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Background Patients with bladder cancer are apt to develop multiple recurrences that require intervention. We examined the recurrence, progression and bladder cancer-related mortality rates in a cohort of individuals with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methods Using linked SEER-Medicare data, we identified subjects with a diagnosis of high-grade, non-muscle-invasive disease in 1992–2002 and were followed until 2007. We then used multivariate competing-risks regression analyses to examine recurrence, progression, and bladder cancer-related mortality rates. Results Of 7,410 subjects, 2,897 (39.1%) experienced a recurrence without progression, 2,449 (33.0%) experienced disease progression, of whom 981 succumbed to bladder cancer. Using competing-risks regression analysis, we found the 10-year recurrence, progression, and bladder cancer-related mortality rates to be 74.3%, 33.3%, and 12.3%, respectively. Stage T1 was the only variable associated with a higher rate of recurrence. Women, black race, undifferentiated grade, stage Tis and T1 were associated with a higher risk of progression and mortality. Advanced age (≥70) was associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer-related mortality. Conclusions Nearly three-fourths of patients diagnosed with high-risk bladder cancer will recur, progress, or die within ten years of their diagnosis. Even though most patients do not die of bladder cancer, the vast majority endures the morbidity of recurrence and progression of their cancer. Increasing efforts should be made to offer patients intravesical therapy with the goal of minimizing the incidence of recurrences. Furthermore, the high recurrence rate seen during the first two years of diagnosis warrants an intense surveillance schedule.

Improved ureteroscopic access to stones throughout the pediatric urinary tract and stone-free rates that are comparable to the adult population have led to the adoption of ureteroscopy as first line therapy in children at our institution.

The diagnosis of bladder cancer is an opportunity for smoking cessation. Urologists can play an integral role in affecting the patterns of tobacco use of those newly diagnosed.

Background Hematuria is a common clinical finding and represents the most frequent presenting sign of bladder cancer. The American Urological Association recommends cystoscopy and abdomino-pelvic imaging for patients over 35 years. Nonetheless, fewer than half of patients presenting with hematuria undergo proper evaluation. We sought to identify clinical and non-clinical factors associated with evaluation of persons with newly diagnosed hematuria. Methods Retrospective cohort study, using claims data and laboratory values. The primary exposure was practice site, as a surrogate for non-clinical, potentially modifiable sources of variation. Primary outcomes were cystoscopy and/or abdomino-pelvic imaging within 180 days following hematuria diagnosis. We modeled the association between clinical and non-clinical factors and appropriate hematuria evaluation. Results We identified 2,455 primary care patients 40 years of age or older diagnosed with hematuria between 2004 and 2012 in the absence of other explanatory diagnosis. 13.7% of patients underwent cystoscopy within 180 days. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant variation between those who did and did not undergo evaluation in age, gender and anti-coagulant use (p<0.001, p=0.036, p=0.028). Addition of practice site improved the predictive discrimination of each model (p<0.001). Evaluation was associated with higher rates of genitourinary neoplasia diagnosis. Conclusions Patients with hematuria rarely underwent complete evaluation. While established risk factors for malignancy were associated with increasing use of diagnostic testing, factors unassociated with risk, such as practice site, also accounted for significant variation. Inconsistency across practice sites is undesirable and may be amenable to quality improvement interventions.

Ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy are safe and effective in children with lower-pole calculi. Ureteroscopy can be considered a primary treatment option for children with lower-pole calculi <15 mm.

Purpose There are growing concerns regarding the overtreatment of localized prostate cancer. It is also relatively unknown whether there has been increased uptake of observational strategies for disease management. We assessed the temporal trend in use of observation for clinically localized prostate cancer, particularly among men with low-risk disease, who were young and healthy enough to undergo treatment. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry linked to Medicare claims (SEER-Medicare database) in 66,499 men with localized prostate cancer between 2004 and 2009. The main outcome was use of observation within one year following diagnosis. We performed multivariable analysis to develop a predictive model for use of observation adjusting for diagnosis year, age, risk and comorbidity. Results Observation was used in 12,007 men (18%) with a slight increase over time from 17% to 20%. However, there was marked increase in the use of observation from 18% in 2004 to 29% in 2009 for men with low-risk disease. Men 66–69 years old, with low-risk disease and no comorbidities, had twice the odds of undergoing observation in 2009 versus 2004 (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.73–2.59). In addition to the diagnosis year, age, risk group, comorbidity and race were independent predictors of undergoing observation (all P<.001). Conclusions We identified increasing use of observation for low-risk prostate cancer between 2004 and 2009, even among men young and healthy enough for treatment, suggesting growing acceptance of surveillance in this group of patients.

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