title: Predictors of lymph node involvement in bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the clinical variables associated with prevalence of lymph node metastasis in patients with bladder cancer treated by radical cystectomy and lymphadenectomy for primary bladder cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of records of Ninety-five patients who underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection during the period of 1995-2008 from a prospectively maintained database. Eighteen patients were excluded due to lack of data on the nodal status, leaving 77 evaluable patients. Associations between LN metastasis and age, gender, duration of disease, number of transurethral resection (TUR) prior to cystectomy, pathological grade and tumour stage was analyzed. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software, version 15. Statistical tests applied were independent sample t test or the Mann Whitney U test, the chi-square test and the Fischer exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the patients was 58 years in lymph node negative group and 63 years in lymph node positive group. There were 87% males and 13% females. LN metastasis was detected in 19 (25%) patients. Mean duration of disease in LN negative patients was 537 +/- 997 days compared to 509 +/- 708 days in LN positive patients. Mean number of TUR were same in both the groups, pathological grade was not found significantly different in both groups, where as primary tumour stage was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher in LN positive patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher primary tumour stage at radical cystectomy is associated with higher prevalence of lymph node metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Zaheer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Muhammad Hammad
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ather
authors.forename: Anila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamshaid
authors.forename: Khurram Muhammad
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Muhammad Nasir
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
mesh_terms: D015653:Cystectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*