Original articles Authors: Ajith Peiris Malalasekera , University of Colombo, LK About Ajith Peiris Faculty of Medicine X close Dileepa Ediriweera, University of Kelaniya, LK About Dileepa Faculty of Medicine X close Serozsha A. S. Goonewardena, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK X close Neville D. Perera, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK X close Anuruddha Abeygunasekara, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK X close Rohan W. Jayasekara, University of Colombo, LK About Rohan W. Faculty of Medicine X close Kalum Wettasinghe, University of Colombo, LK About Kalum Faculty of Medicine X close Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, University of Colombo, LK About Vajira H. W. Faculty of Medicine X close Menaka Dilani S. Lokuhetty University of Colombo, LK About Menaka Dilani S. Faculty of Medicine X close Abstract

Introduction: Bladder cancer has the 9th highest incidence among Sri Lankan males. This study describes the demographic profiles and survival in bladder cancer patients at two tertiary care centres in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A group of patients with urothelial bladder cancer, presenting for the first time for definitive treatment, were prospectively enrolled from 2013 to 2017.

Results: There were sixty-six patients, with median age of 65 years and male to female ratio of 7:1. Histopathologically pTa 24%, pT1 47% and pT2 29%. Of the pT1 tumours 61% were low grade (LG).  The majority (71%) of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour only.

 

For the entire cohort the 5-year overall survival was 59% and cancer specific survival (CSS) was 65%. CSS in NMIBC was 75% and 30% in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The 5-year female CSS (22%) was significantly lower than in males (71%).

Conclusion: Our cohort has a high male to female ratio. The percentage of MIBC was lower than reported in previous Sri Lankan studies. Of the pT1 tumours there is a higher percentage of pT1 LG patients in comparison to Western reports. There is low utilisation of intravesical mitomycin / bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) in the treatment of NMIBC. The 5-year CSS in the Sri Lankan (lower middle-income economy) cohort lies between the values of high-income economies and upper middle-income economies in Asia. The reasons for poor CSS among Sri Lankan women with bladder cancer needs to be further investigated.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v67i3.9694 How to Cite: Malalasekera, A.P., Ediriweera, D., Goonewardena, S.A.S., Perera, N.D., Abeygunasekara, A., Jayasekara, R.W., Wettasinghe, K., Dissanayake, V.H.W. and Lokuhetty, M.D.S., 2022. Demographics, pathological characteristics and survival in urothelial bladder cancer in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients. Ceylon Medical Journal, 67(3), pp.81–88. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v67i3.9694

Published on 30 Dec 2022.

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