The practice of the first check cystoscopy following radiotherapy for the treatment of muscle-invasive (T3N0M0) bladder cancer: a UK national survey

• Published in: International urology and nephrology 2011-06, Vol.43 (2), p.377-381
• Main Authors: Mohammed, Aza, Hameed, Ammar, Shergill, Iqbal, Barua, Jayanta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bladder cancer; Cystoscopy - utilization; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Nephrology; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Kingdom; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Urology; Urology – Original Paper
• ISSN: 0301-1623; 1573-2584
• DOI: 10.1007/s11255-010-9789-5

Objectives To determine the current trends in the follow-up of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer following radiotherapy, among consultants in the United Kingdom and the republic of Ireland in terms of cystoscopic survey and imaging of the upper tracts. Methods A national postal survey was carried out in 2006 including 602 urologists registered with the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS). Results About 40% of the consultants participated in the survey. Seventy-seven per cent performed cystoscopy 3 months post-radiotherapy and 78% used rigid cystoscopy. The majority (91%) did not take routine random biopsies at the time of the first cystoscopy if it looked normal. Seventy-eight per cent of the participants requested upper-tract imaging in the presence of cystoscopic abnormalities, and long-term follow-up was recommended by 75%. Conclusions There is a wide-range of practice regarding the first check cystoscopy following radiotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and it could prove the foundation for more randomised trials to determine the evidence-based practice.