De novo muscle invasive bladder cancer: Is there a change in trend?

Purpose: We reviewed our radical cystectomy series to determine whether the majority of patients present with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: The records of 184 radical cystectomies performed by 1 surgeon from 1992 to 1999 were reviewed, and all slides of presenting pa thology were reviewed by 1 pathologist. The pathological stage of the tumor at presentation was noted in each case, and the number of muscle invasive tumors at presentation was compared to 2 earlier series. Results: Radical cystectomy was performed for muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in 176 cases and for other histology in 8. Th ere were 101 (57.3%) patients with muscle invasive cancer at presentation c ompared to 84% and 91% in the 2 earlier series, respectively, which was a s tatistically significant decrease (p <0.0001) in the number of de novo musc le invasive bladder cancers. Women were more likely to be diagnosed with mu scle invasion primarily than men (85.2% and 50.7%, respectively), and young er patients (younger than 50 years) were more likely to present with superf icial bladder cancer compared to those older than 50 years who were more li kely to present with de novo muscle invasive bladder cancer. Conclusions: Analysis of our data supports the findings of the earlier seri es that the majority of patients present with muscle invasive bladder cance r. However, there is a significant decrease in the percentage of tumors inv ading the muscularis propria at presentation. Although this observation is encouraging, we emphasize that it is not as dramatic as the stage migration associated with prostate cancer, which may be largely attributed to the wi despread use of prostate specific antigen for early detection. Therefore, w e support the suggestion that therapeutic gains might follow from improved education regarding the signs and symptoms associated with bladder cancer, with enhanced focus on women and consideration of screening methods for tho se at high risk for bladder cancer.