Prognostic Significance of the Tumor Configuration in Superficial Bladder Tumor

Abstract

Purpose: The prognostic factors for superficial bladder tumor that affect tumor recurrence and progression have been studied for many years. They are stage, grade, size, multiplicity, microvessel invasion and etc. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of the tumor configuration on predicting its progression and recurrence. Materials and Methods: 128 patients who initially presented with superficial bladder tumor (pTis, pTa and pT1) were retrospectively analyzed according to many factors such as stage, grade, size, multiplicity, microvessel invasion and tumor configuration for tumor progression and recurrence after primary transurethral resection. Results: 48 patients (37.5%) experienced recurrent disease and 20 patients (15.6%) had progressive disease. The absence of stalk and microvessel invasion were the statistically significant factors for recurrence. Only microvessel invasion was a significant prognostic factor for progression. Conclusions: Only two factors, i.e., the absence of tumor stalk and microvessel invasion, were significant prognostic factors for tumor recurrence. Only microvessel invasion was a significant prognostic factor for tumor progression. When tumors are microvessel invasion positive without stalk after primary transurethral resection, these patients might then benefit from being treated with a more aggressive therapeutic modality. (Korean J Urol 2006;47:237-243) ꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