Occult lymph node metastases in patients without residual muscle-invasive bladder cancer at radical cystectomy with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a nationwide study of 5417 patients.
Lisa M C van HoogstratenE J van GennepL A L M KiemeneyJ A WitjesC S VoskuilenM DeelenL S MertensR P MeijerJ L BoormansD G J RobbrechtL V BeerepootR H A VerhoevenT M Rippingnull nullB W G van RhijnK K H AbenT J N HermansPublished in: World journal of urology (2021)
Occult LNM were found in 4.3% of patients with cT2-4aN0M0 MIBC with (near-) complete downstaging of the primary tumor following RC plus PLND. This was regardless of NAC or clinical T-stage. Patients with occult LNM showed considerable worse survival. These results can help in counseling patients for bladder-sparing treatments.