Adenocarcinoma in the exstrophic bladder

We report 2 cases of cancerous transformation in an exstrophic bladder. The histology of these tumors, methods of surveillance, and treatment are discussed in conjunction with a review of published reports. These rare tumors are almost entirely adenocarcinomas. Their treatment is surgical (radical cystectomy) with or without associated radiation therapy. Surveillance for patients with bladder exstrophy, whether surgically corrected or not, is indispensable and rests on cystoscopy and urine cytology.

Preliminary results of simultaneous radiochemotherapy with paclitaxel for urinary bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Paclitaxel (Taxol) has been shown to be effective in metastatic bladder cancer as single agent and in combination with other cytotoxic drugs. Its efficacy seems to be comparable to cisplatin. We have used paclitaxel as alternative to cisplatin in selected patients with simultaneous radiochemotherapy. The objective of this article is to summarize the preliminary results with regard to feasibility and toxicity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 10/97 through 10/98 7 patients with locally advanced or recurrent urothelial bladder cancer were treated with radiotherapy and simultaneous paclitaxel + cisplatin. All patients had macroscopic irresectable residual tumor after transurethral surgery or cystectomy. Paclitaxel was given twice weekly in a daily dosage of 25 through 35 mg/m2 as 1-hour-infusion. Cisplatin was given in a dosage of 25 mg/m2 daily on days 1 to 5.

RESULTS

All patients completed the scheduled therapy regimen. The acute toxicity consisted mainly of enteritis (Grade I to II CTC). As severe toxicity, 1 severe skin reaction in the groins (Grade III) after 20 Gy and 1 Grade-III enteritis were noted. Both patients with severe complications recovered within 4 weeks after treatment. Hematological toxicity was mild to moderate in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This report suggests that paclitaxel is a promising agent for simultaneous radiochemotherapy protocols. The clinical value remains to be better defined especially the question whether paclitaxel may improve the results if used as alternative to standard cisplatin. At the moment paclitaxel offers at least an attractive alternative to cisplatin in patients with impaired renal function.

[A case of urothelial carcinoma associated with penile metastasis]

A 71-year-old man, who had been treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis due to chronic renal failure for 5 months, visited our hospital with a complaint of penile induration in April, 1998. He underwent wedge biopsy of the penis. On the day after the biopsy, he had an episode of gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a papillary tumor that seemed to have arisen from the right ureteral orifice and another in the trigone. Computed tomographic scan revealed the bladder tumors and swelling of the internal iliac lymph nodes. The bladder tumors were resected transurethrally. The pathological diagnosis of the specimen from the penile induration was metastatic transitional cell carcinoma.

Lymph node revealing solution: is it effective on detecting minute lymph nodes?

AIMS

The aim of this prospective study is to detect the efficiency of a previously described lymph node revealing solution (LNRS) in comparing with conventional lymph node dissection and re-dissection in colon, breast and urinary bladder carcinomas.

METHODS

Total 30 cases in which less than 10 lymph nodes were found by conventional method, were immersed for 6-8 hours in LNRS, dissected and processed. Control group, 12 cases, was first dissected then a second conventional dissection was performed. At the end, specimens were again immersed in LNRS for 6-8 hours and last dissections were done.

MAIN RESULTS

In the first group, a total of 150 lymph nodes, 46 of them with metastasis were detected. After using LNRS, 26 additional lymph nodes among which 10 were positive were detected. When compared with the results of conventional dissection, the increase in number of total and metastatic lymph nodes with LNRS was significant (p<0.01). The mean size of the lymph nodes detected by the conventional and LNRS methods was 6.8 and 4.2 mm, respectively. The pathologic lymph node stage was changed in three bladder carcinoma cases, and one breast carcinoma. In the control group, 75 lymph nodes (11 with metastases), 19 lymph nodes (3 with metastases), 14 lymph nodes (one with metastases) were detected after first and second conventional dissection and LNRS methods, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LNRS enhanced the number of total and metastatic lymph nodes and is effective in detecting small lymph nodes. This method is useful for accurate staging where the number of detected lymph nodes is too small by the conventional method.

