Diagnostic delay and prognosis in invasive bladder cancer

• Objectives: To study diagnostic delay in invasive bladder cancer in a population-based material with long-term follow-up, and to evaluate whether delay in diagnosis affects the risk of bladder cancer death. Material and Methods: In a previous study, 177 patients with invasive bladder cancer (T1-T4) diagnosed in 1988 were investigated with regard to diagnostic delay. A review of all available clinical records was performed. In the present study, causes of death for these patients were registered over a 12-year follow-up period, and the impact of diagnostic delay on bladder cancer death was studied by means of survival analysis. Results: The median diagnostic delay in the material was 144 days. When the patients were stratified into groups with diagnostic delays of 0-3, 3-6, 6-12 and >12 months, those with T1 tumours in the two groups with a diagnostic delay of <6 months showed a trend towards a decreased risk of bladder cancer death. In contrast, in patients with muscle-invasive disease, a significantly increased risk of bladder cancer death was noted for those with a diagnostic delay of <6 months. Conclusion: A trend towards better prognosis was found for patients with T1 tumours with a shorter diagnostic delay. The poor prognosis of patients with muscle-invasive disease and a short diagnostic delay suggests aggressive behaviour of the tumour and may explain the worse prognosis in these patients.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

bladder cancer

diagnostic delay

prognosis

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)