Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the essential first step in the current algorithm for the management of bladder cancer (BC). However, despite its necessity and significance, TURBT has several limitations, including cost, hospitalization, anesthesia, potential complications such as bladder perforation, and delay to radical cystectomy. The Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) was developed to standardize the reporting of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for BC, and its diagnostic accuracy to predict muscle invasion has been validated. Given the high sensitivity of VI-RADS ≥ 3 and high specificity of VI-RADS ≥ 4 as clinically relevant cutoff values, we herein propose a new VI-RADS-based algorithm for the management of BC. Using this algorithm, patients with VI-RADS ≤ 2 may not need to undergo sampling of the detrusor muscle nor second TURBT even if there is no muscle in the initial TURBT specimen, whereas patients with VI-RADS ≥ 4 may skip conventional TURBT aimed at pathologic confirmation of muscle invasion and immediately undergo radical cystectomy. Our newly proposed algorithm enables the avoidance of unnecessary deep resection or second TURBT as well as delay to radical cystectomy. The VI-RADS-based algorithm enables a paradigm shift from the current TURBT-dependent practice in the management of BC.
Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Muscle invasion; Radical cystectomy; Staging; Urothelial carcinoma.
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