Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP34-18
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

To assess whether routine followup with computed tomography (CT) to detect asymptomatic visceral recurrence after radical cystectomy improves patient survival, we investigated the impact of symptoms at recurrence on patient survival._x000D_

Methods

A total 348 radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) were performed at our institution between January 1996 and December 2013. All patients had regular followup examinations with urine cytology every 3 months, blood biochemical test, and CT of the chest and abdomen every 6 months. We investigated the first site and date of tumor recurrence. Overall survival in patients with recurrence stratified by the mode of diagnosis (asymptomatic vs. symptomatic) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier methods and compared with the log rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the impact of the mode of diagnosing recurrence on survival._x000D_

Results

A total 91 patients (20%) experienced recurrence after surgery. Seven patients (8%) were excluded due to missing data. Finally, 84 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Of those, 46 (55%) were asymptomatic and 38 (45%) were symptomatic. The most common recurrence site and symptom were lymph nodes (55%) and pain (53%). Overall survivals after surgery and recurrence to death were significantly longer in patients with asymptomatic recurrence compared with symptomatic recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that a symptomatic recurrence is one of the independent risk factors for overall survival after surgery and recurrence._x000D_

Conclusions

Routine oncological followup for detection of asymptomatic recurrence may contribute better prognosis after radical cystectomy._x000D_

Funding

none