function: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate kidney function following radical or partial nephrectomy and to evaluate the role of two common chronic diseases, hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the long term. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on 488 patients who underwent surgery for renal tumours between 1994 and 2008 were investigated. Patient characteristics and estimated GFR, history of DM or HT, tumour size and new-onset decrease in GFR were recorded. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to investigate whether the two types of operation were associated with chronic kidney failure after surgery, and the outcome was adjusted for age, gender, HT, DM and tumour size. p Values less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (18.9%) in group 1 and 176 (68%) in group 2 developed new onset of GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Three patients (2.9%) in group 1 and 137 (37.2%) in group 2 developed new onset of GFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (p < 0.05). HT was associated with new-onset chronic renal failure in the radical nephrectomy group (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.028-1.890). CONCLUSION: After surgical treatment of renal masses, patients are at risk for development of chronic renal failure. A decrease in GFR was detected in both partial and radical nephrectomy, the latter associated with increased risk, especially in hypertensive patients. Routine praxis of radical nephrectomy should be overviewed.

The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced (pT3, pT4a) and/or lymph node-positive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To report the long-term follow up of patients with locally advanced bladder cancer treated with either adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) or methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin, and cisplatin (MVEC) or no additional treatment after radical cystectomy, to examine various survival endpoints and factors associated with long-term survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients undergoing radical cystectomy for pathologic stage T3, T4 or lymph node-positive (N+) bladder cancer were divided to observation group (46 patients) and adjuvant chemotherapy group (32 patients). Data were obtained for recurrence free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: One-, 2- and 5-year RFS rates were 74, 56.8 and 51.1% for chemotherapy arm, whereas these ratios were 50.6, 31 and 27.6% for control arm, respectively (P = 0.032). RFS rates were significantly better in patients with lymph node-negative disease than in those with positive lymph nodes for control arm (P = 0.007), but for the chemotherapy arm there was no statistical difference between patients with lymph node-negative and -positive disease (P = 0.28). Mean OS and RFS times were 31.03 and 28.4 months for chemotherapy arm, while they were 22.17 and 18.09 months for control arm, respectively (P = 0.142, P = 0.196). On multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis and adjuvant chemotherapy remained significant independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder cancer is chemosensitive, and using adjuvant chemotherapy is likely to improve the outcome of local treatment and to decrease the rates of distant metastases.

Computerized tomography for detecting perivesical infiltration and lymph node metastasis in invasive bladder carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Computerized tomography (CT) is used in the preoperative staging of invasive bladder carcinoma. We evaluated the role of CT for detecting perivesical invasion and lymph node metastases in patients who had undergone radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for invasive bladder carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of 100 patients with invasive bladder carcinoma who had undergone radical cystectomy. The preoperative CT images were reevaluated and interpreted by one uroradiologist blinded to the final pathological results for evidence of extravesical tumor extension or lymph node metastases. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, CT showed extravesical tumor involvement in 57. Of these 57 cases, 22 displayed no evidence of extravesical tumor involvement in the final pathological analysis. In 6 cases, although perivesical invasion was identified in the final pathological analysis, preoperative CT showed no evidence of extravesical tumor involvement. Regarding extravesical tumor spread, the differences between CT and pathological stages were statistically significant (p < 0.001). CT was highly suggestive of lymph node metastases in 9 cases, but only 4 were pathologically confirmed. On the other hand, in 9 patients pelvic lymph node metastasis were pathologically diagnosed, but there was no evidence of lymphadenopathy on CT. Regarding lymph node involvement, there was moderate concordance between CT and pathological findings (p = 0.003, kappa = 0.29 +/- 0.14). CONCLUSION: CT has limited accuracy in detecting perivesical infiltration and lymph node metastasis in invasive bladder carcinoma. The information provided by CT is insufficient and we urgently need more reliable staging techniques.

Pathological staging of muscle invasive bladder cancer: is substaging of pT2 tumors really necessary?

