Bladder cancer in 156 patients aged eighty years or more

Summary

Between January 1965 and December 1984, 156 patients of 80 years or more with bladder carcinoma were seen. Associated medical conditions were present in 64%. All patients had transurethral resection of their tumour as a primary procedure, and 4 (2.6%) died in the first month afterwards. Recurrences developed in 22 patients (43%) with pTa histology and 11 patients (61%) with pT1; the recurrence patterns were similar in both groups, but the patients with tpT1 had more multiple or large tumours at diagnosis and had a higher incidence of increase in T stage. Patients with pT3 histology were managed by deep X-ray treatment and this was associated with a 39% complete response rate. Survival in this group was better than those who did not respond or who relapsed, but even these patients had a better survival than those who did not receive X-ray treatment. No patient had radical cystectomy and diversion. Palliative deep X-ray treatment was unhelpful in patients with pT4 tumours.