The effects of squamous and/or glandular differentiation in urothelial carcinoma of bladder on recurrence, progression and survival rate were evaluated in this study.

Between 1998 and 2003, a total of 223 patients who had been treated with transurethral resection for bladder cancers were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups as; Group I: tumor patients with squamous and/or glandular differentiation, Group II: patients without these findings.

Histologically 189 (84.7%) were conventional urothelial carcinoma and 34 (15.2%) were tumors with squamous and/or glandular differentiation. The mean age of the patients was 64.4 +/- 12.7 (range 36-81) years. Survival rates within a period of 46.23 +/- 14.8 (12-67) months were 76.47% for Group I and 89.94% for Group II (P = 0.027). The stage distribution as pTa, pT1, and >/=pT2 was 2 (5.9%), 18 (52.9%), and 14 (41.2%) in Group I and 101 (53.4%), 51 (27%) and 37 (19.6%) in group II, respectively (P = 0.001). There was a statistically significant tendency towards higher stage at presentation in Group I and the grade distribution was significantly higher in Group I than Group II (P < 0.001).

High recurrence rates and poor prognosis of these patients should be kept in mind in the follow-up period. In this respect, these patients should be followed up closely.