Long-Term Follow Up of Superficial Bladder Tumors

Objective: To study the recurrence rate of superficial bladder tumors at Cairo university hospitals. Patients and Methods: Sixty-six patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma who were treated by either Nd: YAG laser therapy (16 patients) or transurethral resection (50 patients) were followed for a mean of 5.5 years. Results: Local tumor recurrence at the same site of the original tumor occurred in 39% of patients while remote recurrence occurred in 33% of patients. The total recurrence rate was 59%. Tumor progression to invasive carcinoma occurred in 7 patients (11%), and 3 patients (4.5%) died of disease-related causes. Conclusion: The treatment of superficial TCC may be done by relatively minor endoscopic procedures, but the disease itself is a serious condition that merits close long-term follow-up. Key words: bladder tumors, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), ND: YAG lasers, transurethral resection (TURT) Suivi a long terme des tumeurs superficielles de la vessie Objectif: Etudier le taux de recidive des tumeurs superficielles de la vessie aux hopitaux de l\'Universite du Caire. Patients et Methodes: Soixante six (66) malades avec carcinomes a cellules transitionnelles superficiels traites par: therapie laser YAG (16 malades) ou resection transurethrale (50 malades) ont ete suivi durant en moyenne 5,5 ans. Resultats: La recidive locale de la tumeur au meme site de la tumeur originale a ete note chez 39% des malades alors que la recidive au long cours s\'est produite dans 33% des malades. Le taux de recidive total etait de 59%. La progression de la tumeur a un carcinome invasif s\'est produit chez 7 malades (11%), dont 3 (4.5%) sont decedes de la maladie. Conclusion: Le traitement des TCC superficiels est base sur des procedures endoscopiques relativement mini invasives, mais la maladie elle-meme est une condition serieuse qui merite un suivi rapproche a long terme. African Journal of Urology Vol.11(2) 2005: 127-132