Preoperative Hydronephrosis Predicts Extravesical and Node Positive Disease in Patients Undergoing Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer

Hydronephrosis is an independent predictor of advanced bladder cancer stage, and it predicts extravesical disease and node positive disease. Thus, it could prove useful to select patients for neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. The strong correlation between hydronephrosis side and nodal metastasis may have implications for surgical staging and approach.