Prognosis of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder in Patients 40 Years Old or Less: Comparison with Elderly Patients

Abstract

Purpose: The natural history and prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder in young patients remain a matter of debate. This study aimed to evaluate whether TCC of the bladder in young patients is biologically different from that found in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 21 patients presenting with TCC of the bladder at 40 years of age and younger(group 1) were reviewed and compared with those of 94 patients who were diagnosed with bladder TCC at 51 years of age and older(group 2). Results: The initial stage distribution was similar with 85.7% and 79.8% of patients presenting with superficial TCC in group 1 and 2, respectively. The gross hematuria as a presenting symptom, multiplicity of tumor mass, T stage, N stage, M stage, concomitant carcinoma in situ(CIS) and grade were not significantly different between the two groups. There was no difference in the cancer-specific survival rate between the two groups. For the cases with superficial TCC, no difference was observed in the disease- free survival rate or progression-free survival rate between the two groups. Conclusions: TCC of the bladder in patients 40 years old or less has a similar clinicopathological distribution and disease outcome to those observed in elderly patients. It is suggested that the management and follow-up of TCC of the bladder in young patients should be the same as those for elderly patients.