[Upper tract urothelial tumor. Factors that influence survival]

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study of the pathoanatomical features and influential factors on survival of 59 patients diagnosed with a tumour of the upper tract urothelium managed with radical surgery.

RESULTS

Mean age 65 years, 83% male, and tumour located in the renal pelvis in 64% cases. 54% was pT1-2, 73% G1-2. 10% had node involvement and 15% metastasis. 44% presented concomitant vesical tumour. No surgery-related deaths were reported. 60% was still alive at study completion. Five-year overall actuarial survival was 60 +/- 7%. Mean survival was 134 months, and median survival 156(101-168 months. 95% CI). Gender, site, morphology, type, concomitant vesical tumour, nodes number and involvement do not significantly influence survival. Only tumour differentiation (p = 0.006) and pathological stage (p = 0.005) are significant in the univariate analysis. The multivariate study showed that pathological stage is the only factor that influences survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The most influential independent factor on survival of patients with upper tract endothelium tumour is the pathological stage. Grade is influential in the univariate analysis, and is likely to be a subsidiary factor. Due to the small number of cases, it can not be ruled out that node involvement and type of tumour have an influence on survival.

[Use of the Indiana-type continent reservoir: review of our series]

OBJECTIVE

To report the experience of the Hospital General de Mexico on the use of the Indiana continent urinary reservoir in cystectomized patients.

METHODS

From January 1995 to September 1997, 32 Indiana continent urinary reservoirs were performed in 22 men and 12 women with a median age of 46.1 years. Operating time, immediate, early and late complications, reservoir function and capacity, and social integration of the patient after the procedure were evaluated.

RESULTS

The most frequent underlying disease was bladder cancer followed by neurogenic bladder. The mean operating time was 5.5 hours for performing cystectomy and the Indiana pouch. The most frequent immediate, early and late complications were urinary tract infection (12 patients, 35%), metabolic acidosis (4 patients, 11%), one case of total pouch necrosis, one case of pouch lithiasis, one case of uretero-colonic anastomosis dehiscence and two cases of septic shock. Reservoir function was evaluated clinically, radiologically and urodynamically.

CONCLUSIONS

The Indiana continent urinary reservoir is a good alternative in patients undergoing cystectomy, regardless of the underlying cause. Technical dexterity significantly reduces the operating time and surgical complications.

[Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder: a case report]

A 49-year-old man was hospitalized with the chief complaint of coagulation in urine. The patient was not hypertensive. Cystoscopic examination showed a submucosal tumor in the left lateral wall of the bladder. A transurethral sonogram revealed a low echoic nodule. Transurethral resection of the tumor in the urinary bladder was performed. The histopathological diagnosis indicated pheochromocytoma. Blood pressure was stable. After operation, the patient's course was uneventful, and there has been no recurrence for one year after surgery. This patient is the 52nd patient with pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder reported in the Japanese literature.

Substaging of T1 bladder carcinoma based on the depth of invasion as measured by micrometer: A new proposal

BACKGROUND

A significant number of T1 bladder carcinoma patients are understaged by transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB), indicating a substantial need for more accurate staging.

METHODS

The authors studied 55 patients with T1 bladder carcinoma detected by TURB at the Mayo Clinic between December 1979 and July 1984. The mean age of the patients was 66 years (range, 50-78 years). All patients were treated by cystectomy. The median interval from TURB to cystectomy was 10 days. Grading was performed according to the 1998 World Health Organization/International Society of Urologic Pathology grading system. The 1997 TNM classification was used for pathologic staging. In addition, the depth of invasion was measured from the mucosal basement membrane by micrometer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the usefulness of depth of invasion as a marker for advanced stage bladder carcinoma (>/= T2).

