Impact of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging in Muscle-invasive Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder Staging

Exclusion Criteria

• •Age \< 18 years.
• •ECOG performance status \>2.
• •Predominant histology (\>50% of specimen) involves non-urothelial cell carcinoma.
• •Prior partial cystectomy.
• •Prior pelvis surgery that obviates a completed extended lymphadenectomy (e.g., aorto-femoral/iliac bypass) or for whom the surgeon feels that their ability to perform a standard or extended pelvic node dissection would be compromised.
• •Contraindications to FDG PET-CT.
• •Inability to lie supine for imaging with PET-CT.
• •Inadequate hepatic function:
• •(i) Bilirubin \>1.5 X ULN and (ii) SGOT and Alkaline phosphatase \>3 X ULN
• •History of another invasive malignancy within the previous 5 years with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer.
• •Known pregnancy or lactating female.
• •Inability to complete the study or required follow-up.