Whether or not recurrence is related to the results of urinary cytology examined within 10 days after transurethral resection of bladder tumour was studied retrospectively in 47 patients with superficial bladder tumour. Of 7 cases with positive cytology during the postoperative 10 day period, 4 cases had a later recurrence of tumour and 2 cases had a residual tumour due to incomplete resection of original tumour.
By microscopic chromocystoscopy, in 11 patients concurrent urothelial atypia (carcinoma in situ or dysplasia) was found in the apparently normal mucosa. Nine of the 11 cases had a later recurrence of tumour or a residual tumour.
Of in total 15 patients combined with abnormal cytology and concurrent urothelial atypia, 12 (80%) were found with recurrence of tumor cystoscopically 4-64 months (mean; 20.6 months) after TUR. This recurrence rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that (42.4%) in patients without positive cytology and concurrent urothelial atypia.
These results suggest that positive urinary cytology during 10 days subsequent to TUR and/or association with concurrent urothelial atypia are indicative of later tumour recurrence, incomplete resection of tumour or presence of additional occult tumour foci.