Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
If there is reason to suspect a patient may have bladder cancer, the physician will use one or more methods to determine if the disease is actually present. The doctor first takes a complete medical history to check for risk factors and symptoms, and...
does a physical examination. An examination of the rectum and vagina (in women) may also be performed to determine the size of a bladder tumor and to see if, and how far, it has spread. If bladder cancer is suspected, the following tests may be performed:
- biopsy
- cystoscopy
- urine cytology
- bladder washings
- urine culture
- intravenous pyelogram
- retrograde pyelography
- bladder tumor marker studies
Most of the time, the cancer begins as a superficial tumor in the bladder. Blood in the urine is the usual warning sign. Based on how they look under the microscope, bladder cancers are graded using Roman numerals 0 through IV. In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number indicates greater severity of cancer.
Because it is not unusual for people with one bladder tumor to develop additional cancers in other areas of the bladder or elsewhere in the urinary system, the doctor may biopsy several different areas of the bladder lining. If the cancer is suspected to have spread to other organs in the body, further tests will be performed.
Because different types of bladder cancer respond differently to treatment, the treatment for one patient could be different from that of another person with bladder cancer. Doctors determine how deeply the cancer has spread into the layers of the bladder in order to decide on the best treatment.
Standard with any surgical procedure, the patient is asked to sign a consent form after a thorough explanation of the planned procedure.
Advertisement
An enlarged prostate can lead to problems with urination and urinary tract infections. One treatment for an enlarged prostate is a TURP or Transurethral Resection of the Prostate. The video describes a step-by-step process involved in a TURP.
Search
Other Information
Transurethral bladder resection is a surgical procedure, performed under sedation or anesthesia, with a lighted tube inserted through the urethra (the small tube-like structure that allows urine to empty from the bladder), into the bladder. It plays both a diagnostic and therapeutic role in the treatment of bladder cancers.
For this procedure, a lighted tube (resectoscope) is inserted through the urethra, into the bladder. A clear solution is infused to maintain visibility, and the tumor or tissue to be examined is cut away using an electric current. Tumor and muscle fibers are biopsied (a sample is cut out and examined, usually under a microscope) in order to evaluate the depth of tissue involvement, while avoiding perforation of the bladder wall. Every attempt is made to remove all visible tumor tissue, along with a small border of healthy tissue. The resected tissue is examined under the microscope for diagnostic purposes. An indwelling catheter may be inserted to ensure adequate drainage of the bladder postoperatively. At this time, interstitial radiation therapy may be initiated if necessary.
— Kathleen D. Wright, RN
From http://www.answers.com/topic/transurethral-bladder-resection
Other Information
In 2000, the estimated number of doctor visits and outpatient hospital visits by patients aged 20 or older with UTI or cystitis listed as a diagnosis was of 8.27 million visits (1.41 million men; 6.86 million women) with UTI as the primary diagnosis.
From: NKUDIC
Find a Qualified Specialist
Looking for a specialist?
Please enter your zip code.