PURPOSE: We determined the prognostic significance of metastatic perivesical lymph nodes (PVLN) in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 198 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy for clinically organ confined TCC identified 32 patients with PVLN in pathology specimens. Patient characteristics were compared. Overall survival, disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier actuarial methodology. The log-rank test was used to compare the differences between patients with and without metastatic TCC to PVLN. Cox multivariate regression analysis was used to determine whether the effect of metastatic PVLN on survival was independent of pathological stage. RESULTS: Metastatic TCC was found in the PVLN of 14 patients. Median followup and age were 13.5 months and 66.5 years, respectively. Patients with and without metastatic PVLN had similar characteristics and pathological disease staging. The overall survival, DSS and disease-free survival were significantly less for patients with metastatic TCC in PVLN (p = 0.002, p = 0.013 and p <0.001, respectively), and involvement of PVLN and pelvic nodes (p = 0.001, p = 0.010 and p = 0.041, respectively). Metastatic PVLN was an independent predictor of OS and DSS (p = 0.016 and p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Metastases to PVLN appear to confer a significantly worse prognosis for patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Patients with identifiable metastatic PVLN may benefit from early adjuvant therapies.
PURPOSE: We determined the prognostic significance of metastatic perivesical lymph nodes (PVLN) in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 198 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy for clinically organ confined TCC identified 32 patients with PVLN in pathology specimens. Patient characteristics were compared. Overall survival, disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier actuarial methodology. The log-rank test was used to compare the differences between patients with and without metastatic TCC to PVLN. Cox multivariate regression analysis was used to determine whether the effect of metastatic PVLN on survival was independent of pathological stage. RESULTS: Metastatic TCC was found in the PVLN of 14 patients. Median followup and age were 13.5 months and 66.5 years, respectively. Patients with and without metastatic PVLN had similar characteristics and pathological disease staging. The overall survival, DSS and disease-free survival were significantly less for patients with metastatic TCC in PVLN (p = 0.002, p = 0.013 and p <0.001, respectively), and involvement of PVLN and pelvic nodes (p = 0.001, p = 0.010 and p = 0.041, respectively). Metastatic PVLN was an independent predictor of OS and DSS (p = 0.016 and p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:Metastases to PVLN appear to confer a significantly worse prognosis for patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Patients with identifiable metastatic PVLN may benefit from early adjuvant therapies.