Monitoring and malignancy concerns in patients with congenital bladder anomalies

There are concerns that patients with congenital bladder anomalies (CBA) may be at higher risk for developing bladder malignancy later in life. To date there is no consensus on how to monitor these patients to prevent this devastating malignancy. We will review the current understanding of bladder malignancy in patients with CBA and the status of surveillance tests.

Initial reports observed that augmentation cystoplasty in CBA may be an independent risk factor for bladder malignancy. Since that time, studies have identified that the augmented bladder may not be the culprit, but the congenital bladder itself may be at risk. Further, reports determined cystoscopy and cytology are not cost-effective at detecting these malignancies. Bladder cancer in these patients at presentation is typically aggressive and presents at a younger age, high stage with high mortality.

Surveillance cystoscopy and cytology of the adult congenital bladder should be discontinued as the evidence shows they are not effective, given the low incidence, high cost, and inability to alter the course of disease. Symptomatic patients should prompt a detailed evaluation for bladder cancer using standard testing.