Histopathological Evaluation of Urothelial Carcinomas in Transurethral Resection Urinary Bladder Tumor Specimens: Eight Years of Single Center Experience

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a malignant neoplasm that most commonly occurs in the urinarybladder. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features, recurrence and progressionin patients with bladder urothelial cancer. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The medical records of patients diagnosedwith UC in the state pathology laboratory between January 2006 and July 2014 were retrospectively included.Carcinomas were categorized according to age, gender, histologic grade, tumor configuration, pathologic staging,recurrence status, and progression. <br/><b>Results</b>: A total of 125 (113 men, 12 women) patients were examined. Themean age was 65.9 years and the male-to-female urothelial cancer incidence ratio was 9.4:1. Low-grade UCswere observed in 85 (68%) and high-grade in 40 (32%). A papillary tumor pattern was observed in 67.2% of theUCs. Cases were classified with the following pathological grades: 34 (27.2%) cases of pTa, 70 (56%) of pT1, and21 (16.8%) of pT2. Recurrence occurred in 27 (21.6%) patients. Ten progressed to a higher stage (pT1 to pT2),and three cases to higher grade (low to high). We also analyzed the results separately for 70 (56%) patients 65years of age and older. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: With early detection and diagnosis of precursor lesions in older patients, bymethods such as standard urologic evaluation, urinary cytology, ultrasound scanning and contrast urography,and cystoscopy, in addition to coordinated efforts between pathologists and urologists, early diagnosis mayreduce the morbidity and mortality of patients with urothelial carcinoma.