The Accuracy of Transurethral Bladder Resection in Detecting Bladder Cancer Histological Variants and Their Prognostic Value at Radical Cystectomy

Objectives: to investigate the accuracy of transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT) in detecting histological variants (BHV) at radical cystectomy (RC) and to evaluate the impact of TURBT before cystectomy on oncological outcomes. Methods: Data of 410 consecutive RCs were assessed. Positive and negative predictive values were used to assess the accuracy of TURBT in detecting BHV. Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was used to calculate the agreement grade. Logistic regression analysis predicted features based on the presence of BHV at TURBT. Multivariable backward conditional Cox regression analysis was used to estimate oncological outcomes. Results: A total of 73 patients (17.8%) showed BHV at TURBT as compared to 108 (26.3%) at RC. A moderate agreement in histological diagnosis was found between TURBT and RC (0.58). However, sensitivity and specificity in detecting BHV were 56% and 96%, respectively. Furthermore, positive predictive value (PPV) was 84.7% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 84.6%. Presence of BHV at TURBT was an independent predictor for pathologic upstage, albeit not a predictor for positive nodes or positive surgical margins. However, at multivariable analysis adjusted for all confounders, presence of BHV at TURBT was an independent predictor for recurrence after RC, but not for survival. Conversely, the presence of BHV at RC was an independent predictor for both recurrence and survival. Conclusion: There was a moderate agreement between TURBT and RC histopathological findings. TURBT, alone, could not provide an accurate and definitive histological diagnosis. Detection of BHV in TURBT specimens is not an independent predictor of oncological outcomes; indeed, only pathological features at RC are associated with worse survival. However, BHV presence in cystectomy specimens resulted as an independent predictor of both cancer-specific and overall mortality.