title: Should pT1 transitional cell cancers of the bladder still be classified as superficial?
abstract: Of 171 patients consecutively presenting with newly diagnosed transitional cell cancer (TCC) of the bladder, 107 were "superficial"; 98 have been followed up for 2 years and 84 for 3 years. No patient with pTa TCC developed muscle infiltrating recurrences, although 15% progressed to pT1 category by 3 years. At 2 and 3 years respectively, 33 and 46% of the pT1 TCC had progressed to infiltrate muscle. The use of the term "superficial" to describe pTa and pT1 category TCC together in one grouping should be reconsidered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital and Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*