Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of bladder washing cytology in diagnosis of urothelial carcinomas of bladder.

METHODS

248 urinary bladder cytology and biopsy specimens from 220 patients who underwent cystoscopy at Tepecik Education and Research Hospital between 2010-13 were evaluated. Of the 28 patients, repeated biopsy and cytology materials were analysed.

RESULTS

There were 198 male and 22 female patients with a mean age of 65.7 (21-93). Diagnosis of biopsy specimens were 26% (n=64) benign, 74% (n=184) malignant (49.5% (n=91) low grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, 42.5% (n=79) high grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, 4% (n=7) papillary urothelial neoplasia of low malignant potential, 4% (n=7) carcinoma in situ). The diagnosis of bladder washings were: 51.2% (n=127) benign, 17.3% (n=43) suspicious for malignancy, 31.5% (n=78) malignant. When the diagnosis of cytology and biopsy specimens were compared, 123 cases were consistently

positive, 63 cases consistently negative, 1 case false positive, 61 cases false negative. The sensitivity of urinary bladder cytology was 66.8%, specifity 98.4%, positive prediction value 99.1% and negative prediction value 34.2%. The histopathologic diagnosis in 48 of the 61 false negative cases were low grade papillary urothelial carcinoma

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that specifity rates of urinary bladder cytology are high. The sensitivity rates are low as reported in the literature especially for low grade tumors. The combined evaluation of biopsy and cytology specimens obtained from cystoscopy is the main step in the accurate diagnosis of urinary malignancies.