Which of the following requires at least a partial cystectomy for pathological staging?

The process of pathological staging typically involves obtaining tissue samples that can provide detailed information about the extent and characteristics of a tumor. Among the options listed, transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) is specifically designed to both diagnose and stage bladder cancer. During a TURB procedure, a portion of the bladder tumor is removed for pathological examination, which can include partial cystectomy depending on the tumor's depth and presence.

A partial cystectomy involves the surgical removal of part of the bladder and is often performed when there's a necessity to stage a more advanced bladder tumor. Since TURB can serve both diagnostic and staging purposes by collecting tissue for evaluation, it is considered to fulfill the criteria for requiring at least a partial cystectomy for pathological staging.

In contrast, needle biopsies typically involve obtaining small samples of tissue without significant surgical intervention, and excisional biopsies generally focus on removing entire masses but may not serve the same specific purpose as TURB in the context of bladder cancer staging. Radical surgery, which may involve a complete cystectomy, goes beyond what is necessary for mere staging. Thus, TURB is the procedure most closely associated with the described requirement.