The significance of bladder quadrant biopsies in patients with primary superficial bladder carcinoma

The prognostic significance of dysplasia (D I-III, Tis) based on bladder quadrant biopsies was established in 216 patients with primary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (stage pTaGI-pTGIII). Collectively within the study, 51 of the 216 patients biopsied (24%) were found with abnormal urothelium. Twelve (6%) have coexistent Tis, and 30 (18%) were found with dysplastic changes D I-III. Further concerns included the incidence of dysplastic changes associated with tumor invasion, tumor dedifferentiation, and the presence of primary multifocal disease. The collective recurrence rate was 43%. However, with inclusion of quadrant biopsies, the predictability of positive biopsy results increased to 63% and the negative rate decreased to 37%.