Radical transurethral resection in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer

The morbidity of radical cystectomy and early reports of good results have stimulated interest in radical transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) for muscle-invasive transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder. Various investigators have used surgery alone or with adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. Further research is necessary to define the indications, but at present, radical TURBT for muscle-invasive cancer appears to be appropriate for patients too ill to undergo radical cystectomy, those who decline the open operation, and those enrolled in clinical trials of this approach to bladder cancer.