[Prognostic factors in 243 transitional carcinomas of the bladder (I): clinical and macroscopic parameters of the tumor].

A retrospective study was undertaken in 243 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder to determine the correlation of clinical parameters (sex, age, symptoms and duration of the disease) and tumor gross anatomic features (cystoscopic aspects, tumor number, size and site) with survival. The study comprised 148 superficial carcinomas and 95 infiltrating carcinomas of the bladder. The following clinical parameters were observed to influence survival of patients with superficial or deep tumors: patient age (worse prognosis for those over 60 years) and initial symptoms (better prognosis for those whose presenting symptom was hematuria). With regard to tumor gross anatomic features, a correlation was observed between the cystoscopic aspects of the tumor and type of infiltration in 80% of our series (1 error out of 5 cystoscopies). A worse prognosis was observed for multiple lesions only in those with superficial tumors. Tumor site and size did not influence survival in this series of 243 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.