Long-term oncological outcomes in women undergoing radical cystectomy and orthotopic diversion for bladder cancer.

Abstract

We compared oncological outcomes in women undergoing radical cystectomy and orthotopic diversion for bladder transitional cell carcinoma. From 1990 to 2005, 201 women underwent radical cystectomy, including 120 with an orthotopic neobladder. Median followup was 8.6 years. The clinical course, and pathological and oncological outcomes in these 120 women were analyzed and compared to those in 81 women undergoing radical cystectomy and cutaneous diversion during the same period. Overall 3 of 120 women (2.5%) who received a neobladder died perioperatively. In this group the tumor was pathologically organ confined in 73 patients (61%), extravesical in 18 (15%) and lymph node positive in 29 (24%). Overall 5 and 10-year recurrence-free survival was 62% and 55%, respectively. Five and 10-year recurrence-free survival in patients with organ confined and extravesical disease was similar at 75% and 67%, and 71% and 71%, respectively. Patients with lymph node positive disease had significantly worse 5 and 10-year recurrence-free survival (24% and 19%, respectively). One woman had recurrence in the urethra and 2 (1.7%) had local recurrence. As stratified by pathological subgroups, similar outcomes were observed when comparing women with an orthotopic neobladder to the 81 who underwent cutaneous diversion. Orthotopic diversion does not compromise the oncological outcome in women after radical cystectomy for bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Excellent local and urethral control may be expected. Women with node positive disease are at highest risk for recurrence. Similar outcomes were observed in women undergoing cutaneous diversion.