A clinicopathologic study of gynecologic organ involvement at radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

To report the clinicopathologic analysis of women who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in Egypt from 1997 to 2005.

Clinicopathologic data for 250 women who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer at 3 centers in Cairo were retrospectively reviewed from hospital charts and pathology sheet records. Cystectomy specimens were evaluated pathologically for involvement of internal genitalia.

The uterus was not available for histopathologic examination in 11 specimens; 1 ovary was absent from 18 specimens; and both ovaries were absent from 2 specimens. Uterine involvement was observed in 1 case of transitional cell carcinoma. Benign uterine pathology was detected in 25 cases. All patients had normal ovaries, and the vagina was involved in 11 cases. There was urethral involvement in 10% of patients. Of the 50 patients available for follow-up, 11 had 1 ovary preserved and 2 had the uterus plus both ovaries preserved. None of them experienced late ovarian or uterine recurrence.

Involvement of female internal genitalia in bladder cancer is uncommon. Thus, preservation of these organs in young women undergoing radical cystectomy should be considered in selected cases after careful preoperative assessment.