Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in young adults

A retrospective survey of young servicemen presenting with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder aged 40 years or below is presented, 19 such patients having been identified over a 20-year period. The results were compared with those of other similar series. The tumour behaviour appears to vary with age at presentation, its propensity for multifocal presentation, recurrence, progression to invasion and mortality all rising over the first 4 decades of life. These trends appear to be linked to grade and stage at presentation, and also tend to rise with age rather than altered tumour behaviour. The follow-up of young adults should thus be the same as for older patients presenting with the same grade and stage tumours.