title: Long-term followup of initial Ta grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluate the long-term outcome of initial Ta grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 152 patients with initial Ta grade 1 bladder tumor were followed for a mean of 76 months (range 6 to 241). Recurrence was defined as positive findings on cystoscopy or biopsy. Progression was defined as an increase in tumor grade or stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumor recurrence in 83 of 152 patients (55%) was noted within 12 months of followup in 38 patients (46%), between 12 and 24 in 11 (13%), and between 24 and 60 in 22 (27%). A significant number of recurrences (12, 14%) were diagnosed more than 60 months after the first tumor. Of 83 patients with recurrence 31 (37%) had progression, including 21 to grade 2 and 2 to grade 3 disease. Carcinoma in situ was diagnosed in 3 patients and 5 had muscle invasive disease. Progression occurred more than 24 months after initial diagnosis in 20 patients and more than 60 months after first tumor event (2 had carcinoma in situ and 2 had muscle invasive disease) in 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ta grade 1 bladder transitional cell carcinomas have a high recurrence rate and progression is not uncommon. These findings warrant close long-term followup, even when in some settings the trend is to discontinue followup after 5 years without any abnormal findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, CHUM-Campus St-Luc, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leblanc
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duclos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bénard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valiquette
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Paquin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mauffette
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faucher
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perreault
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*