Bladder Cancer

Initial Work up and Staging refers to imaging studies that are part of the routine evaluation of a patient prior to therapy

Restaging After Treatment refers to recommendations for studies to be performed regardless of the clinical status of the patient after completion of an episode of treatment.

Evaluation for Change in Clinical Status refers to examinations ordered to evaluate new or worsening signs and symptoms.

Surveillance Imaging refers to recommendations for imaging to be performed at intervals following therapy regardless of the clinical status of the patient.

Contrast enhanced CT or MRI of the pelvis

Pelvis MRI preferred for local staging, CT acceptable

Abdomen and Chest CT if tumor invades bladder wall (Stage T2 or higher)

MRI brain if there are neurologic signs or symptoms

Bone scan if elevated alkaline phosphatase or symptoms

PET may be of value if other studies are equivocal

As clinically indicated

Diagnostic Imaging Oncology; Shaaban et al eds.; Amirsys Corp. 2012; Urinary Bladder Carcinoma p 5-64

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Bladder Cancer V 1.2012 accessed 12/29/10

NCCN Guidelines Version 2.2012 Bladder Cancer accessed 7/8/2012

NCCN Guidelines version 1.2012 Bladder Cancer accessed 11/23/2012

Schöder H, Larson SM Positron emission tomography for prostate, bladder, and renal cancer. Semin Nucl Med. 2004 Oct;34(4):274-92.

Drieskens O, Oyen R, Van Poppel H, Vankan Y, Flamen P, Mortelmans L. FDG-PET for preoperative staging of bladder cancer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2005 Dec;32(12):1412-7.