[Role of lymphadenectomy in patients with invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder]

Abstract

High-grade urothelial carcinomas of the bladder represent high-risk tumors and despite radical surgery and pelvic lymph node dissection patients have a lifelong risk for tumor progression and metastases. Since extended lymph node dissection detected metastases outside the fields of normal pelvic lymphadenectomy, it was concluded that all patients undergoing radical cystectomy should receive extended lymph node dissection. The article reviews published data discussing the question of whether lymph node dissection has prognostic or therapeutic relevance.