Long-Term Intracavitary Epodyl® in Multiple or Extensive Papillary Tumours of the Urinary Bladder

Encouraging results using instillation of cytostatics in the urinary bladder have been reported. Ethoglucid (EpodylR ICI, England) is among the preparations used. It seems to lack toxicity and may be effective. We report here our experience with intracavitary EpodylR in seven patients. There was one woman and six men, 59–77 years of age, all with papillary tumours occupying the major part of the mucosa. Cytological and histological specimens showed that all were grade I or II (WHO) and of category T1 or T2 (TNM). One ml of EpodylR (1.13 g ethoglucid) was dissolved in 100 ml of sterile water. The solution was introduced via a urethral catheter and retained in the bladder for 1–3 hours. In no case was there any reason to discontinue the treatment on account of side- effects. Initially EpodylR was given once a week for three months. Thereafter the interval between treatments was increased to one month. Upon recurrence another series of weekly treatments was considered. One patient died of pneumonia one month after treatment was started. His clinical bladder status was unchanged. For the remaining six patients the periods of treatment were 4, 12, 18, 24, 24 and 24 months with a total number of treatments of 12, 16, 23, 26, 34 and 40 respectively. In one of the patients complete regression of visible lesions occurred.