[The risk of cancer in neuropathic bladders]

Neuropathic bladder is on number six in a list of predisposing factors for bladder cancer. The incidence is reported to be between 0.25 and 9.7%. For these patients mortality is about twenty times higher than in patients with normal bladder function. Chronic infection of the urinary tract and long-term indwelling catheter increase the risk of cancer. Pure squamous cell and squamous cell carcinoma with elements of transitional cell carcinoma is noticed to be surprisingly frequent. In comparison, carcinoma in defunctionalized bladder is rare. For prophylaxis, instead of using a long-term catheter, intermittent catheterization is supposed to be applied as well as consequent cystoscopic examination once a year and 'mapping' of a neuropathic bladder which exists longer than 10 years.