Bladder conservation in selected T1G3 and muscle-invasive T2-T3a bladder carcinoma using combination therapy of surgery and iridium-192 implantation.

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively analyse the efficacy and toxicity of conservative treatment for T1G3 and T2-3a bladder carcinoma and to compare the results with those obtained in a previous study using caesium implantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1987 and 1990 12 patients with high-grade T1 tumours and 28 with T2-3a tumours were treated using this combined approach. All tumours were solitary with a diameter not exceeding 5 cm. Treatment consisted of transurethral resection, a course of external irradiation (30 Gy in 15 fractions) to the whole pelvis and an implant procedure.

RESULTS

With a mean follow-up of 40 months (range 24-65) 31 patients remained free of disease and nine relapsed: three with distant metastases, two with bladder recurrence and four with combined bladder and distant relapse. Three patients showed tumour at the original site. The 5 years actuarial rate of local control was 84% with an overall 5 years actuarial survival of 86%. Early problems included bladder leakage, wound infection and psychological problems. Late complications in four patients, was transient ulceration at the implant side causing mild dysuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation with iridium is equally effective as with caesium but has significantly fewer complications.