Bladder cancer is the seventh most common cancer in men worldwide and the tenth when considering both sexes.

It is a complex and multifactorial disease that recognizes several risk factors:

• Tobacco: The hydrocarbons contained in tobacco smoke are excreted through the kidneys, increasing the risk of bladder cancer. As the duration and intensity of tobacco use increase, the risk of developing bladder tumors significantly rises.
• Occupational exposure: Exposure to chemicals such as amines and hydrocarbons, which mainly occurs in industrial plants processing paints and metals, is the second most important risk factor.
• Radiation

These factors underline the importance of prevention, both through reducing tobacco consumption and implementing safety measures in the workplace.

DIAGNOSIS

Bladder cancer is a clinical condition that requires accurate and timely diagnosis due to its potential development and possible complications.
Hematuria, or the presence of blood in the urine, is the primary and most common symptom. This may be accompanied, although less frequently, by sensations of pain and burning during urination.

Diagnosis begins with taking a detailed medical history, where it is essential to identify risk factors such as smoking history, exposure to chemicals, and the presence of recurrent urinary infections.

Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis:

• Abdominal ultrasound may not be sufficient to identify small lesions.
• Cystoscopy is the reference examination, as it allows direct visualization of the bladder mucosa and thus provides a clear assessment of the location and extent of the disease.

Bone scintigraphy and uro-CT are particularly useful for evaluating possible tumor infiltration into surrounding tissues and for identifying distant metastases, thereby contributing to targeted therapeutic planning.

TRATTAMENTO

Il trattamento chirurgico del tumore della vescica può variare notevolmente a seconda delle caratteristiche specifiche del tumore stesso.

Per i tumori non infiltranti e di piccole dimensioni, la resezione endoscopica vescicale transuretrale (TURBT) è una procedura comune e meno invasiva, che permette di rimuovere il tumore e di preservare la vescica. Per quelli infiltranti, invece, la cistectomia radicale è la scelta appropriata, comportando l’asportazione totale della vescica.