Objective: Routine follow-up after cystectomy for bladder cancer detect patients with local recurrence late in the course of disease. We set out to determine the value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) as diagnostic tool to diagnose local failure.
Patients and methods: Between 1986 and 2003, radical cystectomy for bladder cancer with orthotopic diversion was performed in 642 male patients. We identified all patients that simultaneously had transabdominal ultrasound, digital rectal examination, TRUS and CT/MRI of the pelvis at the diagnosis of local recurrence.
Results: Mean follow-up was 59.4 months. 83/642 patients (13%) had local failure of bladder cancer during follow-up. In 48/642 patients (7.5%) the local recurrence was the first site of recurrence. 35/642 patients (5.5%) developed local failure with concomitant distant disease. 31/83 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median time between cystectomy and diagnosis of local recurrence was 13 months (2-51 months). Routine follow-up detected local recurrence in 1 asymptomatic patient. 25/31, 3/31 and 2/31 patients had pain in the lower extremities/pelvis, hematuria and urinary retention, respectively. Digital rectal examination, transabdominal ultrasound, TRUS, and CT/MRI of the pelvis were suspicious for local recurrence in 9, 7, 26, and 29 patients, respectively.
Conclusions: TRUS is a highly sensitive tool in detecting local recurrence following cystectomy. It is easy to perform and inexpensive. We recommend TRUS in short intervals in all patients with high risk for local recurrence in order to detect cancer early.
(c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.