Urinary markers/cytology: what and when should a urologist use

As of 2012, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer afflicting men and ninth most common cancer in women. Nearly 80% of all bladder cancer diagnoses are non-muscle invasive at presentation, most of whom will develop recurrent disease within 5 years of initial diagnosis. Urinary tumor markers provide a noninvasive method for both screening and surveillance of bladder cancer. This article reviews the current Food and Drug Administration-approved urinary biomarkers for detection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.