OBJECTIVE: To analyse some epidemiological data of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC) and the predictive value of conventional risk factors. METHODS: From 1980 to 2002, 125 patients were treated at our hospital and selected retrospectively for this study. The series mean age was 63,6±11,3 years, being 77.6% males and 22.4% females. The proportions of G!, G2 and G3 TCC were: 48%, 35.2% and 16.8%. The T stage was: pTa-1 - 85 (68%) and pT2-4 - 40 (32%). Superficial tumors were treated by TUR alone or plus BCG (>G1), and the invasives ones by radical cystectomy. The vesical reccurence rate of superficial TCC was 48.2%. RESULTS: TCC grade showed a positive association with T stage (p<0.0001) and patient survival (p<0.0001), but not with local bladder reccurence of superficial tumors (p=0.72). The T stage also showed a strong correlation with patient survival (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The TCC is more common in male than in female with mean age of 63.2 years. The tumor grading and staging exhibited as strong predictive value for disease progression and patient survival.
Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder; risk factors
