Vesical diverticulum associated with bladder carcinoma: therapeutic implications

Of 146 patients with bladder diverticula during a 15-year period 9 had associated transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: 3 (2 per cent of all patients with diverticula) in the diverticulum, 3 adjacent to the ostium of the diverticulum and 3 remote from the diverticulum. All 3 patients with carcinoma in the diverticulum died of metastases, whereas the other 6 patients survived more than 5 years. We propose aggressive treatment for patients with carcinoma in the diverticulum but we do not recommend routine diverticulectomy in cases of asymptomatic and uncomplicated diverticula.