The use of fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with fluorescence vizualization for cystoscopy

The method of fluorescence visualization of bladder tumors combined with fluorescence spectroscopy developed in P.A. Herzen MCRI is described. The efficacy of the method was proved by results of diagnostics in 198 patients with superficial bladder cancer. In the study group 67 patients had primary tumor, 131 patients had recurrence of superficial bladder cancer after previous treatment. In 3.5% patients the lesion was determined as carcinoma in situ, in 29.5% – non-invasive papillary carcinoma, bladder cancer with invasion into submucosal layer of bladder wall occurred in 67% of cases. Diagnostics was performed 1.5–2 h after instillation of 50 ml 3% solution of alasens into bladder. The data analysis was made with calculation of the diagnostic parameter and value of tumor/normal mucosa fluorescence contrast. The total number of fluorescence spectra accounted for 528. All determined areas of fluorescence were studied morphologically. During fluorescence spectroscopy 53 areas of fluorescence were determined on visually intact mucosa under white light, showed high values of diagnostic parameter. Morphological study proved severe dysplasia (3%), carcinoma in situ (95%) and bladder cancer (2%). Correlation between data of local fluorescence spectroscopy and morphological study of biopsy specimen was assessed, values of diagnostic parameter, характеризующих intact urothelium, areas of inflammation and moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and bladder cancer were estimated. Local fluorescence spectroscopy combined with visual assessment of fluorescence image allowed to increase specificity of cystoscopy from 70% to 85%, total accuracy – from 80% to 86%, with improvement of predictive value for positive result from 0,67 to 0,94.