[Cancer of the bladder and hemodialysis]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Oncology
• Urology

Context:

• Long-term dialysis patients exhibit a higher incidence of malignant tumors compared to the general population.
• Bladder cancer represents a significant proportion of malignancies in dialysis patients, differing from reported literature frequencies.
• Existing literature shows variability in cancer types and frequencies among patients undergoing long-term dialysis.

Purpose:

• To report the incidence of malignant tumors, specifically bladder cancer, in a cohort of 324 long-term dialysis patients.
• To highlight the elevated risk of bladder tumors in this patient group.
• To introduce a two-stage diagnostic protocol for detecting bladder tumors in dialysis patients.

Summary:

• A study of 324 long-term dialysis patients revealed 14 (4.3%) developed malignant tumors, with 4 cases of bladder cancer.
• Bladder tumors constituted 28.5% of all malignancies in this cohort, a higher proportion than commonly reported in literature for other cancers like lymphoma or lung cancer.
• A literature review indicated significant variations in tumor types and frequencies among dialysis patients, underscoring the need for tailored diagnostic approaches.

Impact:

• The findings emphasize the critical need for vigilance regarding bladder tumors in long-term dialysis patients.
• A proposed two-stage diagnostic protocol aims to facilitate early detection of bladder tumors.
• Recommends implementing the initial stage of the diagnostic protocol for symptomatic patients or those requiring urologic evaluation before kidney transplantation.