Clinical Significance of Tumor Location in Urothelial Carcinoma of The Bladder

INTRODUCTION: Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract, occurring more frequently in men than in women. While pathological features are major prognostic determinants, the effect of tumor localization remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bladder tumor location, stage, recurrence, and progression.
METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 452 patients diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma who underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor between 2016 and 2021. Demographics, tumor location, pathological stage, recurrence, and progression were analyzed. The bladder was divided into eight regions for mapping. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used; p<0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS: The mean age was 64.5 years, with a mean follow-up of 34.5 months. High-grade tumors were found in 65% of cases. The lateral walls were the most common sites, whereas the trigone and base were the least common. Some tumors were significantly associated with high-grade and muscle invasion. Overall recurrence was 41%, and progression was 10.6%. Recurrence was significantly higher in tumors of the posterior wall.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that dome tumors are linked to higher stage and grade, whereas posterior wall tumors carry increased recurrence risk. Tumor location may have prognostic value in bladder cancer, warranting further studies.

Keywords: Bladder cancer, location, progression, recurrence, transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, tumor grade.