[PTa bladder tumours: prognostic factors of recurrence and progression]

The aim of this work has been to study the prognostic factors of recurrence and progression of stage pTa bladder tumours.

The case files of 193 patients, consecutively undergoing transurethral resection for primary pTa bladder tumour between 1980 and 2003, were retrospectively reviewed. Recurrence, progression and specific survival rates were studied. Prognostic factors associated with this type of tumour were then investigated.

After a mean follow-up of 58 months, the recurrence rate was 56.5% and the rate of progression to stage T1 was 9.3%. The 10-year specific survival was 95.8%, but the 10-year recurrence-free survival rate was only 22.5%. Two risk factors for recurrence were identified on univariate analysis: haematuria at the time of diagnosis (p=0.009) and tumour size (p=0.01). Two factors were associated with a risk of progression: tumour size (p=0.03) and relapse during the first year after initial resection (p=0.003). None of these factors were independent prognostic factors on multivariate analysis.

pTa bladder tumours present a high risk of recurrence. However, with attentive follow-up, the risk of progression is low and their 10-year specific survival rate is greater than 95 %. Tumour size at the initial diagnosis and early relapse increase the risk of progression to more aggressive disease.