Effect of bladder carcinoma location on detection rates by ultrasonography and computed tomography

To evaluate the effect of the location of bladder carcinoma on detection rates by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT).

The study included 85 patients with bladder cancer who were examined by US and CT before cystoscopy. The bladder wall was divided into 13 separate regions, and the tumor detection rates by US and CT were calculated for each location and lesion diameter with regard to the cystoscopy findings.

A total of 214 bladder tumors were detected at cystoscopy. The lowest detection rate for US was noted for the anteroinferior region (47%) of the bladder. The lowest detection rate for CT was also noted for the same region (55.5%). The detection rate of all anterior wall tumors by US and CT was 48.27% and 62.5%, respectively. The detection rate by CT was 100% for tumors greater than 5 mm in diameter. The greatest detection rates by both of the imaging modalities were for the bilateral side walls of the bladder.

The results of this study suggest that bladder tumor location highly affects the detection rates by US and CT. The lowest detection rates by both modalities were noted for anterior wall tumors. Because of the lower detection rate of tumors located in the anterior wall of bladder and those smaller than 5 mm, we recommend cystoscopy whenever a bladder tumor is suspected.