Samir S. Taneja, MD, Consulting Editor

The prevalence of the NMIBC, along with the high rate of recurrence, makes it a disease with tremendous financial implications in the upcoming era of health care reform. Proper, evidence-based management has the potential to not only improve patient outcome but also reduce overall costs associated with the care of these patients. This will secondarily influence the allocation of dollars to urologic disease overall.

Although there are now a number of national and international guidelines published regarding the management of NMIBC, the entire story of how to manage these patients is far from written. Ongoing controversies in risk stratification, timing of therapy, and sequence of therapy continue to fuel controversy. I am deeply indebted to Dr Sam Chang for his willingness to serve as guest editor for this issue of the Urologic Clinics and to put much of the ongoing controversy into a cohesive framework. He has solicited articles from the brightest and best in formulating this fantastic issue. In keeping with our ongoing effort to provide a multidisciplinary perspective on urologic disease, the articles in this issue cover a range of topics including both the management of NMIBC and the impact of the disease itself on Urology. I am confident that this issue will both educate you regarding the management of your patients and challenge you to explore the ongoing controversies.