Clinical characteristics of bladder cancer in patients with spinal cord injury: the experience from a single centre

Right-sided ureteral hemangiosarcoma in a paraplegic dog

BACKGROUND

This study aims to describe a rare case of primary ureteral hemangiosarcoma, in which surgical intervention preserved the kidney and ureter after tumor removal.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 13-year-old, neutered male dog, weighing 14 kg, mixed-breed, presented with apathy, anorexia, acute-onset vomiting, and abdominal discomfort during the physical examination. Ultrasonography and pyelography revealed a right-sided dilation of the renal pelvis and ureter due to complete obstruction in the middle third of the ureter. A mass obstructing the lumen of the right ureter was completely resected, and ureteral suturing was performed, preserving the integrity of the involved structures. Histopathology confirmed primary ureteral hemangiosarcoma. Due to the local and non-invasive nature of the mass, chemotherapy was not initiated. The patient's survival was approximately two years, and normal renal function was preserved throughout this period.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering this type of tumor in the differential diagnosis of upper urinary tract obstructive disorders. Furthermore, the preservation of the ureter and kidney is a suitable therapeutic option after surgical resection of non-invasive tumors.

Clinical characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying bladder cancer in individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients with spinal cord injury have a relatively high risk for bladder cancer and often complicated with bladder cancer in advanced stages, and the degree of aggressiveness of malignancy is high. Most of the literature is based on disease clinical features while, our study reviews the clinical characteristics and molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury patients with bladder cancer, so that it might help clinicians better recognize and manage these patients.

METHOD

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase, using retrieval type like ("Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction" OR "Spinal cord injury" OR "Spinal Cord Trauma") AND ("bladder cancer" OR "bladder neoplasm" OR "bladder carcinoma" OR "Urinary Bladder Neoplasms" OR "Bladder Tumor"). In Web of Science, the retrieval type was searched as "Topic", and in PubMed and Embase, as "All Field". The methodological quality of eligible studies and their risk of bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. This article is registered in PROSPERO with the CBD number: CRD42024508514.

RESULT

In WOS, we searched 219 related papers, in PubMed, 122 and in Embase, 363. Thus, a total of 254 articles were included after passing the screening, within a time range between 1960 and 2023. A comprehensive analysis of the data showed that the mortality and incidence rates of bladder cancer in spinal cord injury patients were higher than that of the general population, and the most frequent pathological type was squamous cell carcinoma. In parallel to long-term urinary tract infection and indwelling catheterization, the role of molecules such as NO, MiR 1949 and Rb 1. was found to be crucial pathogenetically.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the risk of bladder cancer in SCI patients, comprehensively addressing the clinical characteristics and related molecular mechanisms. However, given that there are few studies on the molecular mechanisms of bladder cancer in spinal cord injury, further research is needed to expand the understanding of the disease.

[Neuro-urological diagnostics and treatment of non-traumatic/degenerative neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction exemplified by multiple sclerosis]

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis is often underestimated, underdiagnosed, and inadequately treated. Depending on the course of the disease and the location of neural damage, it occurs with varying frequency and types of impairment of urine storage and voiding function. Symptoms such as urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, urgency, pollakiuria, reduced urinary flow, hesitancy as well as postvoid residual urine may occur. However, the symptoms do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the underlying type of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Although numerous data, publications, and guidelines are available on this topic today, there continues to be a lack of standardized screening parameters and algorithms that have been tested in prospective studies for multiple sclerosis. This article presents the current diagnostic and therapeutic options of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. A crucial issue is the initial delay in diagnosis, not least due to a lack of communication between neurologists and urologists. Initial indicators of the presence of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction can be obtained by actively asking about the subjective presence of symptoms such as urinary incontinence or the occurrence of urinary tract infections. However, a subjective lack of symptoms does not rule out a neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Regardless of the stage of the disease, an early and individualized neuro-urological diagnosis and treatment should be implemented. All aspects of the damage and the extent of functional deficits in other organ systems caused by multiple sclerosis must be included in this neuro-urological treatment decision, which requires a consistent interdisciplinary exchange between neurologists, general practitioners, and urologists. This interdisciplinary and interprofessional way of thinking and acting is key for an optimal treatment using the numerous therapeutic procedures. Lifelong, individual, risk-adapted urological care for the early detection and prevention of neuro-urological complications should be offered to persons with multiple sclerosis.

