Radical cystectomy for residual of recurrent tumour after definitive radiotherapy (salvage cystectomy).

The results of salvage cystectomy for persistent or recurrent tumour following definite radiotherapy in 47 patients are reviewed. The calculated five-year survival rate was 25% for all stages, with a significantly better survival for the low pathological stages. Operative mortality was 12.8%. It was concluded that salvage cystectomy is a suitable supplement in the treatment of bladder cancer in spite of the considerable operative mortality and complication rate.