Role of urine cytology in bladder neoplasm – Cytopathological correlation and review of literature

Background: Urinary bladder tumors are the second most common tumors affecting males. The aim of the study was to evaluate the various histopathological findings in various bladder tumors and their correlation with exfoliative urine cytology. Design: This is an observational study carried out over a period of 7 years at a tertiary care hospital between January 2010 and January 2017. Materials and Methods: Tumors were divided into invasive and noninvasive urothelial carcinoma and were further classified into high-grade or low-grade urothelial cancer. Urine cytology smears from all these patients were also were studied. Cytological findings were correlated with histopathological findings. Result showed that bladder tumors were commonly seen in males with average age of presentation being the sixth decade. The most common type of carcinoma seen was low-grade urothelial carcinoma-noninvasive type. Urine cytology was positive in 47.46% patients. Sample Size: In our study, 113 cystoscopic biopsies were included over a period of 7 years (85 males and 28 females). Conclusion: Accuracy of diagnosing malignancy in urine cytology varies, and it depends on the presence of diagnostic yield in the urine cytology, processing of the sample, and experience of the cytopathologist. Urine cytology should be reported in a background of detailed clinical information and should always be followed by histopathological examination.