[Oncological relevance of neuro-urological diseases]

Apart from a few exceptions, there is currently little scientific evidence on the oncological relevance of neuro-urological diseases. Most research has been conducted into the association between long-term spinal cord injury with its consequences for the lower urinary tract and the occurrence of bladder cancer. These cancers differ in many ways from bladder cancers in patients without spinal cord injury: patients are 20 years younger on average, tumours are very often already muscle-invasive and poorly differentiated with a high proportion of squamous cell carcinomas, and the prognosis is poor. These characteristics also occur in spinal cord injury patients without permanent catheter drainage of the urinary bladder. Although the pathophysiological association has not been clarified in detail, the presence of a neurogenic bladder appears to be the decisive link between spinal cord injury and the occurrence of bladder cancer. Pathological pressure conditions in the urinary bladder and frequent urinary tract infections or asymptomatic bacteriuria resulting from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction could be the decisive pathophysiological factors. In this respect, urinary bladder cancer in persons with a chronic spinal cord injury represents a model tumour after denervation. The clinically important question of screening requires future interdisciplinary research approaches.

Long-Term Surveillance and Management of Urological Complications in Chronic Spinal Cord-Injured Patients

Bladder dysfunction is a common complication after chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Patients may experience renal function loss, urinary tract infection (UTI), urolithiasis, bladder cancer, and even life-threatening events such as severe sepsis or renal failure. Suitable patient care may prevent UTI and urinary incontinence, decrease medication use, and preserve renal function. As the primary goal is to preserve renal function, management should be focused on facilitating bladder drainage, the avoidance of UTI, and the maintenance of a low intravesical pressure for continence and complete bladder emptying. Currently, several bladder management options are available to SCI patients: (1) reflex voiding; (2) clean intermittent catheterization; (3) indwelling catheterization. The target organ may be the bladder or the bladder outlet. The purposes of intervention include the following: (1) increasing bladder capacity and/or decreasing intravesical pressure; (2) increasing bladder outlet resistance; (3) decreasing bladder outlet resistance; (4) producing detrusor contractility; (5) urinary diversion. Different bladder management methods and interventions may have different results depending on the patient's lower urinary tract dysfunction. This review aims to report the current management options for long-term bladder dysfunction in chronic SCI patients. Furthermore, we summarize the most suitable care plans for improving the clinical outcome of SCI patients.

[Occupation-related cancer in urology-Current knowledge including environmental medical aspects]

Occupation-related cancers are of considerable importance, which is not yet adequately recognized in the field of urology. The three numerically most significant entities are tumors of the urinary tract caused by carcinogenic aromatic amines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, renal cell cancer after high exposure to the solvent trichloroethylene, and mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis of the testis after exposure to asbestos; however, these can only be recognized as occupation-related if an occupational history regarding the hazard relevant to the organ bearing the tumor is documented from the beginning of employment, e.g. by a questionnaire. This is because the relevant exposures generally date back several decades. With the exception of high exposure to trichloroethylene, the substances mentioned can also environmentally trigger the same tumors. In the context of environmental risk factors, it is of considerable importance that smoking is now considered to be a trigger for some 50% of all bladder cancers in men and women; however, smoking cessation results in a reduction in smoking-related cancer risk of over 30% after only 3-4 years. Work and commuting accidents, which are considered occupational risks, can lead to urological sequelae. For example, increased tumors of the bladder can occur after spinal cord injury lasting longer than 10 years.

