Bladder carcinoma as a systemic disease

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Abstract
One hundred and fifty-one patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who were evaluated by conventional means preoperatively underwent a radical cystectomy. They were then classified according to the highest known pathological stage, first site of postoperative metastasis and the temporal relationship of the cystectomy to the appearance of the metastasis. Fifty patients developed metastases, 80% of which were proven histologically. Thirty-nine of fifty patients (78%) who developed metastases did so within a year of cystectomy. Extent of local tumor was directly related to the incidence of positive pelvic nodes. Metastases occurred most commonly in lung and bone. Soft tissues of the pelvis were involved in thirteen (16%) of the patients who developed metastatic carcinoma and those patients with positive pelvic nodes were more likely to have these kinds of recurrent disease. These evaluations suggest that the metastases must be present at cystectomy or as a result of it. The data imply the existence of appreciable heterogeneity among patients and/or their invasive bladder carcinoma. Disseminated but silent metastases suggest that a relationship between the primary tumor and the occurrence of metastatic disease may exist. Knowledge of this relationship is very important in planning subsequent therapeutic strategies.