The long‐term outcome in patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a single‐institutional experience

Objective To determine the natural history of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, and to identify factors which place patients at lifelong risk of developing progression and dying from bladder carcinoma. Patients and methods The long‐term outcome was evaluated retrospectively in 231 patients with superficial bladder TCC, assessed for the first time within a 6‐year period from 1981 to 1986, with a median follow‐up of 108 months. Of 231 patients, 217 (94%) were initially treated by transurethral or segmental resection. Results Recurrence developed in 141 of 217 (65%) patients; the duration of the interval free of recurrence was significantly less for patients with initial G3 tumours than that for those with G1 (P