[Urinary Bladder Cancer as a Long-term Sequela of Spinal Cord Injury - Relevance to Practice]

Urinary bladder cancer is the second most common tumour disease after lung cancer leading to death in people with a spinal cord injury. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the differences relevant to urologists between urinary bladder tumours in this population compared with urinary bladder tumours in the general population.People with a spinal cord injury are 1 to 2 decades younger on average at the time of tumour diagnosis than patients without a spinal cord injury. Histopathologic findings at the initial diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer in people with a spinal cord injury are much less favourable than for urinary bladder cancers in the general population. Muscle-invasive tumours and tumours with poor differentiation are much more common, and the proportion of squamous cell carcinomas is significantly higher. The incidence rises after more than 10 years of paralysis. Urinary bladder cancer mortality is significantly elevated and increases with the duration of paralysis. In diagnostic procedures and, in particular, in radical cystectomy, clinically important features have to be considered. For example, urodynamic examinations or cystoscopy may trigger autonomic dysreflexia with hypertensive crises and the risk of life-threatening bradycardia.In the case of radical cystectomy, frequent adhesions and callosities of the urinary bladder, among other things, must be taken into account intraoperatively. Severe paralysis, prolonged intestinal atony and other conditions are frequently observed after the surgical procedure due to neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Correct positioning of the patient immediately after surgery to avoid decubitus and to support breathing, as well as bowel management specific to spinal cord injury, must be strictly observed.Other special features of paraplegic patients with urinary bladder cancer that should also be considered in clinical practice, as well as considerations for screening for urinary bladder tumors, are presented in the article.

Bladder cancer in patients with neurogenic bladder disorder: a comparative study of different etiologies

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative study of different etiologies of neurogenic bladder disorders (NBDs) in patients with bladder cancer (BC) regarding patient- and tumor-related parameters and their oncological outcome.

METHODS

Out of 98 patients with bladder tumors and neurogenic disease, 23 patients with BC and NBDs from Jan 1, 2010, to Dec 31, 2020, were included. The different etiologies of NBDs were merged in three groups based on the level of the nervous system (NS)-lesion: (i) central (n = 6), (ii) spinal cord (n = 10), and (iii) peripheral lesions (n = 7).

RESULTS

Patients with lesions at the spinal cord level were younger at the time of BC diagnosis compared to patients with central or peripheral NS lesions (54 vs. 68 vs. 78 years, p = 0.0219). However, the latency to malignant transformation was more than twice as long (33 vs. 15 years, p = 0.0108). Most tumors were muscle-invasive or locally advanced BCs (62%) and presented lymph node metastases (55%), resulting in a poor mean overall survival of 30.9 ± 3.6 months. No significant differences regarding histopathology, tumor stage, and oncological outcome could be observed between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients with NBDs have a poor prognosis regardless of their etiology or the level of NS lesion. Patients with spinal cord lesions, including congenital NBDs, appear to develop BC at a young age, but compared to other etiologies latency from NBD to BC is longer.

Bladder management, severity of injury and period of latency: a descriptive study on 135 patients with spinal cord injury and bladder cancer

Study design

Longitudinal study.

Objectives

To describe the severity of spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D), type and management of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, tumor characteristics, and bladder cancer latency period in SCI/D patients.

Setting

Spinal cord injury centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Methods

Data of SCI/D patients diagnosed with bladder cancer were collected between Jan 2012–Dec 2019 in the course of annual surveys in the neuro-urological departments of all 28 centers. Demographic and paralysis-specific data, data on the type and management of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, and histopathological tumor characteristics were collected.

Results

Regarding histopathological tumor characteristics, no significant differences were found in 135 individuals with SCI/D when stratified for bladder management without chronic catheterization, SCI/D severity, and ASIA classification.

