Role of Fluorescence Cystoscopy: Diagnostic Method to Increase the Detection Rate of Bladder Cancer

, Ill Young Seo

Review Article

The Korean Journal of Urological Oncology 2010;8(1):18-22.
Published online April 1, 2010.

형광 방광경검사: 방광암 진단율을 높이기 위한 검사법

서 일 영

원광대학교 의과대학 비뇨기과학교실

Role of Fluorescence Cystoscopy: Diagnostic Method to Increase the Detection Rate of Bladder Cancer

Ill Young Seo

Department of Urology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea

Correspondence: Ill Young Seo

Abstract

Bladder cancer is the second common cancer in genitourinary system. It is detected at early stage in most cases. However cystoscopy has an inadequate role to detect a flat lesion such as carcinoma in situ. Fluorescence cystoscopy has developed to improve the detection rate of bladder cancer as a photodynamic diagnosis. The principle of the detection is based on the preferential accumulation of photoactive porphyrins in cancer cells. The common agents for the fluorescence cystoscopy, photosensitizers, are 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), hexyl aminolevulininate (HAL), and hypericin. Some studies shows that the fluorescence cystoscopy improve the detection rate of bladder cancer, which may improve the prognosis. However it has to overcome shortcomings including false positive rate, limited time to use, and restriction to evaluate more invasive lesion. (Korean J Urol Oncol 2010;8:18-22)

Key Words: Cystoscopy, Bladder cancer, Diagnosis