Reassessment of Conservative Management for Stage T1N0M0 Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

Abstract

For patients with initial grade 2 or grades 2 to 3, stage T1 disease the risk of disease progression is low. Current management with local tumor resection and intravesical BCG is appropriate and should be continued. Patients with high grade, stage T1 disease are at particularly high risk for disease progression and BCG does not seem to decrease this risk effectively. Therefore, immediate cystectomy is appropriate and should be recommended.