RESULTS

The final pathologic stages were Ta (2 patients), T1 (10 patients), T2a (9 patients), T2b (13 patients), T3 (11 patients), and T4 (10 patients) at cystectomy. There was a significant correlation between the depth of invasion at TURB and the final pathologic stage (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.63; P < 0.001). The overall accuracy for the prediction of advanced stage (>/= T2) bladder carcinoma as measured by the area under the ROC curve was 0.89 (standard error, 0.05). Using 1.5 mm as a threshold (with >1.5 mm indicating advanced stage disease), the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 81%, 83%, 95%, and 56%, respectively. Histologic grade at the time of TURB also was associated significantly with final pathologic stage at cystectomy (P = 0.03) whereas stratification of patients according to invasion above or below the muscularis mucosae at TURB was not a significant predictor of final pathologic stage.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study show that substaging of T1 bladder carcinoma according to the depth of invasion (as measured by micrometer) provides significant prognostic information. Therefore the authors recommend that it be reported in specimens obtained by TURB.

Need for intravenous urography in patients with primary transitional carcinoma of the bladder?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the need for and the efficacy of intravenous urography in the detection of a synchronous upper tract urothelial tumor (UTUT) in patients with primary bladder tumor.

MATERIALS

Between 1986 and 1996, 793 patients were diagnosed as having primary tumor of the bladder with pathological confirmation of transitional cell carcinoma. All patients underwent intravenous urography prior to transurethral resection. The mean age of the patients was 66.4 years, and 87.7% of them were male. Of these patients, 72% had superficial tumors, while the remaining 28% had infiltrative tumors. Histological classification of the tumors was: grade I, 10%; grade II, 45%, and grade III, 45%. A chi(2) test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The incidence of upper tract urothelial tumors was 1.1% (9 patients), although intravenous urography only diagnosed 6 cases (0.7%). No differences were seen between patients with or without UTUT with regard to histological grade (p = 0.7), multiple bladder tumors (p = 0.7) and tumor infiltration (p = 0.9). In 5.8% of the patients an unsuspected associated pathology was detected which required treatment in 1.4% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the low incidence of UTUT (1.1%) in our series and to the fact that intravenous urography was effective in diagnosing synchronous UTUT in only 66.6% of cases, we do not consider that this procedure should be routinely performed in the diagnostic workup of patients with primary transitional cell tumor of the bladder.

[Bladder leiomyoma with extramural growth. An infrequent cause of pelvic pain]

OBJECTIVE

A case of extravesical leiomyoma that had been incidentally discovered in a patient presenting with unspecific pelvic pain is described.

METHODS/RESULTS

A 51-year-old male patient consulted for unspecific pelvic pain. Patient evaluation disclosed a well-defined mass. A partial cystectomy was performed. Pathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma of the bladder.

CONCLUSIONS

Mesenchymal tumors of the urinary bladder are rare and account for 1%-5% of all bladder tumors. Leiomyoma is the most common benign non-epithelial tumor. The symptoms caused by this tumor type is varied, unspecific and in most of the cases depends on its location (intravesical, intramural or extramural). Treatment is by surgery, which achieves excellent results.

Inflammatory (pseudosarcomatous) myofibroblastic tumor of the urinary bladder causing acute abdominal pain

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a reactive proliferation of myofibroblasts that rarely involves the urinary bladder. The cause of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is unknown but may represent an initial reactive process to an infectious agent or trauma that transforms into neoplastic growth. Cases reported in children, however, often lack any preexisting bladder pathology. The authors present a case in a young child that presented as acute abdominal pain. In general, these tumors follow a benign clinical course after resection, although close monitoring is essential given the rarity of this bladder lesion.

[Factors influencing treatment results of definitive radiotherapy following transurethral surgery for muscle-invasive bladder cancer]

PURPOSE

To determine the prognostic factors influencing the outcome of bladder cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy following transurethral tumor resection (TURBT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From March 1977 through August 1991, 83 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer were treated with TURBT (as thoroughly as possible) and definitive radiotherapy (median total dose: 64 Gy, median fractional dose: 2 Gy). Cystectomy was performed when possible for the residual or recurrent invasive cancer following radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 76 months.

