The treated histories of patients with Ta grade 1 transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder
G. R. Prout Jr, B. Bassil and P. Griffin
One hundred sixty patients with grade 1 transitional-cell carcinoma of the
bladder were evaluated and treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston. The mean follow-up period was 57 months. There were 92 new patients
and 68 patients who had a history of transitional-cell carcinoma.
Fifty-three patients (33%) never had another transitional-cell carcinoma.
Sixty-eight (43%) of the remaining 107 patients had recurrent Ta grade 1
transitional-cell carcinoma. In 32 patients (20%) disease progressed in
grade, in seven patients (4%) invasive transitional-cell carcinoma
developed, five patients underwent cystectomy, and one patient died of
transitional-cell carcinoma. High-risk factors included positive results of
cytologic studies after therapy and three or more recurrences. Multiple
therapies were used, but it is impossible to determine if anything other
than transurethral resection altered the course in these patients. The data
suggest that patients with low-risk factors and Ta grade 1 tumors might be
followed up with a quarterly cytologic examination and cystoscopy once or
twice a year, unless a change in symptoms occurs.
