Risk-stratified surveillance and cost effectiveness of follow-up after radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer

BACKGROUND: The recurrence risk stratification and the cost effectiveness of oncological surveillance after radical cystectomy are not clear. We aimed to develop a risk stratification and a surveillance protocol with improved cost effectiveness after radical cystectomy. RESULTS: Of 581 enrolled patients, 175 experienced disease recurrences. The pathology-based protocol presented significant differences in recurrence-free survival between normal- and high-risk patients, but the medical expense was high, especially in normal-risk (≤pT2pN0) patients. Cox regression analysis identified six factors associated with recurrence-free survival. Risk score-based 5-year follow-up was significantly more cost effective than the pathology-based protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 581 patients with radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer at 4 hospitals. Patients with routine oncological follow-up were stratified into normal- and high-risk groups by a pathology-based protocol utilizing pT, pN, lymphovascular invasion, and histology. Cost effectiveness of the pathology-based protocol was evaluated and a risk-score-based protocol was developed to optimize cost effectiveness. Risk-scores were calculated by summing risk factors independently associated with recurrence-free survival. Patients were stratified by low-, intermediate-, and high-risk score. Estimated cost per one recurrence detection by the pathology and by risk-scores were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Risk-score-stratified surveillance protocol has potential to reduce over-evaluation after radical cystectomy without adverse effects on medical cost.