Endoscopic fluorescence diagnosis and laser treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Recurrent bladder cancer is due to tumor cell implantation, incomplete resection, and multicentric neoplastic changes throughout the bladder. The possibilities of 5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence endoscopy (AFE), a highly sensitive method in detecting bladder cancer and laser energy as treatment to lower the recurrence rate in bladder cancer, are evaluated. After intravesical administration of AFE Protoporphyrin IX, a tumor-selective manner is excited by a xenon-arc lamp (wavelength 400 to 410 nm) to emit red fluorescence. Suspicious lesions can be detected by their red fluorescence and are electroresected or treated with laser energy. Complete resection or destruction of all tumors in the bladder is crucial to prevent recurrent and invasive growth of transitional cell carcinoma. AFE detects malignant lesions in the bladder with a sensitivity of 98% and Cis in 100%, respectively. Laser treatment of superficial bladder cancer lowers the local recurrence rate and reduces the risk of viable tumor cell implantation.