Bladder tumor control by abdominal ultrasound and urine cytology

In 1983 our department introduced ultrasound with urine cytology instead of cystoscopy in the control of low risk bladder tumors. A total of 65 patients with exophytic, noninvasive bladder tumors (stage Ta, grades 1 to 3) underwent 340 ultrasound and urine cytology examinations. Positive diagnoses were confirmed by cystoscopy, and negative diagnoses were confirmed by either no clinical symptoms and negative ultrasound investigation at least 12 months later, negative cystoscopy or negative postmortem examination. Ultrasound revealed 13 tumors 2 to 25 mm. large and 11 were confirmed at cystoscopy. Ultrasound overlooked tumors in 2 patients. None of these tumors was larger than 2 mm. Urine cytology correctly indicated tumors in only 2 cases, falsely indicated tumors in 3 and missed tumors in 11. Results support the fact that ultrasound can continue to be used as an alternative to cystoscopy in selected bladder tumor control patients. Urine cytology had little predictive value in this study.