[Frequency of recurrences and tumor progression on superficial bladder carcinoma (author's transl)]

A retrospective study with an adequate follow-up of three years or longer of 315 superficial transitional cell carcinomas (Ta--T2) is reported. Patients had transurethral resection in 80% and open excision or resection in 20% for cure or control. It is demonstrated, that in addition to the grade and the stage of the tumor, multifocal tumor growth and whether it is a primary or recurrent tumor influence the frequency of recurrences and the tumor progression. The overall percentage of recurrences after resection of Ta, T1 and T2 tumors within three years is 60%. A primary tumor recurs in 45%, the first recurrence in 84%, solitary tumors in 46% and multifocal tumors in 73%. Tumor progression is observed in solitary tumors in 24%, in multifocal tumors in 44%, in primary and recurrent Ta and primary T1 tumors in 20 to 25%, in recurrent T1 tumors in 56%. Therefore, when planning therapy, stage, grade, multifocal tumor growth and whether it is a primary or recurrent tumor should be considered. Ta tumors can be treated sufficiently by transurethral resection, even in case of several recurrences; more aggressive therapy should be considered, when multifocal or recurrent T1 or T2 tumors recur again as invasive carcinomas.