Use of Nd:YAG laser in treatment of bladder cancer

A total of 53 patients were treated with neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and followed up for two years. Three patients had carcinoma in situ (CIS); 4 had Ta lesions; and 28 had TINxMo, 8 had T2NxMo, and 10 had T3NxMo lesions. The patients with CIS received a combination of Nd:YAG laser and intravesical bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) instillation. The remainder of the patients received no supplementary chemotherapy. No tumor recurrence was noted in those with Ta lesions. Tumor recurred in 18 per cent of patients with T1 lesions, and 33 per cent of those with T2 lesions; 80 per cent of patients with T3 lesions had resistant or residual tumors. In patients with CIS, there was no tumor recurrence. Nd:YAG laser is effective in Ta, T1, and T2 bladder cancers, with low recurrence rate and minimal complications. In very select, high-risk patients with small lesions, and in those who refuse cystectomy, there may be a place for laser therapy for either palliation or definitive treatment of T3 invasive tumors of the bladder.