Staging of Bladder Cancer with Multi-Detector Row Helical Computed Tomography Correlated with Pathology

Objective To evaluate multi-detector row helical computed tomographic(MDCT) findings of the bladder cancer in the staging of the bladder cancer.Materials and Methods MDCT findings in 44 patients with bladder cancers confirmed by pathology were assessed retrospectively.Results Transitional cell carcinomas were found in the bladder in all 44 patients on histopathologic examination.CT showed diffuse thickening of the bladder wall in 1 case,solitary nodule in 22 cases,and multiple papillary masses in 21 cases.After contrast administration,the tumor mildly or moderately enhanced.Perivesical fat and adjacent structures and lymph nodes were involved.Among 33 patients with T1 and T2 bladder cancers,the linear enhancement of the bladder wall was identified in 24 patients.In 11 patients with T3 and T4 bladder cancers,the linear enhancement of the bladder wall was demonstrated in 1 patient.Correlated with the staging of the bladder cancer by pathology,the accuracy of MDCT in the staging of the bladder cancer was 68.2%.Conclusion Thin-slice CT could demonstrate features of the bladder cancer,which might increase the accuracy of MDCT in the staging of the bladder cancer.