TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour)

TURBT removes tumours from the bladder lining using a telescope passed through the urethra, with no cuts in the skin. It is both the treatment for early tumours and the test that tells you the type, grade and depth of the cancer.

For tumours confined to the lining it is often the only operation needed. It cannot cure cancer that has grown into the bladder muscle, and even superficial tumours recur in a large share of patients, so regular camera checks afterwards are part of the treatment.

What TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour) involves

Under spinal or general anaesthetic, a resectoscope is passed along the urethra and the bladder is filled with fluid. The surgeon inspects the whole lining, then shaves the tumour away in strips with an electrified wire loop, including a sample of the muscle layer underneath so that the pathologist can judge depth. The base and edges are cauterised to stop bleeding. Flat red areas may be biopsied separately. The chips are washed out and sent for analysis. A catheter is placed, and in suitable cases a single dose of chemotherapy, usually mitomycin, is put into the bladder within hours to reduce recurrence.

Who is a good candidate for TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour)?

Needed by almost everyone in whom cystoscopy or a scan shows a bladder growth.

• A bladder tumour seen on flexible cystoscopy, CT or ultrasound
• Blood in the urine with suspicious cells on cytology
• A planned second resection 2 to 6 weeks after a high-grade or T1 tumour
• Recurrent superficial tumours found on surveillance

It is usually not the right choice if:

• Untreated urinary infection, which must be cleared first
• People on blood thinners that have not been safely paused or bridged
• Known muscle-invasive cancer, where TURBT is only a step before cystectomy or chemoradiotherapy
• Very small low-grade recurrences, which can sometimes be treated by laser or diathermy in clinic

Technique options

• White-light TURBT: Standard resection with a wire loop, monopolar or bipolar. Bipolar in saline reduces some fluid-related risks.
• Blue-light or narrow-band imaging: Enhanced visualisation that shows up flat lesions and small tumours that white light can miss.
• En bloc resection: The tumour is removed in one piece with a laser or needle electrode, which can improve pathology quality for suitable tumours.
• Post-operative intravesical chemotherapy: A single instillation after surgery for presumed low-risk tumours.

What happens during your treatment

The operation takes 20 to 60 minutes. With a spinal anaesthetic you are awake but numb from the waist down. You wake with a catheter, and the bladder may be irrigated until the urine clears. Most people stay 1 to 2 nights; the catheter is removed after 1 to 3 days.

Preparing for your trip

Plan for 7 to 10 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.

• Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
• Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
• Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
• Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly

Recovery and results

Burning, frequency and some blood in the urine are normal for up to 2 weeks, and a little bleeding may reappear around day 10 to 14 when scabs separate. Drink plenty, avoid heavy lifting and straining for 2 to 3 weeks. Pathology takes about a week and decides whether you need a second resection, a course of BCG or chemotherapy washes, or more extensive treatment.

• Back to everyday activity: 1 to 2 weeks
• When results show: Pathology result in about 1 week
• How long they last: Surveillance cystoscopy for years

Safety, risks and revision policy

TURBT is a routine operation. Most complications are minor and temporary.

• Bleeding, sometimes with clots needing a washout or return to theatre
• Urinary infection
• Bladder perforation, usually managed with a catheter for longer, rarely needing open repair
• Incomplete resection or under-staging, requiring a repeat procedure
• Urethral stricture in the long term
• Irritation from intravesical chemotherapy
• Tumour recurrence, which is common and the reason for surveillance

Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.

Cost of TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour) in Türkiye

Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:

• Tumour size and number, which determine theatre time
• Blue-light imaging agents
• Intravesical chemotherapy dose
• Hospital nights and pathology
• A planned second resection

Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

Frequently Asked Questions