I parametri clinici, endoscopici e patologici nella valutazione delle potenzialità evolutive dei tumori superficiali della vescica: Clinical, endoscopic and pathological parameters in assessing the potential progression of superficial bladder tumours

Abstract

Clinical, endoscopic and pathological assessment provides the classical factors of prevision for bladder tumours. The risk of recurrence is different among primary and recurrent tumours. The risk of recurrence for primary tumours is correlated to the number of neoformations at diagnosis and to the cystoscopy at three months. The risk of recurrence for recurrent tumours is correlated to the number of neoformations and the previous recurrence rate. It seems that the number of recurrences doesn't imply a higher risk of progression. The most important endoscopic parameters are: number, shape and size of neoformations, and appearance of the vesical mucosa. The most important pathological parameters are: growth pattern, grade, stage, histologic aspect of the vesical mucosa and invasion of lymphatic vessels. All these parameters are correlated to the risk of tumour progression for groups of patients but they cannot predict the fate of the individual case. The predictive value of these parameters could improve with a critical revision of the definitions of grade and stage.