Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)

A transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a procedure used to diagnose and treat bladder cancer. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis that stores urine from the kidneys until you’re ready to urinate. During a TURBT, your surgeon takes a tissue sample (biopsy) of your tumor or, if it’s small, removes the tumor entirely from inside your bladder without removing the bladder itself. The tissue sample is reviewed by a pathologist to determine if the cancer has spread.

During a TURBT procedure, your surgeon inserts a thin, tube-like instrument called a cystoscope through the urethra into your bladder. The cystoscope has a camera and light to make the inside of the bladder visible to your surgeon. A small wire loop is then used to remove the tumor tissue. Since the surgery is performed through the urethra, there are no external incisions, which can result in a faster recovery time and fewer complications.

Our specialists use advanced tools to ensure we find all the cancer cells during a TURBT procedure.

• Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview®: This scope uses ultraviolet light and a special dye to make cancer cells glow bright pink. This unique technology exposes smaller cancer cells that surgeons may miss with a standard cystoscopy. It also helps prevent cancer from returning since surgeons can more accurately target the cancer cells. Penn Medicine is among the few healthcare centers offering this treatment in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions. 
• Intravesical therapy: After a TURBT, your provider may also recommend intravesical therapy. During this therapy, your doctor puts chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs directly into your bladder to target any remaining cancer cells.

Your doctor may recommend a TURBT procedure if:

• Bladder cancer is suspected 
• You’ve been diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer 
• You have small bladder tumors that can be treated without removing the bladder 
• You experience recurrent bladder tumors

Before your TURBT procedure, your doctor will explain how it’s done and answer your questions. Your care team will provide instructions on preparing for the surgery.

On the day of the bladder tumor surgery, you can expect:

• You’ll have anesthesia so you’re pain-free during the procedure. 
• If your doctor is using blue light cystoscopy, dye will be injected into your bladder an hour before the procedure. 
• Your surgeon will insert the scope through your urethra into your bladder. 
• They’ll remove the tumor or tissue sample and send it to the pathologist. 
• The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes, depending on the size and number of tumors. 
• Your provider may insert a catheter to temporarily collect urine from your bladder during recovery.

Most patients go home the day of their transurethral resection of bladder tumor procedure. You may experience some discomfort, frequent urination, or blood in your urine for a few days. Recovery times vary for each person, but most patients feel fully healed within six weeks of the procedure.

If a catheter was inserted during the procedure, your care team will let you know how to care for it at home. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor your recovery, discuss the biopsy results, and continue treatments if needed.

At Penn Medicine, you receive care from a team of nationally recognized bladder cancer experts. This care includes:

• A multidisciplinary approach: Bladder cancer can be complicated, and patients do better with care tailored to them. Our urologists, surgeons, and medical and radiation oncologists work together to create customized treatment plans. This team approach ensures that we consider every part of your health and choose the bladder tumor removal treatments that make the most impact. 
• Convenient care and telemedicine appointments: We offer services at locations throughout the greater Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Princeton regions so you don’t have to travel far to get the right treatment. You can also connect with your doctor from anywhere through our virtual visit program, which offers easy and secure access to care. 
• Patient support services: Successful cancer care involves more than your physical well-being. That’s why we offer emotional support and other resources. These cancer patient and family support services include a nurse-run bladder cancer support group, nutrition counseling, and stress management.