Computed tomography of invasive bladder carcinoma after diagnostic transurethral resection

Fourteen patients with known muscle invasive bladder carcinoma were examined with computed tomography (CT) before and five to seven days after diagnostic transurethral resection (TUR). The CT examinations included pre- and postcontrast series. In order to standardize the technique, we examined on a distended bladder. No significant changes occurred for the whole group after TUR. Individual changes were seen. In six patients the largest measured area of the bladder tumor increased after resection and in four the largest measured thickness increased, and this should be borne in mind when CT is used to evaluate tumor response to treatment. Perivesical changes occurred only after extensive diathermy or perforation. They did not show contrast enhancement and could therefore not be mistaken for tumor growth.