Differences in Pathologic Results of Repeat Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) according to Institution Performing the Initial TURBT: Comparative Analyses between Referred and Nonreferred Group

Abstract

Objective. Although transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a standard treatment and determines staging for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, many deficiencies persist. There is a risk of upstaging and residual cancer when repeat TURBT is performed. Authors compared the results of repeat TURBT by institution performing the initial TURBT.Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 289 patients who underwent repeat TURBT within 2-6 weeks after initial TURBT between 1998 and 2013. The patients were divided into the referred group and the nonreferred group by institution performing the initial TURBT. And we analyzed the intergroup differences in residual tumor and upstaging rate and the factors significantly correlated with residual tumor.Results. The mean age was 69.6 ± 11.1 years and the mean follow-up was 49.7 (range: 0–191) months. The referred group included 69 patients, while the nonreferred group included 220 patients. The referred group included 57 (82.6%) patients with residual tumor after repeat TURBT. Overall upstaging occurred in 15 (21.7%), and upstaging to T2 occurred in 11 (15.9%) of the initial Ta and T1 patients. In the nonreferred group, there were 123 (55.9%) patients with residual tumor. Overall upstaging occurred in 10 (4.5%) and upstaging to T2 occurred in 7 (3.2%) patients.Conclusions. Gross hematuria, grade, and tumor quantity and size were significantly associated with residual cancer on multivariate analysis. In the referred group, repeat TURBT and restaging are necessary.