The Copenhagen bladder cancer project II.

The aim of this study has been, on the basis of 746 cases of cancer of the bladder from The Copenhagen Bladder Cancer Project, to assess the prognosis in relation to the tumour classification employed. The following five-year survival rates were found: T1, 59.8 percent, T2, 39.0 percent, T3, 19.7 percent, T4, 5.7 percent. There are significant differences in survival between the different T categories. The survival rates were also calculated for the different histological grades, and significant differences were also found here. Both the T classification and the histological grading are, therefore, relevant prognostic criteria. Papillomatous tumours have the same survival, whether solitary or multiple, but solid tumours have a poorer prognosis than papillomatous tumours. Tumour size is likewise a significant prognostic criterion. Of special interest has been the results of radiotherapy related to the same parameters. Neither the T classification nor the histological grading can be used as prognostic criteria for patients in the present material who were treated by radiotherapy. The overall five-year survival for patients treated by radiotherapy was 22 percent. With the investigative parameters employed, it is not possible in advance to select the group of patients with radiosensitive tumours.