Randomized trial of cystectomy with or without preoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder.

A prospective randomized clinical trial was done for 92 patients with carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder who underwent radical cystectomy alone or with 2,000 rad preoperative radiation. The postoperative mortality and morbidity were similar in both groups. Patients were followed for a minimum of 60 months. Over-all, there was a marginal, statistically insignificant improvement in survival among patients receiving preoperative radiotherapy. Nevertheless, 2 subpopulations demonstrated significant improvement in survival following preoperative radiation, that is patients with high stage (P3 and P4) and high grade tumors.