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Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was tested in diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC) in 100 BC suspects. This method showed higher sensitivity (by 16%) in diagnosis of BC compared to standard cystoscopy as it more presicely identified squamous intraepithelial and noninvasive tumors. The analysis of OCT images was made with a noval computer program of filtration and color overlay. This improved quality of the image allowed verification or rejection of BC, its localization on urinary bladder wall.

Macroscopic fluorescence which is induced with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) allows visualizing of small flat tumors, carcinoma in situ, true neoplasm margins and dysplasias of the bladder. Following ALA instillation, cystoscopy was performed under both standard and blue light illumination. In a prospective randomized multicenter study, 102 patients underwent TUR of bladder tumor(s) either with white light or ALA-fluorescence. Significant reduction in the number of residual tumours was detected in 59% (p = 0.005) after 8 weeks, 3 months--in 58% (p = 0.002) and 6 months in 38% (p = 0.01) respectively.

Application of 5-aminolauvulin acid (ALA) fluorescence allows to detect not only exophytic tumors of the bladder but also flat, small tumors-satellites and preneoplastic changes of the bladder. 175 biopsies were performed in 53 patients with suspected superficial tumor of the bladder. 3 hours before surgery all the patients were intravesically instilled 50 ml 3% ALA solution. Cystoscopy employed white and blue light. Visual registration of exophytic masses and red fluorescence of the suspected sites was registered and consequently compared to the histological findings. 96 of 100 sites with malignancy/dysplasia showed red fluorescence. In 13% patients cancer and mucosal dysplasia were detected only under the blue light and were missed by standard cystoscopy. Residual red fluorescence of the resection margins was observed in 41% patients after TUR. Sensitivity of ALA-fluorescent detection reached 96%, specificity 52%. ALA-induced fluorescent diagnosis is more effective than standard cystoscopy. It is most effective in diagnosis of dysplasias, carcinoma in situ, flat, small, multiple superficial tumors of the bladder during primary TUR.