To evaluate the differences in tumor characteristics and prognosis according to age at presentation in patients with newly diagnosed Stage Ta, T1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

From 1998 to 2002, 1587 patients with newly diagnosed nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with transurethral resection were enrolled in this study. The median age was 63 years (range 21-98), and the median follow-up duration was 44 months (range 12-97). The study cohort was subdivided into 3 age groups: age <60 years (group 1, n = 614), age ≥60 but <70 years (group 2, n = 566), and age ≥70 years (group 3, n = 398).

Comparing the clinical and pathologic characteristics, the tumor size (χ²_trend = 4.01, P = .045), multiplicity (χ²_trend = 14.50, P < .001), T category (χ²_trend = 17.11, P < .001), and tumor grade (χ²_trend = 31.36, P < .001) tended to increase in the older age groups. The presence of carcinoma in situ and squamous differentiation, however, did not differ among the age groups (P > .05). The 5-year recurrence-free probability was 63.6%, 52.1%, and 43.9% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < .001). The 5-year progression-free probability was 95.7%, 91.1%, and 84.2% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < .001).

Stage Ta, T1 bladder urothelial carcinoma in the younger patients tended to be smaller, have fewer lesions, be less invasive, and have a more favorable tumor grade at the initial presentation. Furthermore, younger patients appeared to have a more favorable prognosis than older patients.