Low-Risk Bladder Tumors: How Accurate are the EORTC Risk Tables?

Abstract

Introduction

The European guidelines classify primary bladder tumors of Ta category and G1–2 grade as low risk tumors when single or less than 7 in number and 3 cm in diameter. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the usefulness of EORTC Risk Tables when applied to non-selected patients in daily clinical practice.

Material and Methods

In the present retrospective study 129 consecutive patients affected by primary bladder tumors category Ta and Grade G1–2 have been considered. The median follow-up was 48 months. Bladder tumors were TaG1 in 69 (53.5%) patients, TaG2 in 60 (46.5%), single in 82 (63.6%) and multiple in 47 (36.4%) cases. Fifty-one patients (39.5%) received adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy.

Results

At a median follow-up of 48 months, 70 (41.8%) patients recurred. Recurrence occurred in 43.5% of TaG1 versus 66.7% of TaG2 tumors (p=0.003), in 50% of single tumors versus 61.7% of multiple (p=0.096), in 41.2% of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy versus 62.8% of untreated patients (p=0.007). Progression to G3 grade, T1 category and muscle invasive tumor occurred in 3%, 10% and 2% of cases, respectively.

Conclusions

The EORTC Risk Tables can be applied in common clinical practice to unselected low-risk patients.