The role of partial cystectomy in the treatment of recurrent invasive bladder cancer following radiotherapy.

Summary— Seventeen patients with recurrent invasive bladder cancer following radical radiotherapy were treated by partial cystectomy. Thirteen patients required augmentation enterocystoplasty, using an ileal patch in 10 patients and large bowel in the others. After 4 years' follow-up, eight patients are alive and disease-free with good bladder function. Of the nine patients who died, six died from bladder cancer and three of these suffered local recurrences. Responsiveness to radiotherapy or tumour stage were not helpful in predicting local recurrences, but all patients who had this complication had anaplastic tumours. In selected patients this procedure offers an alternative to salvage cystectomy, especially where a urinary diversion may be inappropriate.