Prognostic significance of vascular and perineural invasion in urothelial bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy.

Purpose: Data on the prognostic significance of tumor invading lymphatic and blood vessels in bladder cancer are controversial, while little is known about perineural invasion in this tumor. We determined the prognostic value of these parameters in radical cystectomy specimens.

Materials And Methods: Slides of 283 radical cystectomy specimens obtained from 1986 to 1997 were examined retrospectively with respect to tumor invasion in lymphatic and blood vessels, and perineural spaces.