[Ethanol sclerotherapy in superficial bladder tumors]

Diagnostic cystoscopy under local anaesthesia is a frequently used method in patients with transitional cell bladder tumors. In most cases, disease recurrences detected during cystoscopic examination require additional endoscopic manipulations (TURB, laser) under general anaesthesia. In 1987, Hata et al. reported successful treatment of 5 bladder tumor patients by injection under local anaesthesia--and for diagnostic purposes--of Ethanol. Based on these preliminary results we applied the method on 12 patients with superficial bladder tumors. In the course of standard cystoscopy under local anaesthesia and using a flexible needle to penetrate the bladder, Ethanol was slowly injected into the tumor base until whitening of the tumor. Treatment was successful in 10 patients (83%) with tumor size not exceeding 2 cm. Treatment was well tolerated and no serious side effects were observed. Until the second year of follow-up no recurrences were observed at the site of ethanol injection. Sclerozing therapy with Ethanol is a therapeutic alternative for small (up to 1.2 cm) superficial tumors detected during screening of bladder cancer.