The significance of random bladder biopsies in superficial bladder cancer

Clinical usefulness of random biopsies in diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

This systematic review of the literature has been focused on determining the clinical usefulness of random bladder biopsies (RB) in the diagnosis of carcinoma in situ. A meta-analysis was performed to establish the clinic and pathological factors associated to positive biopsies.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review was performed using Pubmed/Medline database according to the PRISMA guidelines. Thirty-seven articles were included, recruiting a total of 12,657 patients, 10,975 were submitted to RB.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The overall incidence of positive RB was 21.91%. Significant differences were found in the incidence of positive RB when patients were stratified according to urine cytology result, tumor multiplicity, tumor appearance, stage and grade. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the presence of positive cytology, tumor multiplicity, non-papillary appearance tumors, stage T1 and histological grades G2 and G3 represent the risk factors to predict abnormalities in RB.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of positive RB in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer was 21.91%. The maximum usefulness of RB was observed when these are performed in a standardized way. The results of the meta-analysis showed that besides positive cytology and non-papillary appearance tumors, tumor multiplicity and histological grades G2 and G3 represent risk factors associated to positive RB, suggesting that the use of RB might be extensive to the intermediate risk group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

High-grade microscopic hematuria in adult men can predict urothelial malignancy

INTRODUCTION

Microscopic hematuria in men younger than 40 is a confusing issue to urologists, especially when these men have normal radiological findings. We report our experience in looking for urologic malignancy in this group of patients.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study for men with vague urological symptoms. We included men under 40 years old, men with microscopic hematuria greater than 25 red blood cells/high power field in 2 properly collected mid-stream urine samples, and men with free urine culture and normal multiphasic computed tomography abdomen and pelvis studies. All patients underwent diagnostic cystoscurethroscopy. If there were no lesions, multiple random biopsies were taken. In cases of apparently normal cystoscopic findings and associated renal colic, uretroscopy was done to the suspected side.

RESULTS

Only 20 patients fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients were 34; 2 patients presented with pain. The other 18 patients were presenting with mild recurrent lower urinary tract symptoms. Cystoscopy showed small papillary low-grade tumour in 3 patients. All random biopsies were free of malignancy. Unilateral uretroscopy for the 2 cases presented with pain detected carcinoma in situ in one of them.

CONCLUSION

Cystoscopy is highly recommended for young adult men, with significant levels of microscopic hematuria, due to the 20% incidence rate of associated urological malignancy. Random bladder biopsies, in the absence of suspicious lesions, have no diagnostic role, and should not be done. Uretroscopy is advised for patients with microscopic hematuria and loin pain, even in the absence of suspicious radiological findings.

Clinical impact of bladder biopsies with TUR-BT according to cytology results in patients with bladder cancer: a case control study

Background

There seems to be no consensus concerning taking bladder biopsies during transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT). We investigate the clinical significance of bladder biopsy with TUR-BT and the relationship between urinary cytology and the biopsy results.

Methods

We reviewed a total of 424 patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with TUR-BT between 1998 and 2005. Of the total, 293 patients also underwent a bladder biopsy. Biopsies from suspicious-appearing urothelium (N = 59) and those from normal-appearing urothelium (N = 234) were evaluated separately.

Results

Bladder cancer was observed in 23 cases (39.0%) who underwent a biopsy of suspicious-appearing urothelium. Among these 23 cases, 9 cases with visible tumor resection had carcinoma in situ (CIS) only in the biopsies from suspicious-appearing urothelium. Urinary cytology was negative in 3 of the 9 cases. Bladder cancer was observed in 26 cases (11.1%) who underwent a biopsy of normal-appearing urothelium. Of them, 5 cases with visible tumors had CIS only in the multiple biopsies from normal-appearing urothelium. Urinary cytology was positive in all of the 5 cases. No upstaging or upgrading cases were found in these patients by the addition of these two types of biopsy. Furthermore, therapy was not altered in these patients. With or without bladder biopsy was not a significant factor for tumor recurrence in either the univariate or multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Based on the results, it is concluded the multiple biopsies from normal-appearing urothelium are not necessary in patients with negative cytology results because of the low detection rate and lack of influence on therapeutic decisions. Meanwhile, biopsy of suspicious-appearing urothelium is needed in patients with negative cytology results in order to detect CIS due to staging properties. This result supports a recent EAU guideline.