[Computed tomographic staging of bladder tumors]

Cystoscopy plays a leading role in the diagnosis of bladder tumors. However, in filtration of the bladder wall in depth and the perivesical spreading remains a moot point. Computer tomography (CT) furnishes the opportunity for complex assessment of the stage of bladder tumors. Personal experience is recorded with the study of 43 patients with previously diagnosed bladder tumors. Once the tumor has been verified on surgical intervention, the exactness of CT in determining the T-stage was 88 per cent and of the H-stage--67 per cent. T3-A was the earliest stage susceptible to be demonstrated by CT. The morphologic patterns of perivesical dissemination of the tumors evaluated by CT are described. A scheme is suggested for the place of computer-tomographic examination in assessing the state of patients with bladder tumors.