Radiotherapy and bladder cancer: a critical review.
Survival of patients undergoing cystectomy for invasive carcinoma of the bladder has improved significantly in recent decades. Although this improved survival is accredited widely to the use of preoperative radiation therapy review of the available data raises questions regarding the validity of such conclusions. Important disadvantages, including increased morbidity, are associated with long course (4,000 to 5,000 rad) preoperative radiation. Although these disadvantages are minimized with a short course regimen (1,600 to 2,000 rad) the case for its efficacy remains unconvincing.
D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011897:Random Allocation; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery