Prognostic markers for bladder cancer: International Consensus Panel on bladder tumor markers.

The International Consensus Panel on cytology and bladder tumor markers evaluated markers that have the ability to predict tumor recurrence, progression, development of metastases, or response to therapy or patient survival. This article summarizes those findings. The panel mainly reviewed articles listed in PubMed on various prognostic indicators for bladder cancer.

Bladder tumor markers beyond cytology: International Consensus Panel on bladder tumor markers.

This is the first of 2 articles that summarize the findings of the International Consensus Panel on cytology and bladder tumor markers. The objectives of our panel were to reach a consensus on the areas where markers are needed, to define the attributes of an ideal tumor marker, and to identify which marker(s) would be suitable for diagnosis and/or surveillance of bladder cancer. Our panel consisted of urologists and researchers from Europe, Asia, and the United States who reviewed original articles, reviews, and book chapters on individual bladder tumor markers published in the English language mainly using the PubMed search engine.

Bladder cancer: epidemiology, staging and grading, and diagnosis.

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a variable natural history. At one end of the spectrum, low-grade Ta tumors have a low progression rate and require initial endoscopic treatment and surveillance but rarely present a threat to the patient. At the other extreme, high-grade tumors have a high malignant potential associated with significant progression and cancer death rates.

Urethral wash cytopathology for monitoring patients after cystoprostatectomy with urinary diversion.

Background: Urethral wash cytopathology (UWC) has been recommended for monitoring patients after cystoprostatectomy with preservation of the penile urethra and urinary diversion. The rationale has been that early detection of urethral neoplasms (recurrences) would allow for urethrectomy to be performed before an invasive tumor developed and thus prevent or delay disease progression. Negative results of UWC would spare the patient a major surgical procedure.

Interobserver discrepancy using the 1998 World Health Organization/International Society of Urologic Pathology classification of urothelial neoplasms: practical choices for patient care.

Purpose: Morphological classifications designed by experts to stratify neoplasms according to biological potential must define categories that are reproducible among practitioners or the schemes actually create the heterogeneous populations that they seek to avoid. The application of the 1998 World Health Organization/International Society of Urologic Pathology scheme for urothelial neoplasms was studied in a community practice setting. We documented interpretive discrepancies for each category of neoplasm and determined whether a period of pathologist education may have a positive effect on the frequency of discrepant interpretations.

Accurate pathological staging of urothelial neoplasms requires better cystoscopic sampling.

Purpose: The frequency with which muscularis propria was sampled by urologists and the sources of interpretive discrepancies among pathologists were studied in a community practice setting.

Materials And Methods: A total of 217 consecutive cases of urothelial neoplasm were independently reviewed by 3 pathologists. The presence or absence of muscularis propria as well as interpretive discrepancies were recorded.

A prospective 5-year study of two cast framework alloys for fixed implant-supported mandibular prostheses.

Purpose: A longitudinal 5-year clinical investigation was carried out to compare screw-retained frameworks constructed from two alloys with different mechanical properties, either gold or silver-palladium, supported in the mandible by the Astra Tech implant system.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six edentulous patients with mandibular implants were divided into two groups: group A was provided with Chicago IV gold alloy superstructures, and group B was provided with Palliag M silver-palladium alloy superstructures. The surgical procedures for placing the mandibular bone implants and the prosthodontic and laboratory techniques for constructing the prostheses were carried out according to standard, well-documented practices.