Availability and Patterns of Intravesical BCG Instillations.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations are a cornerstone treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
• Optimal treatment protocols are crucial for improving recurrence-free survival in NMIBC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current availability and utilization of intravesical BCG therapy in urological centers.
• To identify patterns in BCG treatment, including indications, maintenance schedules, and follow-up strategies for NMIBC.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was conducted across 223 urological centers.
• The survey focused on identifying BCG availability and implemented treatment patterns for NMIBC.

Main Results:

• BCG was utilized in 56.5% of departments; 22.7% referred patients elsewhere, and 20.8% did not recommend BCG.
• Common indications included T1 tumors (88.5%), carcinoma in situ (83.6%), and high-grade tumors (73.8%).
• Maintenance therapy was often suboptimal, with significant abandonment or short durations reported.

Conclusions:

• BCG is underutilized in NMIBC treatment.
• Current patterns of BCG maintenance and follow-up are suboptimal, potentially impacting patient outcomes.