Neoplastic invasion of the connective stalks in transitional cell papillary tumors (TCPT) of the bladder

Neoplastic invasion into the connective stalks of transitional cell papillary tumors of the bladder was assessed in TUR specimens from new cases. There were 21 G1 cases, none of which showed invasion of the connective tissue stalk; this compared with definite invasion in 19 of 77 G2 cases (25%) and in 16 of 17 G3 cases (94%). During a 5 year follow-up period more of the stalk invasive cases had an unfavorable course (fatal outcome or total cystectomy) than of the stalk non-invasive cases; this was statistically significant (p less than 0.01) for the whole group of patients and for the smaller group of patients with G2 tumors (p less than 0.05).