Recurrence of superficial bladder tumours after transurethral resection

From 1979 to January 1990, 48 patients with newly diagnosed superficial bladder tumours were treated by transurethral resection (TUR) at Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital. The relationship between tumour recurrence and the stage, grade, number, or size of the tumours was investigated. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year non-recurrence rates were 72%, 63%, 47%, 40%, and 40%, respectively. Non-recurrence rate for pTa tumours was significantly higher than that for pT1 tumours (p < 0.05). There was no relationship between tumour grade and recurrence. The rate of recurrence of multiple tumours was higher than that of single ones. There was no difference in non-recurrence rate between tumours smaller than 1 cm and those of 1 cm or larger. Non-recurrence rate in the instillation therapy group was significantly higher than in the non-instillation group (p < 0.05). It was concluded that patients with multiple or high-stage tumours have the risk of a high rate of recurrence and that intravesical chemotherapy is effective in preventing local recurrence in some patients.