Bipedal lymphography in the management of bladder cancer

Bipedal lymphography was performed in 91 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Equivocal reports were submitted in 18 (19.8%) examinations. In this series 18 (19.8%) of the patients died within one year of first treatment by radical radiotherapy. The prognosis was poorer in patients with more locally advanced tumours, in whom there was a higher proportion of abnormal lymphograms. An abnormal lymphogram was also related to a poorer prognosis than if the lymphogram was normal. This difference was greater when associated with a poorly differentiated cancer. The implications for management are discussed.