ABSTRACT
Approximately 10.0% of tumors occurs in the lower urinary tract and morbidity and lethality are constantly on the rise. Over 90% of such tumors registered in Europe and the USA is transitional cell carcinoma. Primary bladder cancer morbidity in Russian males rose by 4.0-4.6% in 1990-1997 while the share of patients with superficial bladder cancer (SBC) went up by 1.5% for the same period. According to the National Bladder Cancer Group, the rising incidence of relapsing SBC is associated with urothelial dysplasia, positive test for urinary sediment after therapy and occurrence of four or more tumors larger than 5 cm. Prevention of muscular invasion is vital in management of SBC. Sometimes, such aggressive modalities as early cystectomy or radiotherapy are recommended in cases of high risk for this pathology. Conversely, certain palliative measures, short of transurethral resection of the bladder and adjuvant intravesical therapy, are regarded as sufficient.
