[A comparison between clinical and echographic staging in bladder tumors]

In a series of 94 consecutive unselected patients with bladder tumors the authors determined the tumor infiltration stage (tumor staging) by two methods. In all patients the echographic stage was previously and independently established by transurethral echography. The clinical staging was subsequently made according to the requirements of the International Union for Cancer Control (IUCC). The results obtained by the two methods were compared and a high degree of coincidence (81 per cent) was found. The lack of coincidence in the borderline stages between superficial and infiltrative lesions is discussed. The ultimate staging in bladder tumors is recommended to be based on the complex data of all methods: echography, computer axial tomography and clinical examination.