ABSTRACT
Bladder cancer is the second most common urologic malignancy in the USA.1 Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) accounts for 75-90% of the cases of bladder cancer.2 The other histologic subtypes (squamous cell and adenocarcinoma) are relatively rare in the USA. The incidence of TCC increases with age, and over 50% of cases occur in persons over 65.1 The most common cause of TCC of the bladder in the USA is tobacco smoke. Over 75% of TCC present as superficial tumors (Ta, Tl, Tis) (Table 56.1), 20% present as invasive cancer, and 5% of cases are metastatic at diagnosis. Eventually 1530% of superficial bladder cancer and up to 70% of invasive cancer will give origin to metastases.3 The treatment of bladder cancer is according to stage (Table 56.1). The stage at diagnosis of bladder cancer does not appear to be affected by the age of the patient.
