Reassessment of conservative management for stage T1N0M0 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the outcome of stage T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with local tumor resection and intravesical therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 42 patients with stage T1 bladder cancer seen at our clinic during a 10-year period 38 were treated conservatively with local tumor resection, intravesical therapy and long-term followup. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was used as the primary intravesical agent since 1986. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients 15 had initial grade 2 or 2 to 3 tumors, including 9 (60%) who had at least 1 or more local recurrences but without disease progression. The remaining 23 patients had grade 3 or grades 3 to 4 stage T1 tumors, with local recurrence in 17 (74%) and disease progression in 8 (35%). Furthermore, 5 patients (22%) died of the metastasis despite salvage therapies. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Inferior vena cava obstruction secondary to adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Role of orchiectomy in treatment.

We describe a patient with a radiologically verified inferior vena cava obstruction due to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate who was treated by orchiectomy. The prompt regression of the disease causing the obstruction confirms that orchiectomy alone can be an effective treatment of massive, functionally significant metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.