Beyond the Abstract - Pattern of lymph node metastasis correlates with tumor location in bladder cancer, by Young-Sig Kim MD, PhD

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Several recent reports have shown that extended pelvic lymphadenectomy improved overall survival in patients with advanced bladder cancer, especially lymp[h-node (LN) positive disease. However, the more LN dissection done, the more morbidity there was.

bta surgeryIn our study, we found a correlation between the location of the bladder cancer and direction of LN metastasis. And the patients with contralateral LN metastasis might have poorer prognoses than those with ipsilateral LN metastasis. Nevertheless we recommended that lymphadenectomies must be performed bilaterally even if the primary cancer is limited to the right or left hemisphere of the bladder wall because contralateral nodal metastases may eventually occur.

We suggest surgeons should try to do extended pelvic lymphadenectomy of the bilateral LNs if possible, but can do limited pelvic lymphadenectomy of the contralateral LN in particular cases. Therefore, knowledge of the exact location of the tumor would be useful for the surgeon performing radical cystectomy and lymphadenectomy.

Written by:
Young-Sig Kim MD, PhD as part of Beyond the Abstract on UroToday.com. This initiative offers a method of publishing for the professional urology community. Authors are given an opportunity to expand on the circumstances, limitations etc... of their research by referencing the published abstract.


 

Pattern of lymph node metastasis correlates with tumor location in bladder cancer - Abstract

More Information about Beyond the Abstract