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) and bladder-preserving survival (BPS) rates at 5 years were 38% and 28%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that depth of invasion (T2 vs. T3), tumor diameter (< 3 cm vs. > or = 3 cm), and visible (R1) or not visible (R0) residual tumor after TURBT influenced both OS and BPS. In multivariate analysis, absence of visible residual tumor after TURBT was the only significant prognostic factor related to OS (p < 0.001) and BPS (p = 0.002). Five-year OS and BPS were 54% and 43% in T2-3R0 and 14% and 7% in T2-3R1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Absence of visible residual tumor after TURBT was significantly associated with better overall survival and bladder-preserving survival for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy following TURBT.

The relation between p53 overexpression and lymph node metastases in clinical stage t2 and t3a transitional cell bladder carcinoma

Mutant p53 protein overexpression is generally associated with poorly differentiated invasive bladder tumors. The survival in such cases is also expected to be poor. The objective of the present study was to determine whether immunohistochemical staining for p53 was predictive of lymph node metastases in early muscle invasive transitional cell bladder cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for mutant p53 was performed on formalin fixed transurethral resection specimens of 31 patients who underwent radical cystectomy. Eleven tumors were grade II and 20 tumors were grade III. There were 16 stage T2 and 15 stage T3a tumors. Staining with p53 was categorised as positive if distinct nuclear staining was observed in > or = 20% of the cells. Results were compared according to grade, stage (T2 versus T3a) and lymph node metastases. Seventeen tumors (55%) were positive for mutant p53. Eleven cases had lymph node metastases which could not be assessed preoperatively. The distribution of p53 positive rate between grade II and grade III cases, and T2 and T3a tumors was not different. All the 11 patients with lymph node metastases had positive tumors for p53. We assume that p53 positive rate can be used to distinguish high risk patients for lymph node metastasis. Patients with stage T2 or T3a and p53 positive bladder cancer should be considered for early aggressive treatment options.

[Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder: a case report]

A 60-year-old male was referred to our hospital with a complaint of asymptomatic gross hematuria. Cystoscopic examination revealed a non-papillary broad-based tumor on the posterior wall of the urinary bladder. Computed tomography revealed no evidence of metastases. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT) was performed and muscle invasion was detected by histological examination of the specimen. Total cystectomy and ileal conduit formation were performed at the preoperative diagnosis of T2-3N0M0. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the specimen revealed small cancer cells with hyperchromatic nucleus and scanty cytoplasm growing in the muscle layer of the urinary bladder and in the left obturator lymph nodes. Immunohistochemistry for neurospecific enolase showed diffuse staining in the cytoplasm of cancer cells, and ultrastructural study showed dense core granules. From these findings, the patient was diagnosed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder at the stage of pT3bpN1M0. Three courses of adjuvant chemotherapies with cis-platinum (CDDP) and etoposide were administered. The patient is still alive with no evidence of any recurrence at 22 months after the operation. This case suggests that treatment with combined total cystectomy and adjuvant CDDP and etoposide chemotherapies is effective against neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder with regional lymph node metastases.

[Preservation of potency by supra-ampullar cystectomy in patients with bladder neoplasms]

Between May 1984 and November 1998 a total of 27 consecutive patients with bladder tumor (26 transitional cell carcinomas and 1 leiomyosarcoma) underwent supra-ampullar cystectomy and ileal orthotopic neobladder (2 Camey I and 25 Camey II). Mean patients age was 51.1 years (range 23-65). Pre-operatively 22 patients had superficial bladder carcinoma. An involvement of prostatic urethra was excluded by biopsy. The bladder, part of the prostate with prostatic urethra and regional lymph nodes were removed while was deferens, deferential ampullae, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory ducts and peripheral portion of the prostate were saved. Mean follow-up was 56.5 months (range 4-178). One patient was lost to follow-up at 60 months. Of the 27 patients 6 died of bladder cancer (1 with local relapse, 1 with local and distant recurrence and 5 with metastases) and the remaining 21 had neither local nor distant relapse. Four patients died of other causes. Potency was preserved in 25 patients (92.5%) who reported satisfactory sexual intercourse. Sixteen patients (59.2%) also maintained ejaculation allowing procreation in two of them. Supra-ampullar cystectomy provides good results in term of quality of life allowing to preserve sexual function in nearly all the cases without compromise the control of the neoplastic disease. The indication must be restricted to bladder cancer without risk of local recurrence and concomitant prostatic carcinoma.

