'Solitary' Ta-T1 G1 bladder tumour--history and long-term prognosis

Natural history of 'solitary', histological grade 1, stage Ta-T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder was studied in 198 patients retrospectively over a period from 1975 to 1987. Three patterns of tumour behaviour were evident. In 56% of patients the tumour did not recur following the initial resection. Twenty-one percent developed recurrences localised to the site of the original tumour. This group became tumour-free by 5 years and remained so thereafter. The remaining 23% continued to produce recurrent tumours up to 10 years at different sites in the bladder. The actuarial percentage of patients who remained continuously free of tumour after the initial resection was 53% at 5 years and 51% at 10 years. The results of this study suggest that cytoscopic follow-up may be discontinued in patients who remain continuously tumour-free for 5 years.