The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the staging of bladder carcinoma.
The clinical staging of bladder carcinoma traditionally has relied on transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, urinary cytology, excretory urography and an examination with the patient under anesthesia. Recent evidence has shown magnetic resonance imaging to be effective in the staging of bladder cancer. Whether magnetic resonance imaging is more accurate than conventional clinical staging techniques has not been answered. To determine the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in this regard 34 patients with bladder carcinoma underwent staging by this technique before radical cystectomy. The magnetic resonance imaging stage and conventional clinical stage were compared to the final pathological stage. Magnetic resonance imaging had an over-all accuracy of 50 per cent versus 57 per cent for conventional staging techniques and it identified 2 of 5 patients with nodal disease. To date magnetic resonance imaging does not appear to be better than conventional clinical staging techniques in patients with bladder carcinoma.
Department of Urology/Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio.
D P
DP
Wood
R
R
Lorig
J E
JE
Pontes
J E
JE
Montie
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*