ABSTRACT
Fifty-two patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma were randomized to receive either Nd:YAG laser therapy [25 patients] or transurethral resection [27 patients]. Local tumor recurrence at the same site of the original tumor occurred in 12% of patients treated with laser therapy compared with 56% of those treated by transurethral resection. There was no significant difference as regards remote recurrence in both groups. These findings were corroborated even after stratification according to stage and grade, which agreed with a number of published reports. In addition, the Nd:YAG laser was associated with a smaller incidence of treatment-related morbidity. Nevertheless, the high cost of setting up and maintaining a laser unit precludes recommending it except in the setting of a large tertiary referral center