Bladder Cancer Staging
Staging of bladder cancer means determining the extent of growth and spread, i.e., is
the cancer confined to the inner lining of the bladder or does it extend into the muscle,
or has it spread to other tissues or organs, e.g., lungs and liver. Conventional
staging consists of the following: Bimanual examination, Transurethral resection or
tumor biopsy, Excretory Urogram (IVP), Computed Tomography (CT), Liver and Bone Scans,
Chest x-ray and possible CT of the chest, and Liver and renal function blood test.
Staging is very helpful in planning treatment.
Bladder Cancer
STAGE 1: |
The tumor has spread only into loose tissue beneath the
lining (lamina propria) but not into the bladder’s muscular wall or beyond. No lymph
nodes are involved. |
Bladder Cancer
STAGE 2: |
Tumor has invaded into the muscle wall (muscularis propria)
of the bladder but has not spread to lymph nodes or other sites in the body. |
Bladder Cancer
STAGE 3: |
Tumor has invaded through the muscle wall (muscularis
propria) of the bladder to involve the soft tissue around the bladder OR has invaded
adjacent organs including the prostate, uterus or vagina. No lymph nodes or other distant
sites in the body are involved at this stage. |
Bladder Cancer
STAGE 4: |
Tumor has extended out of the bladder to invade the pelvic or
abdominal wall, but does not involve lymph nodes or
other distant sites in the body. OR Tumor has spread to involve lymph nodes and/or other
distant sites in the body. |
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