Early complications and survival following short-term palliative radiotherapy in invasive bladder carcinoma.

PURPOSE

We studied the early side effects and survival rates after short-term radiotherapy (7 Gy. 3 times or 5 Gy. 4 times) in patients with muscle invasive bladder carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1981 and 1992, 96 patients (median age 80 years) were treated. Followup was complete until 1994 or death.

RESULTS

Early side effects caused the hospitalization of 22 patients and may have contributed to the death of 5 elderly patients. Median survival for patients with stages T2M0, T3M0, T4M0 and T2 to 4M+ disease was 27 months, 6.3 months, 5.6 months and 2.9 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term radiotherapy is of doubtful benefit to elderly patients with advanced bladder carcinoma and may even be harmful.