title: Long-term follow-up of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bladder tumours are rare in children, with only 0.38% of cases occurring in the first two decades of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a long-term follow-up series of nine urothelial bladder tumours in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a retrospective study covering the period from 1988 until 2005. We found that during this time, urothelial tumours had been diagnosed at our centre in eight patients (9 tumours) younger than 18 years old who reported an episode of haematuria. Diagnosis was attained through renal and bladder ultrasound in 85% of patients, and through cystoscopy under anaesthesia in 15%. All cases were treated by means of transurethral resection of the bladder, with ensuing follow-up using renal and bladder ultrasound and urinary cytology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients characteristics and outcome are evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single exophytic tumours were present in seven (87.5%) of the patients, located either in the lateral wall or in the trigone; one patient showed two small tumours. The pathology was as follows: two G1Ta, one G1T1, one G2T1, and five G2Ta. There were no recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transitional cell carcinoma in childhood is of low grade and low aggressiveness. It has a good prognosis and recurrences are infrequent. We suggest performing a urinary cytology/cystoscopy every 6 months the first 2 years and urinary cytology/bladder ultrasound once a year.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Urology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: abujons76@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bujons
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Urology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caffaratti
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Urology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garat
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Urology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villavicencio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003558:Cystoscopy; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Bladder; Childhood; Transitional cell carcinoma; Tumour