Neo-adjuvant and adjuvant treatment of locally invasive bladder cancer

Since Sternberg et al. in 1985 first published preliminary results of polychemotherapy in patients with metastatic bladder cancer, it became apparent that transitional carcinoma of the bladder is highly responsive to chemotherapy. Response rates up to 70% with combination therapy regimens like methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin or adriamycin and cisplatin promised that transitional carcinoma might be able to cure even in advanced stages. Chemotherapy has either been applied prior to the local treatment (such as radical cystectomy or radiotherapy) in a neo-adjuvant regimen, or after local therapy in an adjuvant regimen. Although a large number of studies have been published in the past 20 years, the role of the different chemotherapeutic approaches has not been clearly defined. Therefore, neither neo-adjuvant nor adjuvant chemotherapy can be recommended as 'gold standard' treatment for advanced bladder cancer.

Strip biopsy of superficial bladder tumors using an electrosurgical snare

BACKGROUND/METHODS

Transurethral strip biopsy of bladder tumors using an electrosurgical snare was tested to determine whether or not this technique provides any advantage to the histologic examination of bladder cancers and to the management of superficial bladder tumors as a routine treatment.

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

Our research results confirm that the strip biopsy technique can be applied as an alternative transurethral management procedure for treatment of superficial bladder tumors. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the procedure can also provide significantly greater histologic diagnostic advantages for bladder cancers than are possible through cold cup biopsy or transurethral resection.

A comparative study of the effects of a colorectal valve on the oro-anal transit time in patients with an augmented and valved rectum for urinary diversion

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of the interposed colorectal valve on the flow of the proximal colonic contents to the rectum in patients with a valved urinary diversion to the rectum.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The oro-anal transit time (OATT) and segmental colonic transit time (SCTT) were estimated in two groups of 15 patients each (10 women and five men). In group 1, patients had a colorectal valve and in group 2 (control) they had no valve in the rectosigmoid area. The OATT and SCTT were evaluated using the 7-day method, whereby each patient swallowed 10 ring-shaped radio-opaque markers daily for 6 days, and a single abdominal radiograph was taken on day 7. The OATT and SCTT were then estimated as the number of retained markers divided by the daily dose of markers.

RESULTS

The mean (sd) OATT was not significantly different (P=0.185), at 1.85 (1.21) days in group 1 and 2.49 (1.38) days in group 2. There were no sex differences in the values between the groups. The SCTT in the four areas of the colon again showed no significant differences within or between groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Using a colorectal valve to functionally isolate the urinary rectal reservoir and thus reduce the high incidence of metabolic acidosis has no significant effect on intestinal transit times.

[Polyarthritis as a rare complication in BCG immunoprophylaxis of urinary bladder cancer]

Vaccine BCG instillations as immunoprophylaxis of superficial cancer of the urinary bladder (UB) are likely to entail side effects and serious complications. A rare case is reported of hypersensitivity reaction to M. tuberculosis with involvement of the joints. Polyarthritis was controlled with antituberculous treatment in combination with steroid hormones.

Elevated urinary fibronectin levels after transurethral resection of bladder tumour: a possible role in patients failing therapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin

OBJECTIVE

To investigate fibronectin levels in urine samples from patients with noninvasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder immediately and for 4 weeks after transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT), to determine whether soluble fibronectin within the bladder, which blocks the attachment of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), might lower the efficacy of BCG therapy over this period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Urinary fibronectin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 25 patients with superficial bladder TCC who underwent TURBT for complete resection. Eight samples were collected for each patient, one before and seven during the 4 weeks after TURBT.

