The value of exfoliative urine cytology in combination with flexible cystoscopy in the diagnosis of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of exfoliative urine cytology in predicting recurrent tumour in patients undergoing surveillance for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and to assess the suitability of these patients for flexible cystoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Specimens of early-morning and freshly voided urine were submitted 2 weeks before surveillance cystoscopy by 111 consecutive patients with known TCC. All patients then underwent cystoscopy under general anaesthesia. The urine specimens were analysed by two pathologists with no knowledge of the patients' history. Cytological findings were correlated with the findings of cystoscopy. RESULTS: Urine cytology predicted 82% of all recurrent tumours found subsequently at cystoscopy; 60% of patients with non-neoplastic pathology had normal cystoscopy. Only 51% of patients with positive urine cytology were shown to have recurrent TCC, but 87% of patients with negative cytology had no recurrent tumours. CONCLUSION: Urine cytology is a good adjunct to assessing the suitability of flexible cystoscopy in the follow-up of patients with transitional cell tumours.