Management of low grade papillary bladder tumors.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the management and treatment outcomes of low grade papillary bladder tumors.


METHODS
We evaluated 215 patients diagnosed with low grade and noninvasive papillary bladder tumors, and followed them every 6 months with flexible cystoscopy for 6 to 10 or more years. Tumor recurrence was treated with transurethral resection or outpatient cystoscopic fulguration.


RESULTS
Of the 215 patients 143 (67%) had at least 1 recurrence (positive cystoscopy). With a median followup of 8 years tumor recurrences averaged 6.2 (range 1 to 19) requiring 0.34 transurethral resections per year or 1 transurethral resection every 3 years, or 0.61 fulgurations or 1 fulguration approximately every 2 years. There were 17 patients (8%) who had progression in grade or stage and 1 patient (0.5%) died of bladder cancer. Patients most likely to have recurrence had multiple tumors, low grade (TaLG) carcinoma or tumor at first followup cystoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Surveillance cystoscopy at 6-month intervals coupled with outpatient fulguration controls recurrent tumors and reduces the therapeutic burden for patients diagnosed with low grade papillary bladder tumors.
Herr
Harry W
HW
Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA. herrh@mskcc.org
Donat
S Machele
SM
Reuter
Victor E
VE
D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003558:Cystoscopy; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010212:Papilloma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*