Credentials MBBS (Singapore), DFD (CAW), MRCSEd, MMed (Surgery), FAMS (Urology)
Language English, Mandarin
Info

Dr Tan Teck Wei is a Senior Consultant Urologist in Singapore who specialises in the management of complex urological cancers involving the kidneys, prostate, and bladder.

He is UK fellowship-trained in open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery. He also specialises in the management of other urological conditions including stones, prostate enlargement, and recurrent urinary tract infections.

To date, Dr Tan Teck Wei has been involved in more than 500 robot-assisted surgeries, building up his volume of cases from his fellowship training days and cementing his expertise in robotic surgery.

Dr Tan Teck Wei believes in the holistic management of his patients, and seeks to journey with them from diagnosis to cure. Dr Tan is effectively bilingual in English and Mandarin, making him a popular choice with the young and old, as well as international patients.

Associated Treatments

1. Comprehensive, holistic and individualised management for patients with urological issues, including those with cancer.
2. Vaccines for recurrent urinary tract infections
3. Minimally invasive surgery (eg. extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, ureterorenoscopy and laser stone fragmentation) for urinary tract stones
4. Minimally invasive surgical therapies (eg. Rezum, Urolift, Prolieve) for benign prostatic enlargement
5. Other general urology procedures including: treatment of varicocoeles, vasectomy, circumcision, laparoscopic (keyhole) inguinal hernia repair

Special Treatments

1. Retzius-sparing Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy. This is a technical modification of the conventional robotic prostatectomy for patients with prostate cancer. The technique has been shown to expedite the return of urine control (continence) after surgery. Dr Tan is one of a handful of surgeons in the region who can offer this technique.
2. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion. This is an advanced form of robotic surgery for patients with bladder cancer. Studies have shown lower blood loss, faster postoperative recovery and shorter hospital stays after surgery compared to open surgery with this technique.
3. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. This is a minimally-invasive surgery for renal cancer, with removal of the area of cancer while preserving the rest of the kidney. Studies have shown faster postoperative recovery and shorter hospital stays after surgery compared to open surgery with this technique.
4. Focal cryotherapy for prostate cancer. This is a treatment option for men with prostate cancer localised to a small portion of the prostate. During the treatment, the area with cancer is ablated by freezing the cancer cells. This treatment has good cancer cure rates in suitable patients, while preserving urine control (continence) and erectile function.
5. Transperineal MRI-targeted prostate biopsy. This marries the best of both worlds. The suspicious area seen on MRI prostate scan is targeted for biopsy using computer software to provide real-time localisation and guidance. In addition, the biopsy is done via a transperineal route instead of the usual transrectal route. This minimises the risk of infection and bleeding from the back passage, which can happen with the transrectal biopsy.

