Laser Treatment for Invasive and Noninvasive Carcinoma of the Bladder

Abstract

Lasers are widely used in urologic surgery and have many well-developed applications. The use of lasers for the treatment of bladder cancer has been proven to be safe and minimally invasive. The neodymium:YAG laser is the most widely used instrument, although the holmium:YAG laser has also gained recent popularity. Noninvasive, small lesions are especially amenable to management with laser energy and have been treated with success rates that are at least as good as those of standard electrocautery resection. Complication rates are low. Laser therapy of invasive bladder cancer has significant limitations and should probably be restricted to stage T₂ lesions.