An audit of positive findings in flexible and rigid check cystoscopy

Both flexible and rigid cysto-urethroscopy are routinely used in the surveillance of transitional cell bladder tumours. This study addressed the issue of patient selection for either rigid or flexible cystoscopy. What proportion of positive findings at flexible cystoscopy and negative findings at rigid cystoscopy are acceptable? Standards were set of 10% for the former and 50% for the latter and our practice was then audited. A retrospective analysis of 800 patients undergoing check cystoscopy revealed a positive finding rate of 8.3% using the flexible instrument and 48.1% using the rigid instrument.