Laparoscopic radical cystectomy for cancer; oncologic outcomes for up to 5 years: Haber GP, Gill IS, Section of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, Glickman Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

Objective ort the oncological outcomes at ≤ 5 years after laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC), as open RC is the reference standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but interest in LRC is increasing at selected centers worldwide and, as yet, there are no long-term follow-up data. ts and Methods n December 1999 and January 2005, 37 patients (mean age 66 years) had LRC with urinary diversion for invasive bladder cancer; 26 patients (70%) also had an extended pelvic lymphadenectomy. Overall and cancer-specific survival data were obtained from patient charts, radiographic reports, telephone contact, and a check of the Social Security Death Index. s umors were transitional cell carcinoma (32, 86%), high-grade (Grade III in 29, 78%) and high-stage (≥ pT2 in 26, 70%). Two patients had a positive surgical margin. The median (range) number of lymph nodes excised was 14 (2–24; seven patients (17%) had node-positive disease (pN1). Follow-up data were available for 35 patients (95%); eight (22%) completed ≥ 5 years of follow-up, and the mean (range) follow-up was 31 (1–66) months. At the last follow-up, 24 patients (65%) were alive with no evidence of disease and 11 (30%) were dead, two (5%) from metastasis and nine (24%) from unrelated causes. The 5-year actuarial overall, cancer-specific, and recurrence-free survival was 63%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. sion knowledge, this is the first report of ≤ 5-year follow-up after LRC; the data suggest that LRC provides oncological outcomes comparable to contemporary series of open RC.