Anterior pelvic exenteration in bladder adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Bladder neoplasms are the second most common cancers of the urinary system and the thirteenth leading cause of death worldwide. In Cuba their incidence ranks tenth in the female population. One of the surgical alternatives available is pelvic exenteration when neighboring organs are compromised.

Objective: Present the case of a patient with bladder adenocarcinoma and vaginal infiltration operated on by pelvic exenteration technique.

Clinical case: A case is presented of a female 61-year-old hypertensive patient who had undergone right breast nodule exeresis at age 39 and had an obstetric history of two eutocic deliveries. The patient reports difficulty to urinate accompanied by low abdominal pain, a burning sensation and distension. A diagnosis was made of bladder adenocarcinoma with vaginal infiltration. The treatment applied consisted in anterior exenteration with total colpectomy, urinary diversion with bowel by Bricker's technique and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Conclusions: Pelvic exenteration is a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of neoplastic tumors compromising pelvic organs.

Key words: pelvic exenteration, adenocarcinoma, urinary bladder.