Urologie pro praxi 2/2023

Intravesical thermochemotherapy – indication, patient preparation and practical aspects of administration

Device-assisted intravesical chemotherapy aims to increase the efficacy of intravesical chemotherapy in the treatment of non-muscle- invasive bladder cancer. Currently, its use is limited to cases where radical cystectomy cannot be performed after failure (or intolerance or unavailability) of intravesical immunotherapy with BCG vaccine, either because of poor performance status of the patient or because of refusal of surgery. In the Czech Republic, two methods of this treatment based on the use of thermal energy are available. The article provides summary of both these methods with an emphasis on practical aspects of their use.

Keywords: chemotherapy, intravesical, bladder cancer, radiofrequency, termochemotherapy, chemohypertermia