Journal List > Korean J Urol > v.49(1) > 1005162

Woo, Kwak, Choi, and Lee: Grade Concordance between Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder and the Upper Urinary Tract

Abstract

Purpose

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is thought to involve the entire urothelium as a multifocal field change. The tumor grade is a major prognostic factor in TCC and predicting the grade of TCC may be of clinical significance. The objective of this study is to clarify the grade concordance between upper tract TCC and bladder TCC.

Materials and Methods

From 1994 to 2006, a total of 241 patients underwent nephroureterectomy for upper tract TCC. Seventy-four of the 241 patients who had a history of previous bladder cancer and/or synchronous or metachronous bladder TCC were included in this study. The grade was recorded for each tumor. Fisher's exact test of concordance was used for statistical analysis.

Results

For the 74 patients who were analyzed, 42 patients (56.8%) developed bladder TCC during their follow up after nephroureterectomy, 14 patients (18.9%) had a history of bladder TCC prior to nephroureterectomy and 18 patients (24.3%) had a synchronous bladder tumor. In the case of developing bladder TCC during their follow up after nephroureterectomy, the grade concordance is highest between upper tract TCC and bladder TCC in 81.0% of the cases (p=0.005). Overall, the concordance rate between the upper tract TCC grade and the bladder TCC grade was 77.0% (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Concordance of the TCC in the upper urinary tract and bladder was present in 77.0% of the cases. The patients who developed bladder tumor during their follow up after nephroureterectomy had the highest grade concordance between upper tract TCC and bladder TCC in 81.0% of the cases. This knowledge can have a significant impact on the therapeutic and follow up plans for transitional cell carcinoma.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Number of patients according to the tumor grade
kju-49-7-i001

TCC: transitional cell carcinoma, CIS: carcinoma in situ

Table 2
Overall grade concordance between upper tract TCC and bladder TCC
kju-49-7-i002

*: Fisher's exact test, TCC: transitional cell carcinoma

Table 3
Grade concordance in the case of developing bladder TCC during follow up after nephroureterectomy
kju-49-7-i003

*: Fisher's exact test, TCC: transitional cell carcinoma

Table 4
Grade concordance in the case of having a history of bladder TCC prior to nephroureterectomy
kju-49-7-i004

*: Fisher's exact test, TCC: transitional cell carcinoma

Table 5
Grade concordance in the case of having both upper tract and bladder tumors at the same time
kju-49-7-i005

*: Fisher's exact test, TCC: transitional cell carcinoma

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