Incidence and pattern of bladder tumor recurrence following combined suprapubic prostatectomy and excision of a bladder tumor

We studied retrospectively 36 patients who had undergone combined suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and excision of a simultaneous bladder tumor. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 7 years (average 3 years) and included periodic cytoscopy and voided urine cytology. Thirteen recurrences out of 60 (21.7%) occurred at the bladder neck, in 8 out of 23 patients (34.8%) with recurrent tumors. We relate the high recurrence rate located at the bladder neck to the concurrent prostatectomy. We conclude that combined surgery for BPH and bladder tumor is not recommended since it predisposes the bladder neck to tumor implantation at surgery.