The mean latency period between the onset of SCI/D and the diagnosis of bladder cancer was significantly longer in patients with catheter-free emptying methods compared to patients with intermittent catheterization, and in patients with LMNL (Lower Motor Neuron Lesion) compared to patients with UMNL (Upper Motor Neuron Lesion).

Conclusions

Urinary bladder carcinomas are late events in the long-term course of SCI/D. Follow-up and approaches to screening must therefore be intensified with increasing duration of long-term SCI.

Urinary bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is also a combat-related injury that is increasing in modern warfare. The aim of this work is to inform medical experts regarding the different course of bladder cancer in able-bodied patients compared with SCI patients based on the latest medical scientific knowledge, and to present decision-making aids for the assessment of bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic SCI.

METHODS

A study conducted between January 1998 and December 2019 in the BG Trauma Hospital Hamburg formed the basis for the decision-making aids. Urinary bladder cancer was diagnosed in 40 out of 7396 treated outpatient and inpatient SCI patients. General patient information, latency period, age at initial diagnosis, type of bladder management and survival of SCI patients with bladder cancer were collected and analysed. T category, grading and tumour entity in these patients were compared with those in the general population. Relevant bladder cancer risk factors in SCI patients were analysed. Furthermore, relevant published literature was taken into consideration.

RESULTS

Initial diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients occurs at a mean age of 56.4 years (SD ± 10.7 years), i.e., approximately 20 years earlier as compared with the general population. These bladder cancers are significantly more frequently muscle invasive (i.e., T category ≥ T2) and present a higher grade at initial diagnosis. Furthermore, SCI patients show a significantly higher proportion of the more aggressive squamous cell carcinoma than that of the general population in areas not endemic for the tropical disease schistosomiasis. Consequently, the survival time is extremely unfavourable. A very important finding, for practical reasons is that, in the Hamburg study as well as in the literature, urinary bladder cancer is more frequently observed after 10 years or more of SCI. Based on these findings, a matrix was compiled where the various influencing factors, either for or against the recognition of an association between SCI and urinary bladder cancer, were weighted according to their relevance.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients differs considerably from that in able-bodied patients. The presented algorithm is an important aid in everyday clinical practice for assessing the correlation between SCI and bladder cancer.

Urological malignancies in neurogenic patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review recent literature related to urologic malignancies in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD). We performed a literature search of electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and CIANHL), with a focus on articles published between January 2015 and December 2019.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent reports demonstrate a lower incidence of bladder cancer in the NLUTD population than previously found, although still significantly higher than the general population. Bladder cancer in patients with NLUTD is usually diagnosed at a younger age, and is associated with higher rates of squamous cell cancer, a higher stage at presentation, and increased mortality. Evidence for screening for bladder cancer in NLUTD is conflicting, with no formal protocols proven for general use. NLUTD has been shown to have a lower rate of prostate cancer, and may be associated with an earlier diagnosis of renal cancer.

SUMMARY

Genitourinary malignancies, although still rare, are an important source of morbidity and mortality in patients with NLUTD. Physicians should recognize that bladder cancer in NLUTD is often a lethal disease. Further research is needed to assist physicians with early recognition of these malignancies to improve patient outcomes.

SLC14A1 (UT-B) gene rearrangement in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: a case report

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common and deadly disease. Over the past decade, a number of genetic alterations have been reported in BC. Bladder urothelium expresses abundant urea transporter UT-B encoded by Slc14a1 gene at 18q12.3 locus, which plays an important role in preventing high concentrated urea-caused cell injury. Early genome-wide association studies (GWAS) showed that UT-B gene mutations are genetically linked to the urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC). In this study, we examined whether Slc14a1 gene has been changed in UBC, which has never been reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 59-year-old male was admitted to a hospital with the complaint of gross hematuria for 6 days. Ultrasonography revealed a size of 2.8 × 1.7 cm mass lesion located on the rear wall and dome of the bladder. In cystoscopic examination, papillary tumoral lesions 3.0-cm in total diameter were seen on the left wall of the bladder and 2 cm to the left ureteric orifice. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed. Histology showed high-grade non-muscle invasive UBC. Immunostaining was negative for Syn, CK7, CK20, Villin, and positive for HER2, BRCA1, GATA3. Using a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Slc14a1 gene rearrangement was identified by a pair of break-apart DNA probes.

