Results of implantation for T1 and T2 bladder tumours

In the period from January 1972 through December 1983 a total of 123 patients was treated for a bladder malignancy by preoperative external irradiation followed by interstitial therapy. Criteria for selection of patients are solitary lesion, tumour smaller than 5 cm in diameter, state T1 and T2. The majority of patients was in state T2 (89 patients). Persisting local control was achieved in 29 out of 34 T1 cases and in 69 out of 85 T2 cases. The actuarial 10 years survival was 72% for T1 and 34% for T2, with a total disease-free percentage at 10 years of 77% for T1 and 56% for T2. Although in many patients delayed wound healing was noticed, no serious late reactions were seen in skin, bladder or intestine. The causes of death are distant metastases in 13 patients and intercurrent diseases in another 21 patients.