Metastatic Disease or an Early Stage Bladder Cancer? A Difficult Question

Abstract

Bladder cancer is the second most common tumor in the urinary system. Compared to other malignancies, it has a relatively different metastatic potential. The skeletal system is the most common metastatic site of cancer. According to studies most common metastatic site of bladder cancer is skeletal system. In retrospective analysis; presence of bone metastasis was found to be more common in patients with deep muscle invasion than superficial muscular involvement and according to the histopathologic subgroup. Lymph node involvement, histologic grade, and pT stage were found to be prognostic factors for distant metastases. In contrast; there are cases with superficial tumors that develop metastasis in follow-up. Even if the patient was diagnosed at an early stage, we should be careful about bone metastasis that may develop in the follow-up.