CONCLUSIONS

We for the first time report a patient diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma accompanied with split Slc14a1 gene abnormality, a crucial gene in bladder.

Experience of a tertiary referral center in managing bladder cancer in conjunction with neurogenic bladder

STUDY DESIGN

Case series.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to present our experience with the management of bladder cancer (BCa) in individuals followed for neurogenic bladder (NB).

SETTING

An Italian tertiary referral center for NB.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected all pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative data of our NB cases with BCa, diagnosed from 2004 to 2019.

RESULTS

We included ten cases: eight with acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) and two with myelomeningocele (MMC). Considering individuals with acquired SCI, the median age at BCa diagnosis and time since SCI were 53 and 34 years, respectively. One out of seven cases had positive urine cytology. All cases underwent a radical cystectomy, diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and transitional cell carcinoma in 60 and 40% cases, respectively. Surgical-related complications occurred after 90% procedures. Three out of eight individuals with acquired SCI died 2, 12, and 80 months after the diagnosis. Both individuals with MMC presented no evidence of disease after 24 and 27 months.

CONCLUSIONS

BCa in individuals with NB proved to be associated with a diagnosis at an advanced stage and a high rate of surgical complications. In this population we advocate annual genitourinary ultrasound exam and urine cytology, and cystoscopy in all cases of macrohematuria. Considering the low accuracy of urine cytology and the difficult-to-interpret inflamed bladder walls at cystoscopy in NB, a patient-tailored follow-up schedule based on specific risk factors (e.g., smoking status, indwelling urinary catheter) is mandatory to diagnose and treat BCa at an early stage.

Bladder cancer in patients with spina bifida: a serious risk

PURPOSE

After bladder augmentation (BA) using bowel segments, it is known that there is a risk for secondary malignancies. It remains unclear whether this also applies to spina bifida (SB) patients without BA. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of bladder cancer (BC) in SB at a single tertiary institution and assess the patients' oncologic outcome.

METHODS

Patients with SB and BC treated from January 2016 until March 2020 were included and corresponding data were collected retrospectively. Endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Among 132 adult patients with SB, four with a median age of 34.5 years (IQR 31.5-36.8, range 31-37) had a BC. None of the patients had undergone BA. Most common symptoms included recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) (75%) and hydronephrosis (75%). At the time of the diagnosis, tumors were locally advanced (≥ T3) and lymph-node positive in all cases. All patients underwent radical cystectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy in two out of four cases. Histology showed squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) or at least a squamous cell component in all patients. The median PFS was 5.9 months (IQR 5.1-124.5) and the median OS was 8.7 months (IQR 6.3-125.5).

CONCLUSIONS

SCC in SB can appear at a young age and is usually diagnosed in an advanced tumor stage with poor prognosis despite radical surgical resection. Patients with SB without BA with clinical symptoms, new onset of hematuria, and/or upper tract dilatation should receive a cystoscopy ± further imaging.

Muscle invasive bladder cancer presenting as recurrent autonomic dysreflexia - a wolf in wolf's clothing

Context: Autonomic dysreflexia is a potentially lethal condition experienced by spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. It has a wide range of causes, most of which are genitourinary in nature. However, there has been no documented case of primary bladder cancer as a trigger for recurrent autonomic dysreflexia. Findings: We present a case of a 51-year-old spinal cord injury patient with multiple presentations of autonomic dysreflexia. Work up revealed locally invasive bladder cancer, and following definitive surgery, his symptoms were alleviated. Conclusions: In SCI patients with recurrent AD, comprehensive work up with involvement of a specialized Urologist is required as AD may be the only presenting symptom of a serious underlying medical condition.

