Resection of bladder tumors

A transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT) or transurethral resection (TUR) is often used to find out if a person has bladder cancer and, if so, whether the cancer has spread (invaded) into the muscle layer of the bladder wall.

TURBT is also the most common treatment for early stage or superficial (invasive that does not involve the muscle layer) bladder cancers. This is usually the first treatment, as most patients have superficial cancer when they are first diagnosed. Sometimes, a second, more extensive TURBT is done to better ensure that all of the cancer has been removed. The goal is to remove the cancer cells and nearby tissues down to the muscle layer of the bladder wall.