Cystectomy for carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder. 126 patients 10 years later.

Our experience with 126 cases of bilharzial bladder cancer treated by radical cystectomy and followed up for at least 10 years is outlined. The operative mortality rate was 13.5%. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 32.6 and 23% respectively. The difference between the two figures can be attributed to mortality from natural ageing rather than recurrence of cancer. Analysis of survival figures revealed that the tumour grade was the most important prognostic factor. Most treatment failures were due to local recurrence which developed soon after treatment.