[Urinary bladder cancer as a late sequela of spinal cord injury : Decision-making aids for assessment of this causal association]

BACKGROUND

There is to date no convincing literature that has assessed the association between traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and the later development of urinary bladder cancer. The aim of this work is to present medical experts as well as the national accident insurance and the social courts decision-making aids based on the latest medical scientific knowledge, for assessment of this causal association.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study conducted between April 1998 and March 2017 in the BG Trauma Hospital Hamburg forms the basis for the decision-making aids. Urinary bladder cancer was diagnosed in 32 out of 6432 treated outpatient and inpatient SCI patients. Furthermore, relevant published literature was taken into consideration for the decision-making aids.

RESULTS

It was found that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients occurs at a considerably younger age as compared to the general population, more frequently shows muscle invasive carcinoma with a higher grade at first diagnosis and a higher proportion of the more aggressive squamous cell carcinoma than that of the general population. Correspondingly, the survival time is extremely unfavorable. For medical experts a matrix was compiled where the various influencing factors, either for or against the recognition of an association between SCI and urinary bladder cancer, were weighted according to their relevance.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients differs considerably from that of able-bodied patients. These differences drastically shorten the survival time. A study on patients with spina bifida, i.e., a congenital spinal cord disorder, corroborates these observations. They indicate histopathological differences that have so far been intangible.

PAX8 expression and TERT promoter mutations in the nested variant of urothelial carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study with immunohistochemical and molecular correlates

The nested variant of urothelial carcinoma, a frequent mimic of benign lesions on limited specimens, has been associated with high-stage disease including metastases at presentation. While PAX8 immunohistochemistry has been noted to be infrequently present in urothelial carcinoma in general, it has not been studied specifically in a cohort of nested urothelial carcinomas. Furthermore, TERT promoter mutation status is a potentially valuable biomarker for diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma and for noninvasive disease monitoring that has been observed in a majority of urothelial carcinoma and has previously been seen to be prevalent in multiple variant morphologies of urothelial carcinoma, including the nested variant. Twenty-five primary and three metastatic samples of nested urothelial carcinoma, along with 16 benign cases, were identified in a multicenter retrospective record review. PAX8 immunohistochemical stain was performed on all cases. In addition, TERT mutation analysis by allele-specific PCR was performed on 21 of the primary nested urothelial carcinoma cases and all benign cases. Positive PAX8 expression was identified in 52% (13 of 25) primary cases and 67% (2 of 3) metastatic cases of nested urothelial carcinoma; 50% (1 of 2) cases of large nested urothelial carcinoma were positive for PAX8. PAX8 expression was negative in the benign urothelium in all cases. TERT promoter mutation was observed in 83% (15 of 18) nested urothelial carcinoma cases and in 6% (1 of 16) of the benign cases. Recognition of the prevalence of positive PAX8 staining in this clinically relevant variant of urothelial carcinoma is essential to avoiding inaccurate or delayed diagnosis during the diagnostic workup of bladder lesions suspicious for nested variant of urothelial carcinoma. Moreover, the prevalence of TERT promoter mutations in nested urothelial carcinoma is similar to that of conventional urothelial carcinoma, further supporting its use as a biomarker that is stable across morphologic variants of urothelial carcinoma.

Traumatic spinal cord injury confers bladder cancer risk to patients managed without permanent urinary catheterization: lessons from a comparison of clinical data with the national database

PURPOSE

Life expectancy for people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing due to advances in treatment methods and in neuro-urology. Thus, developing urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is gaining importance.

METHODS

Single-centre retrospective evaluation of consecutive in- and out-patient data with spinal cord injury between January 1st, 1998 and December 31st, 2018 was carried out and data were compared with UBC data of the German population from the German Centre for Cancer Registry Data at Robert Koch Institute.

