Lymph node dissection during radical cystectomy for bladder cancer treatment: considerations on relevance and extent

Despite advances in the surgical and medical treatment for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB), there have only been limited improvements in disease-specific mortality rates over the past decades. Lymph node dissection (LND) during radical cystectomy is an integral part of the treatment for muscle-invasive and high-risk UCB. LND may detect and remove lymph node (LN) metastasis and thus guide patient counseling and decision making regarding additional treatment decisions. In addition, LND may improve survival in patients both with and without LN metastasis. In this non-systematic review article, we discuss benefits and risks of LND, the role of limited versus extended LND and the dilemma of preoperative LN staging.