Impact of the category of early tumor recurrence on tumor progression in bladder tumors treated by transurethral resection

Forty-six newly diagnosed patients with T1 and T2 bladder tumors were treated with transurethral resection. During a 6-months period more than 50% of the tumors recurred. Subsequent progression of tumors was seen within 24 months in 35 and 28% of the patients with T1 and T2 tumors, respectively. Prognosis with regard to progression was significantly better in patients with Ta recurrence at first control than in patients with invasive recurrent tumors, irrespective of category of tumor at a later recurrence. It is concluded that the continued transurethral treatment of patients with early recurrent invasive tumors may have to be reconsidered.