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Fluorescence detection of bladder tumors with 5-amino-levulinic acid
1Department of Urology and Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Urology and Andrology, Municipal Hospital Lainz, Vienna, Austria. ric@khl.uro.magwien.gv.at
Background:
Preliminary data suggest that photodiagnosis by fluorescence detection of protoporphyrin IX, a biosynthetic product of the photosensitizer 5-amino-levulinic acid (ALA), is superior to conventional cystoscopy in bladder tumor detection.
Patients And Methods:
We instilled 1.5 g of ALA into the bladders of 52 patients with suspect bladder lesions 1 to 4 hours prior to transurethral resection or biopsy. Red fluorescence was induced by violet-blue light (wavelength 380-450 nm).
Results:
In 13 patients (25%), significant tumors were detected by fluorescence that were missed on conventional cystoscopy. In the present series, ALA photodetection had a sensitivity of 94.6% (compared with 76% for cystoscopy) and a specificity of 43%.
Conclusion:
Fluorescence diagnosis with ALA may become a standard procedure for bladder tumor detection and resection, especially in endoscopically difficult situations (carcinoma in situ, multifocal tumors, multiple prior resections, or previous drug instillation therapy).