Computer-assisted microfluorometric detection of individual malignant bladder cells

A prospective study was done comparing the use of computer-assisted fluorescence photomicroscopy (cytophotometry) with routine cytology for the detection of human bladder cancers. A total of 129 specimens were analyzed from 89 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I, with cancer demonstrated cystoscopically (55 specimens) and Group II, with no demonstrable cancer (74 specimens). The false-negative rate for cytology in the Group I patients was 64 percent but only 7 percent for microfluorometry. The false-positive rate for cytology in Group II was 5 percent but 59 percent for microfluorometry because of the presence of "reactive" cells. The sequential measurement of both routine cytology and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content can be performed on the same cells. When both modalities were employed, the false-negative and false-positive rates were only 4 percent and 5 percent, respectively. The technique and advantages of cytophotometry are discussed in detail, especially in relation to flow cytometry.