ACCURACY OF COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN DETECT ING PELVIC LYMPH-NODE METASTASES FROM BLADDER-CANCER

The accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in staging of pelvic lymph no des in bladder cancer was investigated in 50 patients. All patients un derwent pelvic lymph node dissection and cystectomy. The results of pr eoperative CT findings were compared with the histopathological findin gs in the dissected lymph nodes, Normal lymph nodes free of tumour cel ls were found in 32 patients. In 6 patients, single lymph node involve ment was detected, while in 12 patients two or more lymph nodes were f ound to be positive for tumour infiltration. CT results were confirmed in 38 patients (76%). Specificity of CT was 100%, but the sensitivity of this method was only 33 %. Based on these results, it appears that CT evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in bladder cancer patients should have only a limited impact on decision making in patient management.