Intérêt de la vidéocystoscopie souple en lumière bleue (+Hexvix®) en consultation pour le diagnostic des tumeurs de vessie

Can routine outpatient follow-up of patients with bladder cancer be improved? A multicenter prospective observational assessment of blue light flexible cystoscopy and fulguration

BACKGROUND

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine the feasibility of incorporating blue light flexible cystoscopy (BLFC) and biopsy/fulguration into routine outpatient follow-up of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients.

METHODS

The study included patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who were scheduled for routine follow-up. Hexaminolevulinate was instilled in the outpatient department, and the bladder was examined under white light and then with BLFC. Biopsies were taken from all suspicious lesions. Small tumors and suspicious lesions were fulgurated on site; patients with larger lesions were referred to the operating room for resection.

RESULTS

The study included 69 patients, with a mean age of 70 years (range 33-89 years) and a mean duration since NMIBC diagnosis of 8 years. Most patients had high-grade cancer at initial diagnosis (52/69) and were at high risk of recurrence (48/69). Two patients per hour could be assessed using outpatient BLFC. Preparation and instillation of hexaminolevulinate took less than 10 minutes per patient, and patients had an additional waiting time of 45-60 minutes following instillation, while the hexaminolevulinate solution was retained in the bladder before examination. Eleven patients had histologically confirmed tumors that were identified using both white light flexible cystoscopy and BLFC. An additional three patients had tumors that were identified by BLFC only: two with Ta tumors and one with carcinoma in situ. Of the 14 patients with confirmed tumors, 11 could be managed on site with fulguration, whereas three were referred to the operating room. No adverse events attributable to BLFC were reported.

CONCLUSION

Routine outpatient management of patients with NMIBC using BLFC and on-site biopsy/fulguration is feasible, despite the additional time required for hexaminolevulinate instillation, and appears to allow early detection of recurrent lesions, which can be fulgurated without the need for hospitalization.

[Role of blue-light cystoscopy in the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer]

Blue-light cystoscopy aims to facilitate the detection of bladder tumors in order to optimize the completeness of resection. We performed a literature analysis using data from Medline and according to PRISMA guidelines. Several meta-analyses have confirmed the interest of the blue-light cystoscopy in terms of improved detection rate and disease-free survival compared to standard white-light cystoscopy. These benefits outweigh the initial costs related to the acquisition of specific equipment, allowing an improvement in quality-adjusted life-years and a reduction of costs over time. Indications vary according to guidelines and must take into account equipment and logistic constraints on each center. The objective of this article is to make a focus on the role and the interest of blue-light cystoscopy in the management of NMIBC in 2015.

Clinical and cost effectiveness of hexaminolevulinate-guided blue-light cystoscopy: evidence review and updated expert recommendations

CONTEXT

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is associated with a high recurrence risk, partly because of the persistence of lesions following transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) due to the presence of multiple lesions and the difficulty in identifying the exact extent and location of tumours using standard white-light cystoscopy (WLC). Hexaminolevulinate (HAL) is an optical-imaging agent used with blue-light cystoscopy (BLC) in NMIBC diagnosis. Increasing evidence from long-term follow-up confirms the benefits of BLC over WLC in terms of increased detection and reduced recurrence rates.

OBJECTIVE

To provide updated expert guidance on the optimal use of HAL-guided cystoscopy in clinical practice to improve management of patients with NMIBC, based on a review of the most recent data on clinical and cost effectiveness and expert input.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

PubMed and conference searches, supplemented by personal experience.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Based on published data, it is recommended that BLC be used for all patients at initial TURBT to increase lesion detection and improve resection quality, thereby reducing recurrence and improving outcomes for patients. BLC is particularly useful in patients with abnormal urine cytology but no evidence of lesions on WLC, as it can detect carcinoma in situ that is difficult to visualise on WLC. In addition, personal experience of the authors indicates that HAL-guided BLC can be used as part of routine inpatient cystoscopic assessment following initial TURBT to confirm the efficacy of treatment and to identify any previously missed or recurrent tumours. Health economic modelling indicates that the use of HAL to assist primary TURBT is no more expensive than WLC alone and will result in improved quality-adjusted life-years and reduced costs over time.

CONCLUSIONS

HAL-guided BLC is a clinically effective and cost-effective tool for improving NMIBC detection and management, thereby reducing the burden of disease for patients and the health care system.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Blue-light cystoscopy (BLC) helps the urologist identify bladder tumours that may be difficult to see using standard white-light cystoscopy (WLC). As a result, the amount of tumour that is surgically removed is increased, and the risk of tumour recurrence is reduced. Although use of BLC means that the initial operation costs more than it would if only WLC were used, over time the total costs of managing bladder cancer are reduced because patients do not need as many additional operations for recurrent tumours.