ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica 2005 December;57(4):335-9

Copyright © 2005 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Fluorescence endoscopi in the diagnosis and treatment of superficial bladder neoplasms

Zani D., Simeone C., Cosciani Cunico S., da Pozzo G. P.

Divisione Clinicizzata di Urologia Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia

Aim. The results of a clinical investigation on neoplasm and bladder dysplasia detection by 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced fluorescence are reported. In this paper the authors report their experience with 5-ALA in the diagnosis, tretament and follow-up of bladder neoplasms after chemotherapy and endocavitary immunotherapy.
Methods. The 5-ALA was instilled in the bladder 2 h before bladder transurethral resection. This method has been used since December 2000 on 163 patients and a total of 266 biopsies were histologically examined.
Results. One-hundred and four benign and 92 malignant/dysplastic areas were biopsied; 46 malignant/dysplastic lesions were not detected during routine white-light cystoscopy but were identified with fluorescence cystoscopy. Sensiti-vity was 99% but specificity was low (20%).
Conclusion. ALA-based fluorescence cystoscopy is a safe and simple technique that enhances the detection of flat and papillary urothelial neoplasms.