Population based survival data on urachal tumors.

PURPOSE

Urachal carcinoma accounts for less than 1% of all bladder cancers. Limited data exist on disease related outcomes originating from case reports and select referral centers. We describe a population based outcomes analysis with long-term followup in patients in the province of Ontario.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the data source of the Ontario Cancer Registry for patients diagnosed with urachal cancer during 1976 to 2001. A cohort of 40 patients with urachal adenocarcinoma was found. Primary outcome measures were overall and disease specific survival. The effect of patient age, sex, grade, stage and university vs nonacademic treating hospital as predictors of outcome was determined.

RESULTS

Median patient age was 52 years. Median followup was 72.7 months. Mean overall survival +/- SD was 121.6 +/- 21 months. Mean disease specific survival in patients treated operatively was 165 +/- 27 months with 5 and 10-year disease specific survival of 61.3% and 49.2%, respectively. Disease specific mortality was not evident after 7 years from diagnosis. Well differentiated tumors in a third of the patients were associated with a 90% cure rate when treated operatively. Well differentiated tumors, and noninvolvement of adjacent organs and the peritoneum correlated with better prognosis (p = 0.004, p = 0.03 and 0.045, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Urachal adenocarcinoma occurs in all age groups. Long-term disease specific survival can be achieved with partial cystectomy. Covariates associated with better disease specific survival are well differentiated tumor grade and the absence of adjacent organ or peritoneal involvement. No relapses were observed after 7 years.