Cáncer de vejiga

Bladder cancer is the ninth most frequent neoplasm in the world and the fifth in Europe. It usually occurs at older ages, with peak incidence between 70 and 80 years of age. The most common risk factor is smoking, which accounts for 50% of the cases. Bladder cancer usually presents with asymptomatic hematuria. This hematuria should be studied with a proper screening with cystoscopy and cytology. It may also be necessary to perform a computed tomography (CT) scan or to enlarge the tract to be analyzed. Treatment will take into account the degree of local involvement and distance. If the disease is local and there is no involvement of the bladder muscle layer, treatment will be based on a transurethral resection (TUR) with or without additional instillations depending on the risk of recurrence. If there is muscular layer involvement, treatment will be based on a radical cystectomy accompanied by neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapeutic treatment. Finally, if there is distant metastatic disease, treatment will be based on chemotherapy and immunotherapy.