Follow-up after cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder

Follow-up after cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder requires special considerations. Patients must be monitored for "new" urothelial tumors, followed for a local pelvic recurrence or distant metastasis of the original primary cancer, and monitored for sequelae from the urinary diversion. Additional urothelial tumors may be amenable to salvage therapy if identified at an early stage. This is particularly true for a urethral carcinoma identified by urethral washing. Metastatic disease may be better palliated by earlier detection. The frequency of metabolic complications after either continent cutaneous or orthotopic urinary diversion may not be defined precisely at this time and lifelong follow-up will be necessary.