Urethral and neobladder cytologic survey in patients with total cystectomy

Fourteen patients with total cystectomy and sigmoidian ureterostomy, 10 with cutaneous ureterostomy and 6 with substitution bladder were studied from the cytologic point of view; from all patients samples of voided urine, urethral and neobladder washing were taken and smears stained with blue polychrom-tanin Drăgan; the smears which belong to the last group were cytochemically investigated, too. From morphohistochemical point of view biopsies taken from cases with recurrences and one case with substitution bladder which died in the 10th day after surgery were studied. The cytologic study revealed two recurrences: one urethral and one at the pelvis level at 18 and respectively 4 months from total cystectomy, both being transitional cell carcinoma. Cytologic and histochemical aspects of the intestinal wall used as neobladder are described, revealing epithelial modifications and chronic inflammatory infiltrate with marked decrease of mucous synthesis. The importance of urinary cytology in oncologic survey of these patients is discussed.