Vesicoureteral reflux in recurrent carcinoma of the bladder--implications for treatment and prognosis.

In an evaluation of the use of topical triethylenethiophosphoramide for therapy and prevention of recurrent multiple superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder retrograde cystography was done. Unilateral or bilateral vesicoureteral reflux was demonstrated in 9 consecutive patients studied. Retrospective analysis uncovered 9 additional patients with bladder cancer and reflux. The discovery of vesicoureteral reflux prompts currently unanswerable questions regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of urothelial malignancy, as well as the role of topical chemotherapy in superficial tumors.