The efficiency of thulium laser en-bloc transurethral resection of non-muscularinvasive bladder tumors

Abstract

Introduction. The current treatment for primary NMIBC is the transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) which is combined with postoperative intravesical instillation. It has been proven that the rate of disease recurrence depends on the quality of the primary surgical operation. Due to the development of laser surgery, the appearance of holmium (Ho:YAG) and later, in the 1990s, the appearance of thulium (Tm:YAG) lasers, the en-bloc laser resection was possible. The aim of this research was to compare result after Thulium laser En-bloc transurethral resection and transurethral resection of non-muscular invasive urinary bladder tumors. Material and methods. Between February 2017 and May 2019, within the Urology Clinic of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy 65 patients with bladder tumor pathology were surgically treated. Patients were divided in two groups: Thulium laser En-bloc transurethral resection group which includes 32 patients and transurethral resection group with 33 patients. The obtained data were comparatively analyzed. Results. Tumor analysis showed that in most of the cases tumors were localized on the lateral walls of the bladder, a tumor up to 3 cm in size was detected in 71% of cases (46 patients) and single bladder tumors were detected in 65% of cases (42 patients) included in the study. Detrusor muscle was detected in 73% of cases in the TURBT group and in 97% of cases in the TmLRBT group. The majority of recurrences during the 12-month follow-up occurred in the TURBT group 39% (13 cases) in initial resection area 54% (7 cases). For TmLRBT group recurrence rate was 15% (5 cases), recurrence occurred predominantly in the non-primary resection area 80% (4 cases). Conclusions. The Thulium laser En-bloc transurethral resection of non-muscle-invasive bladder tumor (TmLRBT) proved to be an effective and safe method of treatment compared to the conventional transurethral resection (TURBT). This technique allows the obtaining of tumor samples in a higher quality (detrusor muscle is present in more cases), contributing to a correct diagnosis and staging of the disease. Finally, it leads to more favorable results and reduction of recurrence rate.