Objectives: To evaluate the rates of local and systemic progression (LP and SP), recurrence-free survival and overall survival for patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with limited pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in 1987-2000.
Patients and methods: A consecutive series was analysed of 385 patients (median age 61.9 years, range 30.7-83.8) treated by limited bilateral PLND and radical cystectomy (RC) between 1987 and 2000, with negative surgical margins on final pathology. All patients were staged N0M0 before RC, and none received neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The boundaries of the limited PLND were the pelvic side-wall between the genitofemoral and obturator nerves, and bifurcation of iliac vessels to the circumflex iliac vein. LP was defined as a radiographic soft-tissue density of > or = 2 cm below the bifurcation of the aorta. Pathological characteristics, based on the 1997 Tumour-Nodes-Metastasis system, recurrence patterns, and recurrence-free and overall survival, were determined. RESULTS The median (range) overall follow-up was 45.1 (1.1-165.6) months; the number of lymph nodes (LNs) reported per patient was 12 (2-32). Of the 385 patients, 130 (33.8%) had evidence of LP and 60 (15.6%) of SP. The 5-year recurrence-free and overall survival rates were both 71% for patients with organ-confined, N0 tumours, and 23% and 26% for unconfined, N0 tumours. Positive LNs were found in 45 (12%) patients, who had a recurrence-free and overall survival rate of 9% at 5 years.
Conclusion: Compared with published reports of similar cohorts of patients managed with RC and extended PLND, the present study suggests that limited PLND is associated with suboptimal staging, greater rates of LP, and lower rates of recurrence-free survival, particularly for patients with unconfined or LN-positive disease.