RESULTS

High levels of urinary fibronectin were detected in 18 patients (72%) after TURBT. In 16 patients the fibronectin level returned to normal within 2 weeks of surgery. The other two patients showed elevated levels of fibronectin for > 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that urinary fibronectin concentration is significantly increased in most patients after TURBT and this should be considered in patients who receive BCG therapy. Treatment within the first 2 weeks after TURBT may be associated with a high failure rate, as urinary fibronectin levels were increased significantly in about three-quarters of these patients during that period. Indeed, the persistent elevation of fibronectin, occurring in two of the present patients, may be responsible for some of the failures of BCG therapy when it is administered 2-5 weeks after surgery.

Does the position of the patient affect the presence and/or degree of reflux in an ileal conduit urinary diversion?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of patient position (supine, sitting or standing) on ileo-ureteric reflux in patients with an ileal conduit urinary diversion, in whom such reflux is normally detected when they are supine during a retrograde loopogram.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 10 patients with an ileal conduit as a primary urinary diversion; a loopogram was obtained with the patient upright or supine and a further film taken with the patient supine but at 45 degrees to the ground.

RESULTS

When supine, free ileo-ureteric reflux occurred into both ureterorenal units in eight patients. The remaining two patients, who had previously undergone unilateral nephrectomy, also had reflux into their existing renal units. Of the 18 units, 15 had grade III and three had grade IV reflux. In the upright and 45 degrees position, reflux still occurred in al ureterorenal units. The patient's position did not affect the degree of reflux in 16 units, but in one unit with grade IV reflux and another with grade III reflux, the reflux was one grade less severe.

CONCLUSIONS

Ileo-ureteric reflux is common after ileal conduit diversion and may contribute to the likelihood of renal deterioration. The presence and/or degree of reflux is generally not affected by the position of the patient.

Subsequential telomerase activity in exfoliated urinary cells detects recurrent disease in bladder cancer after transurethral resection

We assessed urinary telomerase activity in bladder cancer patients to provide additional information for monitoring after transurethral resection (TUR). Urinary telomerase activity was detected in 22/26 (84.6%) patients with known bladder tumor before TUR. Ten of 11 patients who were available for sequential follow-up examination had urinary telomerase activity before TUR. In 4 of the 10 patients, urinary telomerase activity disappeared following TUR with or without adjuvant intravesical therapy. Three of the remaining 6 patients had recurrent bladder tumors within three months after TUR. Urinary telomerase activity analysis from patients after TUR provides important information on microscopic recurrent bladder cancer.

Intravesical therapy with pertussis toxin before radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer: a Phase I study

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the side effects of intravesical instillation of pertussis toxin (PTX) because it inhibits tumor cell motility in vitro and in vivo and seems to be a promising therapeutic approach against cancer.

METHODS

We initiated a Phase I study and measured the effect of intravesical instillation of PTX before radical cystectomy. Study end points were PTX-related side effects. PTX was instilled at five dose levels, starting with 14 microg and continuing to 72 microg.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients, with a median age of 64 years, were included in the study. Intravesical instillation of PTX was without local or systemic side effects (grade 0, according to National Cancer Institute toxicity criteria).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with PTX was safe and well tolerated without any significant local or systemic toxicity in dosages up to 72 microg. Therefore, the influence of PTX on local tumor should be evaluated in a Phase II study.

Surgery for invasive bladder tumors: technique and outcome

The operative management of invasive transitional cell carcinoma has advanced significantly in the past year, particularly with respect to continent urinary diversion. The long term safety and efficacy of this form of urinary reconstruction is being established in terms of both operative and metabolic complications. The availability of continent diversion can decrease the interval to cystectomy and therefore may impact positively on survival. It has also been shown that continent diversion can safely be offered to patients at high risk for local recurrence. The importance of urethral sensory threshold on postoperative continence is being established. These findings and others continue to enhance the survival and quality of life of patients undergoing cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer.