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Thermal artifacts in bladder tumors following loop endoresection: electrovaporization v electrocauterization
Brunolf W Lagerveld1, Rob A C Koot, Geert A H J Smits
1Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.w.lagerveld@ac.uva.nl
Journal of Endourology
|August 31, 2004
Summary
Electrovaporization (EV) with a loop wire is a valid method for resecting bladder tumors, preserving specimens for accurate histologic diagnosis. This technique showed no significant difference in thermal artifacts compared to standard electrocautery (EC) loop resection.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Surgical Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Bladder tumor resection is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Electrovaporization (EV) is a newer technique for endoresection of bladder tumors.
- Assessing tissue artifact is important for accurate histologic diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if bladder tumors resected by EV with a loop wire are suitable for histologic diagnosis.
- To quantitatively compare thermal artifacts from EV versus standard electrocautery (EC) loop resection.
Main Methods:
- Endoresection of bladder tumors in 26 patients using either EV (N=9) or EC (N=17).
- Histologic thermal artifacts were defined and diagnosed (pT classification).
- Computerized analysis quantified thermal artifact depth, analyzed with a t-test.
Main Results:
- Histologic diagnosis was achievable in all resected specimens.
- No qualitative differences in thermal artifacts were observed between EV and EC groups.
- Mean thermal artifact depth was 0.237 mm for EV and 0.260 mm for EC, a non-significant difference (P=0.8).
Conclusions:
- Electrovaporization (EV) with a loop wire is a viable method for bladder tumor resection, yielding specimens suitable for histologic diagnosis.
- EV does not create significantly different thermal artifacts compared to electrocautery (EC) loop resection.