Features and significance of lymph node metastasis patterns in radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the features of pelvic lymph node metastasis and the significance of lymph node dissection in bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystcetomy. Methods The data of 77 bladder cancer patients(58 males and 19 females with mean age of 57 yrs)treated with radical eystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection from Jan. 1990 to Dec.2008 were analyzed retrospectively.Preoperative TNM staging showed stage T1 tumor of 9 cases,stage T2 of 24 cases,stage T3 of 39 eases and stage T4 of 5 cases.The pelvic lymph nodes were divided into 5 groups according to the anatomic sites.The metastatic rate and dissected lymph node positive rate in these patients were compared. Results The metastatic rate and dissected lymph node positive rate were 27.3%(21/77)and 14.8%(233/1576),respectively.The metastatic rate in these patients from higher to lower were as followsobturator group 19.5%(15/77),internal iliac group 19.3%(11/57),external iliac group 13.7%(10/73),common iliac group 5.3%(3/57)and presacral group 3.8%(1/26),with a significant difference in those groups,P<0.01.The dissected lymph node positive rates from higher to lower were as followsexternal iliac group 23.0%(83/361),obturator group 22.1% (103/467),common iliac group 9.5%(17/179),internal iliac group 6.8%(28/411)and presacral group 1.3 % (2/158), with a significant difference in those groups, P<0.01. There was no metastasis in 9 eases with stage T, tumor. Conclusions In the radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer, it is suggested that the regional lymph nodes with higher metastatic rate should he resected accordingly, and the group with a higher metastatic rate should be dissected completely. The operation extent may be adjusted according to the result of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the obturator or presacral groups. The pelvic lymphadenectomy is not suggested in the cases of stage T1 tumor.