Background
Bladder cancer (BC) is the second urologic tumour with the highest incidence in the adult population after prostate cancer.
To improve the detection, sensitivity and specificity of the endoscopic techniques for the treatment of NMIBC, techniques such as photodynamic diagnosis, which is based on the fluorescence of tissues containing malignant cells, have emerged.
A study by Palou and colleagues assessed the sensitivity and specificity of blue-light
cystoscopy (BLC™) with hexaminolevulinate as an adjunct to white-light cystoscopy (WLC) vs. WLC alone for the detection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), in routine clinical practice in Spain.1
The authors concluded that an improvement in the diagnosis of NMIBC, mainly CIS and Ta tumours, was obtained with BLC with hexaminolevulinate as an adjunct to WLC vs. WLC alone in routine clinical practice.1
Commentary
Improving the Photodynamic Diagnosis Of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer After BCG Failure
An Expert Review by Dr. Juan Gómez Rivas and Rafael Sanchez-Salas
In this Expert Review by Drs. Gómez Rivas and Sanchez-Salas, they share their perspectives on the results of the above study by Palou and colleagues. The commentary also explores the role that photodynamic diagnosis play in the context of non-muscle-invasive disease, early recurrence, and cases that are refractory to Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG).
1Palou J, Hernández C, Solsona E, et al. Effectiveness of hexaminolevulinate fluorescence cystoscopy for the diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in daily clinical practice: a Spanish multicentre observational study. BJUI Int 2015;116(1):37-43.
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“Cloacal Anomalies and Pregnancy” is a short, case-based module that focuses on a young pregnant woman with an acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. The module follows her through examination, management, and follow up and provides background information on cloacal anomalies relative to fertility and pregnancy while highlighting possible complications.
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