The value of routine preoperative urologic evaluation in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Routine preoperative intravenous pyelography was performed in a series of 105 consecutive male patients with rectal or rectosigmoid carcinomas who were totally free of urinary symptoms. Abnormal findings were present in 26 percent of those patients. Postoperative intravenous pyelograms were performed in 61 patients. Twenty-one percent of patients with negative preoperative intravenous pyelograms and 42 percent of patients with positive preoperative intravenous pyelograms had abnormal findings in the postoperative intravenous pyelograms. Preoperative cystoscopy was performed in 52 patients. Thirtyone percent of patients with negative preoperative intravenous pyelograms and 76 percent of patients with positive preoperative intravenous pyelograms had abnormal cystoscopic findings. The overwhelming majority of cystoscopic findings in patients with negative preoperative intravenous pyelograms were not related to the primary tumor. The findings of this prospective study suggest that routine preoperative intravenous pyelography is indicated in patients with rectosigmoid or rectal tumors without symptoms related to the urinary tract. Postoperative intravenous pyelography is indicated only in patients with positive preoperative intravenous pyelograms. Preoperative cystoscopy is indicated when the preoperative intravenous pyelogram is positive and especially if intravenous pyelography findings are suggestive of bladder-wall defect or extrinsic pressure.