What is the standard treatment for superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)?

The standard treatment for superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), particularly those that are classified as Stage Ta and T1, is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). This procedure involves the surgical removal of tumor tissue from the bladder using a cystoscope and is an essential step in both the diagnostic and therapeutic management of bladder cancer.

TURBT serves multiple purposes: it not only helps in the accurate staging of the cancer by allowing pathologic evaluation of the resected tissues, but it also aims to remove tumors to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of recurrences. After this initial resection, patients may require additional treatments, such as intravesical chemotherapy, to help prevent recurrence; however, the TURBT itself is considered the initial and standard treatment approach.

In the context of other treatment options, while intravesical chemotherapy is often used as an adjunct after TURBT to minimize recurrences, it is not the primary surgical treatment for superficial TCC. Cystectomy, the surgical removal of the bladder, is typically reserved for more invasive diseases. Radiation therapy is generally not a primary treatment for superficial TCC, as bladder cancer usually responds better to surgical interventions.