The practice of the first check cystoscopy following radiotherapy for the treatment of muscle-invasive (T3N0M0) bladder cancer: a UK national survey.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the current trends in the follow-up of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer following radiotherapy, among consultants in the United Kingdom and the republic of Ireland in terms of cystoscopic survey and imaging of the upper tracts.

METHODS

A national postal survey was carried out in 2006 including 602 urologists registered with the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS).

RESULTS

About 40% of the consultants participated in the survey. Seventy-seven per cent performed cystoscopy 3 months post-radiotherapy and 78% used rigid cystoscopy. The majority (91%) did not take routine random biopsies at the time of the first cystoscopy if it looked normal. Seventy-eight per cent of the participants requested upper-tract imaging in the presence of cystoscopic abnormalities, and long-term follow-up was recommended by 75%.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a wide-range of practice regarding the first check cystoscopy following radiotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and it could prove the foundation for more randomised trials to determine the evidence-based practice.