A PLEA FOR COLD BIOPSY, FULGURATION AND IMMEDIATE BLADDER INSTILLATION WITH EPIRUBICIN IN SMALL SUPERFICIAL BLADDER-TUMORS - DATA FROM THE EORTC GU GROUP-STUDY 30863

Abstract

The sensitivity of cystoscopy to distinguish infiltrating from superficial bladder tumors is very high. Only 28 (5.6%) of 501 single tumors, which were considered to be superficial by the urologist at visual inspection, were found to be infiltrating on pathological examination. If the size of the tumor and/or the cytological grade are considered, one can further reduce the number of infiltrating tumors missed, but it was impossible to identify them all. The recurrence rate of tumors at the resection site 4 weeks after TUR suggests the importance of trauma of the bladder mucosa in promoting recurrence. A single instillation of Epirubicin immediately after TUR prevents implantation of tumor cells and reduces the recurrence rate to nearly 50%. A combination of cold forceps biopsy and fulguration may be the most reasonable treatment for small bladder tumors.