A departmental audit of patients with bladder cancer

In keeping with the recent demands of the Department of Health for medical audit in clinical practice, an audit was undertaken of the management of bladder cancer patients in a large department of urology having three consultants with varied approaches of management. This study revealed interesting controversial areas for further scrutiny. For example, the poor prognosis of grade 3 T1 tumours with and without associated carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) and the speed of progression to invasive disease have indicated that a change to a more aggressive approach to the management of these tumours is necessary. High recurrence rates at the site of the original tumour (60%) and the presence of CIS also indicate the need for expert and thorough initial tumour assessment. The delays in diagnosis and treatment lend further support to the need for a 'haematuria clinic' to minimise such delays, which may influence prognosis. To reduce the occurrence of systematic errors in the recording, follow-up and surveillance of patients with bladder cancer, a protocol is suggested for a structured approach to optimise results, particularly in the poor prognostic categories.