Consistencies in Follow-up After Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer : A Framework Based on Expert Practices Collaboratively Developed by the European Association of Urology Bladder Cancer Guideline Panels
(2025) In European Urology Oncology 8(1). p.105-110- Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is no standardized regimen for follow-up after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BC). To address this gap, we conducted a multicenter study involving urologist members from the European Association of Urology (EAU) bladder cancer guideline panels. Our objective was to identify consistent post-RC follow-up strategies and develop a practice-based framework based on expert opinion. METHODS: We surveyed 27 urologist members of the EAU guideline panels for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer using a pre-tested questionnaire with dichotomous responses. The survey inquired about follow-up strategies after RC and the use of risk-adapted strategies.... (More)
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is no standardized regimen for follow-up after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BC). To address this gap, we conducted a multicenter study involving urologist members from the European Association of Urology (EAU) bladder cancer guideline panels. Our objective was to identify consistent post-RC follow-up strategies and develop a practice-based framework based on expert opinion. METHODS: We surveyed 27 urologist members of the EAU guideline panels for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer using a pre-tested questionnaire with dichotomous responses. The survey inquired about follow-up strategies after RC and the use of risk-adapted strategies. Consistency was defined as >75% affirmative responses for follow-up practices commencing 3 mo after RC. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: We received responses from 96% of the panel members, who provided data from 21 European hospitals. Risk-adapted follow-up is used in 53% of hospitals, with uniform criteria for high-risk (at least ≥pT3 or pN+) and low-risk ([y]pT0/a/1N0) cases. In the absence of agreement for risk-based follow up, a non-risk-adapted framework for follow-up was developed. Higher conformity was observed within the initial 3 yr, followed by a decline in subsequent follow-up. Follow-up was most frequent during the first year, including patient assessments, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen/pelvis was the most common imaging modality, initially at least biannually, and then annually from years 2 to 5. There was a lack of consistency for continuing follow-up beyond 10 yr after RC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This practice-based post-RC follow-up framework developed by EAU bladder cancer experts may serve as a valuable guide for urologists in the absence of prospective randomized studies. PATIENT SUMMARY: We asked urologists from the EAU bladder cancer guideline panels about their patient follow-up after surgical removal of the bladder for bladder cancer. We found that although urologists have varying approaches, there are also common follow-up practices across the panel. We created a practical follow-up framework that could be useful for urologists in their day-to-day practice.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-02-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Bladder cancer, Cystectomy, Follow-up, Imaging, Urothelial carcinoma
- in
- European Urology Oncology
- volume
- 8
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 6 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85218496288
- pmid:38906795
- ISSN
- 2588-9311
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.euo.2024.05.010
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.
- id
- 5bc54c81-b98b-4c07-ac2d-ef5d69bcf4fe
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-23 15:38:00
- date last changed
- 2025-07-21 17:57:05
@article{5bc54c81-b98b-4c07-ac2d-ef5d69bcf4fe,
abstract = {{<p>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is no standardized regimen for follow-up after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BC). To address this gap, we conducted a multicenter study involving urologist members from the European Association of Urology (EAU) bladder cancer guideline panels. Our objective was to identify consistent post-RC follow-up strategies and develop a practice-based framework based on expert opinion. METHODS: We surveyed 27 urologist members of the EAU guideline panels for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer using a pre-tested questionnaire with dichotomous responses. The survey inquired about follow-up strategies after RC and the use of risk-adapted strategies. Consistency was defined as >75% affirmative responses for follow-up practices commencing 3 mo after RC. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: We received responses from 96% of the panel members, who provided data from 21 European hospitals. Risk-adapted follow-up is used in 53% of hospitals, with uniform criteria for high-risk (at least ≥pT3 or pN+) and low-risk ([y]pT0/a/1N0) cases. In the absence of agreement for risk-based follow up, a non-risk-adapted framework for follow-up was developed. Higher conformity was observed within the initial 3 yr, followed by a decline in subsequent follow-up. Follow-up was most frequent during the first year, including patient assessments, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen/pelvis was the most common imaging modality, initially at least biannually, and then annually from years 2 to 5. There was a lack of consistency for continuing follow-up beyond 10 yr after RC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This practice-based post-RC follow-up framework developed by EAU bladder cancer experts may serve as a valuable guide for urologists in the absence of prospective randomized studies. PATIENT SUMMARY: We asked urologists from the EAU bladder cancer guideline panels about their patient follow-up after surgical removal of the bladder for bladder cancer. We found that although urologists have varying approaches, there are also common follow-up practices across the panel. We created a practical follow-up framework that could be useful for urologists in their day-to-day practice.</p>}},
author = {{Mertens, Laura S. and Bruins, Harman Maxim and Contieri, Roberto and Babjuk, Marek and Rai, Bhavan P. and Puig, Albert Carrión and Escrig, Jose Luis Dominguez and Gontero, Paolo and van der Heijden, Antoine G. and Liedberg, Fredrik and Martini, Alberto and Masson-Lecomte, Alexandra and Meijer, Richard P. and Mostafid, Hugh and Neuzillet, Yann and Pradere, Benjamin and Redlef, John and van Rhijn, Bas W.G. and Rouanne, Matthieu and Rouprêt, Morgan and Sæbjørnsen, Sæbjørn and Seisen, Thomas and Shariat, Shahrokh F. and Soria, Francesco and Soukup, Viktor and Thalmann, George and Xylinas, Evanguelos and Mariappan, Paramananthan and Alfred Witjes, J.}},
issn = {{2588-9311}},
keywords = {{Bladder cancer; Cystectomy; Follow-up; Imaging; Urothelial carcinoma}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{105--110}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{European Urology Oncology}},
title = {{Consistencies in Follow-up After Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer : A Framework Based on Expert Practices Collaboratively Developed by the European Association of Urology Bladder Cancer Guideline Panels}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.euo.2024.05.010}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.euo.2024.05.010}},
volume = {{8}},
year = {{2025}},
}