ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the application of automated DNA image cytometry (ICM) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2008 to March 2009, 60 volunteers with informed consent were divided into two groups, 40 patients proven as urothelial carcinoma of bladder by pathology and 20 healthy individuals as control. Urine was collected and tested by cytology, ICM and FISH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall sensitivity of FISH was significantly higher in detection of malignancy than that of ICM (82.5% vs 62.5%, P < 0.05) and that of urine cytology (82.5% vs 25.0%, P < 0.05), while ICM was more sensitive to diagnose urothelial carcinoma of bladder than urine cytology (62.5% vs 25.0%, P < 0.05). Specificities of urine cytology, ICM and FISH were 100% in diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder (P > 0.05). Sensitivities of urine cytology, ICM and FISH have no correlation with pathological stage (P > 0.05), but have significant correlation with grade (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ICM and FISH have the same specificity as urine cytology in diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder, but they have significantly higher sensitivity than urine cytology. FISH has the highest sensitivity among three diagnostic methods. Therefore, FISH may become a newly non-invasive technique for the diagnosis and surveillance of urothelial carcinoma of bladder.</p>