Prevalence of benign microscopic hematuria among women with interstitial cystitis: Implications for evaluation of genitourinary malignancy

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Hematuria

Hematuria is a common reason for patients to be referred for imaging of the urinary tract. All patients diagnosed with hematuria should undergo a thorough history and physical examination, urinalysis, and serologic testing prior to any initial imaging. Ultrasound, CT, and MRI are the most common imaging modalities used to evaluate hematuria. This document discusses the following clinical scenarios for hematuria: initial imaging of microhematuria without risk factors or history of recent vigorous exercise, or presence of infection, or viral illness, or present or recent menstruation; initial imaging of microhematuria in patients with known risk factors and no history of recent vigorous exercise, or presence of infection, or viral illness, or present or recent menstruation or renal parenchymal disease; initial imaging of microhematuria in the pregnant patient and initial imaging of gross hematuria. Follow-up of normal or abnormal findings is beyond the scope of this review. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Risk factors that affect the treatment of interstitial cystitis using intravesical therapy with a dimethyl sulfoxide cocktail

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) bladder instillation is a standard therapy for interstitial cystitis (IC); however, there are varying degrees of success. We hypothesize that first-line intravesical therapy with a DMSO cocktail will optimize treatment outcome.

METHODS

Ninety women with newly diagnosed IC were enrolled consecutively for the treatment. The IC symptom and problem index was used as an outcome measure.

RESULTS

Six (6.7%) patients dropped out of the treatment due to intolerable bladder irritation. Fifty-five (65.5%) of the remaining 84 patients, who completed the treatment, experienced ≧50% symptomatic improvement. After a regression analysis, three clinical variables were found to affect treatment adversely, i.e., the presence of advanced cystoscopic glomerulations, microscopic hematuria, and urodynamic detrusor underactivity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest bladder instillation with a DMSO cocktail may well be considered as first-line therapy for IC patients. However, there exists a subgroup of nonresponders who may have severe disease.

Pelvic pain in urogynaecology. Part I: evaluation, definitions and diagnoses

Aim of this review is to summarise the available literature on the definitions and assessment of pelvic pain in the urogynaecological patient. A MEDLINE search and a hand search of conference proceedings of the International Continence Society and International Urogynecological Association were performed. Sixty-nine articles were reviewed. The site of pain was specified in 45% of the articles, 20% used the digital examination of pelvic myofascial trigger points for the diagnosis; 20%, the Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Symptom Scale; 26%, the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Index and 39%, a simple visual analogue scale. The diagnosis was interstitial cystitis in 67% and chronic pelvic pain in 19% of the articles. Consensus on the diagnostic procedures and definition of pelvic pain in the urogynaecological patient should be achieved in order to provide exact diagnostic information which will lead to more satisfying treatment options.