RESULTS

A total of 37 (4 female, 33 male) out of 7004 patients with SCI were diagnosed with histologically proven UBC (median follow-up 85 months). Median age at UBC diagnosis was 54.0 years (general population: 74 years). The SCI patients had significantly (p < 0.0001, each) more frequent muscle-invasive tumors (81% ≥ T2) and unfavorable grading (76% G3), compared to the general population. Median survival was 13 months for transitional cell carcinoma (n = 31) and 4 months for squamous cell carcinoma (n = 5) (p = 0.0039), resp. The median survival of the 24 cystectomized patients was 15.0 months. Long-term suprapubic or indwelling catheterization was found in only eight patients for a total of only 5.09% (median 15.5 months) of the latency of all patients. No significant differences for T category and grading were observed between the bladder emptying methods intermittent catheterisation and catheter-free voiding.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that in patients with SCI bladder management even without permanent catheterization represents a considerable risk for the development of UBC.

Recommendations for urological follow-up of patients with neurogenic bladder secondary to spinal cord injury

PURPOSE

To review currently available guidelines and recommendations regarding urological follow-up of patients after spinal cord injury (SCI) and present an evidence-based summary to support clinicians in their clinical practice.

METHODS

Maximum data were collected according to different methods, including searches with multiple and specific keywords, reference checks, gray literature searches (congress reports, working papers, statement documents), and browsing-related Web site access. Obtained data were analyzed with the modified version of the Oxford grading system for recommendations using levels of evidence (LE) and grades of recommendation (GR).

RESULTS

Different surveillance strategies exist, but there is no consensus among authors and organizations. As a result, practice patterns vary around the world. The present review indicates that proper urological follow-up of SCI patients should consist of medical history (LE 1-4, GR B-C), clinical examination (LE 4, GR C), renal laboratory tests (LE 1-3, GR B), imaging surveillance of the upper urinary tract (LE 1-3, GR A-B), urodynamic study (LE 2-4, GR B-C), and cystoscopy/cytology (LE 1-4, GR D). Clinicians agree that SCI patients should be followed up regularly with an individually tailored approach. A 1-year follow-up schedule seems reasonable in SCI patients without additional risk factors of renal deterioration (LE 3-4, GR C). In those who manifest risk factors, report changes in bladder behavior, or present with already developed complications of neurogenic bladder dysfunction, follow-up plans should be modified with more frequent checkups (LE 4, GR C). Urodynamic study should be repeated and considered as a routine monitoring strategy.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction are at increased risk of multiple complications. Nevertheless, proper follow-up after SCI improves the prognosis for these patients and their quality of life.

Prevalence, management, and prognosis of bladder cancer in patients with neurogenic bladder: A systematic review

AIM

To perform a systematic review of the literature regarding epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prognosis of bladder cancer in the neuro-urological patient population, in order to serve as a basis for future recommendations and research.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA-Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes Statement. Embase was searched for studies providing data on epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prognosis of bladder cancer in neuro-urological patients.

RESULTS

After screening 637 abstracts, 15 studies (13 retrospective and 2 prospective studies) were included in this study. We identified 332 patients (0.3%) who were diagnosed with bladder cancer. This mostly affected mostly men (59.3%) and spinal cord injured patients (98.8%). Mean age at diagnosis was 56.1 years. Bladder cancer occurred after a long period of evolution of the neurological disease (24.9 years). Gross hematuria was the predominating presenting symptom (31.6% of cases). Indwelling urethral or supra-pubic catheters were used in 44.5% of patients. The most frequent histological subtype of bladder cancer was transitional cell carcinoma (53.1%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (33.5%). Muscle-invasive bladder cancer was reported in 67.7% of patients. The mean cancer-specific mortality rate was of 47.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence and high mortality rate of bladder cancer in neuro-urological patients underlines the importance of long-term follow-up in this specific population. This highlights the necessity of further studies in this field.