Urine cytology in the diagnosis of bladder tumours

ABSTRACT

The chief and principal use of the cytological examination of urine, is for the detection of bladder tumours amongst a population that has been exposed to bladder carcinogens. The high incidence of bladder tumours amongst some industrial workers [B-naphthylamine, benzidine, auramine and magneta, etc.] makes it essential to have the means for the early detection of these lesions. The clinical examination cannot play any part in the early detection of bladder lesions, because a tumour that gives rise to physical signs and symptoms may be so far advanced as to offer a poor prognosis. Also cystoscopic examination, although it offers a great advantage as a final means of detecting the presence of a tumour, yet is an operative interference which has its distinct drawbacks when applied as a routine diagnostic method. It is known that cystoscopy is an uncomfortable procedure and is not always entirely devoid of unpleasant sequelae. In the present work, an attempt is made to evaluate the cytologic examination of urine in the diagnosis of bladder cancers, in Egypt where urinary bilharziasis prevails. In these developing countries, the incidence of bladder cancer is high, specialists are scarce, and there is need for a simple technique which can be applied with great case. Furthermore, haematuria is characteristic in bilharzial cystitis and bladder cancer and for the detection of the latter, repeated cytologic examination of the urine may be of value in order to detect early development of carcinoma