Open radical cystectomy is a reliable surgery with acceptable complication rates in elderly male patients: a retrospective, tertiary hospital-based study

Clinical outcome and quality of life in octogenarian patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder treated with radical cystectomy or transurethral resection of the bladder tumor: a retrospective analysis of 143 patients

PURPOSE

To compare clinical outcome and quality of life (QoL) in octogenarian patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (MIBC) either treated by radical cystectomy (RC) or transurethral resection of the tumor (TURBT).

METHODS

We identified octogenarian patients with MIBC in our institutions since 2005. Clinical treatment outcomes and QoL were analyzed. Uni- and multivariable Cox regression analyses, two-tailed Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney test and Fisher's exact test were assessed as appropriate. QoL was evaluated using FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) questionnaire.

RESULTS

143 patients were identified (RC: 51 cases, TURBT: 92 cases). Mean follow-up was 14 months (0-100 months). Median overall survival (OS) was 12 months in the RC group and 7 months in the TURBT group. TURBT and low preoperative hemoglobin were independent risk factors for reduced cancer-specific survival (CSS) (TURBT: p = 0.019, Hb: p = 0.008) and OS (TURBT: p = 0.026, Hb: p = 0.013) in multivariable analyses. Baseline QoL was low throughout the whole cohort. There was no difference in baseline FACT-G scoring comparing RC and TURBT (FACT-G total score (median): RC 43.7/108 vs. TURBT 44.0/108, p = 0.7144). Increased FACT-G questionnaire scoring was assessed for RC patients (median percentage score change RC 22.9%, TURBT 2.3%, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

RC and TURBT are feasible treatment options for MIBC in octogenarian patients. In our cohort, RC was associated with increased CSS, OS and QoL. QoL in general was low throughout the whole cohort. Interdisciplinary decision-making has to be improved for these critically ill patients.

How reliable are imaging techniques in aging males with bladder cancer?

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate consistency between clinical lymph node positivity and pathological lymph node positivity in patients undergoing open radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection due to bladder cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A total of 135 patients who had open radical cystectomy, extended lymph node dissection, and clear preoperative contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were included in the study. Positive clinical lymph nodes and positive pathological lymph nodeswere recorded. The largest positive clinical and pathological lymph nodeswere recorded. In terms of clinical lymph node involvement, compatibility between radiological findings and pathological results was evaluated.

RESULTS

In the CT group, the sensitivity was 25.81%, specificity was 95.45%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 66.67%, negative predictive value (NPV) was 78.50%, and accuracy was 77.31%. In the MRI group, the sensitivity was 50.00%, specificity was 100%, PPV was 100%, NPV was 76.92%, and accuracy was 81.25%. For consistency between pathological lymph nodes and clinical lymph nodes according to the imaging type, there was no statistically significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and accuracy rates between the imaging techniques (p > 0.05). However, the PPV was significantly higher in the MRI group than the CT group (100% vs.66.67%, respectively; p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Positive lymph nodes play a critical role in the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer and the sensitivity of contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT and MRI used routinely in clinical practice is low in lymph node detection. MRI seems more reliable than CT in lymph node detection.

De Ritis ratio: how effectively can we use in bladder cancer management?

Background: This study aims to determine the relationship between the pre-operative De Ritis ratio (DRR) and bladder cancer (BCa) pathological subtypes. Results & methodology: A total of 248 patients with primary BCa were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify whether DRR can be a risk factor for the presence of carcinoma in situ (CIS). There was a statistically significant difference between the nonmuscle invasive BCa risk groups and the muscle-invasive BCa group according to the median DRR levels (p < 0.001). DRR was an independent risk factor for the presence of CIS in multivariate analysis (OR: 1.909; 95% CI: 0.030-0.196; p = 0.008). Discussion & conclusion: DRR can be considered as an independent risk factor for the presence of CIS in patients with primary BCa.