The Value of Urine Cytology and Flow Cytometry in Superficial Bladder Tumors

Lee, Hyung Seok; Ryu, Soo Bang

Abstract

Although urine cytology has been used as a useful diagnostic and followup procedure for bladder tumors, it has difficulties in diagnosing low grade and superficial bladder tumors. Recently, flow cytometric DNA analysis is developing an increasing role in the evaluation of patients with possible urothelial malignancy. We evaluated the value of urine cytology and flow cytometry in the diagnosis and the followup of 91 patients with superficial bladder carcinoma between January 1989 and December l992. Positive cytology was detected in 37.4 percent of 91 patients. Among the 74 patients who were examined by urine cytology and flow cytometry, the detection rate was 39.2 percent by cytology, 47.3 percent by flow cytometry and 60.8 percent when both modalities were used. In the 33 recurrences, the detection rate was 63.6 percent by cytology, 57.6 percent by flow cytometry and 75.8 percent by both modalities. The results of this study indicated that urine cytology and flow cytometry have relatively low sensitivity in the diagnosis of superficial bladder tumors, but have higher sensitivity in recurrent tumors. A combination of urine cytology and flow cytometry increased diagnostic accuracy. In conclusion, the combination of urine cytology and flow cytometry is a useful adjunct procedure for the diagnosis and followup of patients with superficial bladder tumors.