Publications

1. Tan TW, Khor CJL, Chang SKY. Stenting before laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: A helpful strategy. Singapore Med J. 2007 Aug;48(8):e224-226.
2. Chong SJ, Tan TW. Cerebral arterial gas embolism in a diver using closed circuit rebreathing apparatus. Diving Hyperb Med. 2008;38:46-47.
3. Chong SJ, Tan TW, Lim YJY. Changes in lung function in Republic of Singapore Navy divers. Diving Hyperb Med. 2008;38:68-70.
4. Chong SJ, Song C, Tan TW, Kusumawijaja G, Chew KY. Multi-variate analysis of burns patients in the Singapore General Hospital Burns Centre (2003-2005). Burns. 2009 Mar;35(2):215-220.
5. Tan TW, Teo LT, MT Chiu. Extra-hepatic biliary injury secondary to blunt abdominal trauma: A successful management strategy. Injury Extra. 2011;42:4-7.
6. Tan TW, Png KS. Tackling anterior crossing vessels without transposition in minimally invasive dismembered pyeloplasty. Journal of Endourology Part B, Videourology. Oct 2014, Vol. 28, No. 5.
7. Tan TW, Chia SJ, Chong KT. Management of penile cancer in a Singapore tertiary hospital. Arab J Urol 2017;15:123-130.
8. Lu Y, Tan TW, Lau WKO. Successful removal of a penoscrotal constricting ring in a 49-year-old male. Asian J Urol 2017;4(4):262-264.
9. Heah NH, Tan TW, Tan YK. Malakoplakia of the prostate as a mimicker of prostate cancer on prostate health index and magnetic resonance imaging-fusion prostate biopsy: a case report. J Endourol Case Rep. 2017:3(1):74-77.
10. Tan TW, Png KS, Lee CH, Yuwono A, Yeow Y, Chong KT, Lee YM, Tan CH, Tan YK. MRI-fusion targeted transrectal prostate biopsy and the role of prostate specific antigen density and prostate health index for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer in Southeast Asian men. J Endourol. 2017;31(11):1111-1116.
11. Tan TW, Nair R, Saad S, Thurairaja R, Khan MS. Safe transition from extracorporeal to intracorporeal urinary diversion following robot-assisted cystectomy: a recipe for reducing operative time, blood loss and complication rates. World J Urol. 2019;37(2):367-372.
12. Leow JJ, Liu Z, Tan TW, Lee YM, Yeo EK, Chong YL. Optimal management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: current perspectives. Onco Targets Ther 2020;13:1-15.
13. Loy LM, Lim GH, Leow JJ, Lee CH, Tan TW, Tan CH. A systematic review and meta-analysis of magnetic resonance guided fusion ultrasound biopsy of prostate for cancer detection – comparing between transrectal and transperineal approaches. Urol Oncol 2020;38:650-660.
14. Tan TW.Editorial comment to using biomarkers in patients with positive multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging: 4K score predicts the presence of cancer outside the index lesion. Int J Urol 2020;28(1):52-53.
15. Cheng S, Yuwono A, Giron D, Tan TW. A rare case of testicular metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma masquerading as a complex hydrocele. J Clin Urol 2021;14(6):492-495.
16. Lee CH,Tan TW,TanCH.MultiparametricMRIinactivesurveillanceofprostatecancer:anoverview and a practical approach. Korean J Radiol 2021;22:e43.
17. Yuwono A, Salada R, Tan TW. TREXIT: initial experience with transperineal prostate biopsy under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting in South East Asia. Asian J Androl 2021;23:1-2.
18. Cheng L, Soon SS, Tan TW, Tan CH, Lim TSK, Tay KJ, Loke WT, Ang B, Chiong E, Ng K. Cost- effectiveness of MRI targeted biopsy strategies for diagnosing prostate cancer in Singapore. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21(1):909.
19. Leow JJ, Koh SH, Chow MWL, Loke W, Salada II R, Hong SK, Yeow Y, Lee CH, Tan CH, Tan TW. Can we omit systematic biopsies in patients undergoing MRI fusion-targeted prostate biopsies? Asian J Androl 2022;24:1-7.
20. Kit JRC, Yuwono A, Leow JJ, Choo ZW, Hong SK, Tan TW. Contemporary management of inguinal lymph nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum: a case report and literature review. Urol Case Rep. 2022;43:102092.
21. Goh N, Tan A, Tan TW, Wong KY. Beyond total mesorectal excision (bTME) – A video vignette. Colorectal Dis. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/codi.16304
22. Leow JJ, Tan WS, Tan WP, Tan TW, Chan VW-S, Tikkinen KAO, Kamat A, Sengupta S, Meng MV, Shariat S, Roupret M, Decaestecker K, Vasdev N, Chong YL, Enikeev D, Giannarini G, Ficarra V, Teoh JY-C. A systematic review and meta-analysis on delaying surgery for urothelial carcinoma of bladder and upper tract urothelial carcinoma: Implications for the COVID19 pandemic and beyond. Front. Surg. 2022;9:879774.
23. Chiu PKF, Leow JJ, Chiang CH, Mok A, Zhang K, Hsieh PF, Zhu Y, Lam W, Tsang WC, Fan YH, Lin TP, Chan TY, Leung CH, Teoh JYC, Chu PSK, Zhu G, Ye DW, Wu HC, Tan TW, Tsu JHL, Ng CF, Chiong E, Huang CY. Prostate health index density outperforms PSA density in the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer in equivocal MRI prostates: a multicenter evaluation. J Urol 2023;210:88-98.

Achievements

2017: Established the “Enhanced Recovery After Cystectomy” programme at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), focusing on optimising patient outcomes and promoting faster postoperative recovery.
2018: Introduced the Robot-assisted Cystectomy/ Anterior Pelvic Exenteration with Intracorporeal Urinary Diversion service at TTSH
2020: Earliest doctor to perform Retzius-sparing Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy at TTSH

Associations

1. Member of the Singapore Urological Association
2. Member of the European Association of Urology
3. Member of the Robotic Surgery Society of Singapore
4. Committee member of the Singapore Cancer Society Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Committee
5. Member of the International Bladder Cancer Network
6. Member of the Urology Residency Programme Exit Examination Committee

Awards and Honours

2014: Awarded the European Board of Urology (EBU) Book Prize by the Singapore Urological Association in 2014 for being the top-scoring local Urology trainee in the annual EBU In-service Assessment.
2015: Awarded the College of Surgeons Gold Medal in Urology for being the best trainee in the exit examination.
2017: Awarded the Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) scholarship in 2017 to undergo subspecialty training in uro-oncology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
2017: Awarded the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of England and British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS)-accredited Senior Clinical Fellowship for the Guy’s Bladder Cancer Fellowship Programme at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom from October 2017 to October 2018.

Fellowships and Accreditations

Fellowship in robotic surgery and uro-oncology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom from October 2017 to October 2018.