[Recent progress and problems in bladder-sparing operations in bladder tumors]

Retrospective analysis of the bladder tumor patients was performed to reveal the clinical results of partial cystectomy or transurethral resection (TUR). The observed 3-, 5-, 10-year survival rates after 143 partial cystectomies indicated for the first tumors were 66.2%, 57.1% and 41.5% respectively. To obtain satisfactory results, however, the operation should be indicated for pT2 or G0-G1. Some of the G2 tumors could also be the candidates for this procedure, but the stage of the disease must be below T2. At present, all these tumors could be well controlled by TUR, and this statement was confirmed by the study of clinical results obtained by TUR. The analysis also revealed a poor outcome in 6% of the low grade or low stage tumors and it increased to 25% in high grade and pT2. The complete cure of the high stage or high grade tumor is still difficult, but to improve the survival rate, radical surgery should be employed more positively instead of partial cystectomy. The reasons for this conclusion are also discussed.