OBJECTIVE: Compare clinical outcomes in patients having urothelial tumors invading less than one half of the depth of bladder muscle and greater than one half of bladder muscle and, to determine various clinical variables as predictive factors for survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to our inclusion criteria, 57 patients among cases with T2 bladder tumor were selected. Thirty-five patients (61.4 percent) had pT2a (Group-1) and 22 patients (38.6 percent) had pT2b (Group-2) muscle invasive tumors. Mean follow up time was 7.3 years for Group-1, and 6.1 years for Group-2. Multivariate analysis was performed in order to identify possible correlation of clinical variables like age, gender, grade of primary tumor, appearance of local and/ or distant metastasis with patient outcome. RESULTS: Five year recurrence-free and overall survival rates were 69.1 percent and 44.3 percent for patients with pT2a tumor, whereas these ratios were 66.1 percent and 43 percent, respectively for patients with pT2b tumor (p = 0.896; p = 0.975). Mean overall and progression-free survival times were 87.7 ± 13.8 and 116 ± 13.12 months for Group-1, while they were 73.8 ± 13.7 and 88.85 ± 12.55 months for Group-2, respectively. On both univariate and multivariate analysis, age was noticed as an independent predictive factor for survival. CONCLUSIONS: The depth of muscle invasion in bladder tumors has no prognostic significance. Recurrence of the disease either locally or at distant sites dramatically shortens patients' life. Being older than 60 years old during the time of radical surgery, is also a bad prognostic factor for overall and progression-free survival.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer: predictive factors and prognostic difference between primary and progressive tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To establish whether a difference in the clinical outcomes of patients with progressive and primary muscle-invasive bladder cancer exists. METHODS: The records of patients who had undergone radical cystectomy for bladder urothelial carcinoma from 1990 to 2005 were reviewed. According to our inclusion criteria, 109 patients with primary muscle-invasive tumor (group 1) and 45 patients with progressive tumors were selected (group 2). The correlation of clinical and pathologic variables with survival was investigated using the Cox proportional hazards test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate progression rates. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression survival method to investigate possible predictive factors. RESULTS: The 2, 3, and 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 72%, 61%, and 43% for patients with progressive tumor and 75%, 62%, and 54% for patients with primary tumor, respectively (P >0.05). For lymph node-negative tumors (pN0), the corresponding rates were 77%, 64%, and 56% in group 1 and 73%, 60%, and 39% in group 2 (P >0.05). On multivariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion and pT stage of the primary tumor remained significant independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival. The detection of local and/or distant metastasis during follow-up significantly shortened the cancer-specific survival of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that patients with progressive muscle-invasive urothelial tumors do not have a worse prognosis than do those with primary tumors. During the early postoperative years, even patients with progressive tumors had better disease-specific survival rates. For both groups, pT stage and lymphovascular invasion seemed to be independent predictors of decreased cancer-specific survival.

Effect of bladder carcinoma location on detection rates by ultrasonography and computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of the location of bladder carcinoma on detection rates by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The study included 85 patients with bladder cancer who were examined by US and CT before cystoscopy. The bladder wall was divided into 13 separate regions, and the tumor detection rates by US and CT were calculated for each location and lesion diameter with regard to the cystoscopy findings. RESULTS: A total of 214 bladder tumors were detected at cystoscopy. The lowest detection rate for US was noted for the anteroinferior region (47%) of the bladder. The lowest detection rate for CT was also noted for the same region (55.5%). The detection rate of all anterior wall tumors by US and CT was 48.27% and 62.5%, respectively. The detection rate by CT was 100% for tumors greater than 5 mm in diameter. The greatest detection rates by both of the imaging modalities were for the bilateral side walls of the bladder. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that bladder tumor location highly affects the detection rates by US and CT. The lowest detection rates by both modalities were noted for anterior wall tumors. Because of the lower detection rate of tumors located in the anterior wall of bladder and those smaller than 5 mm, we recommend cystoscopy whenever a bladder tumor is suspected.