Possible Association between Bladder Wall Morphological Changes on Computed Tomography and Bladder-Centered...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic condition.
• Accurate diagnosis and subtyping of IC/BPS are crucial for effective management.
• Computed tomography (CT) is a common imaging modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical significance of urinary bladder wall thickening on CT in IC/BPS patients.
• To correlate CT findings with clinical phenotypes and histopathological features.
• To determine if CT can help differentiate IC/BPS subtypes.

Main Methods:

• 100 IC/BPS patients were prospectively enrolled.
• Patients were grouped based on bladder CT findings: smooth wall, focal thickening, or diffuse thickening.
• Clinical and histopathological data were analyzed in relation to CT findings.

Main Results:

• 49% had smooth walls, 36% focal thickening, and 15% diffuse thickening.
• Hunner's lesion was more common in patients with focal/diffuse thickening (p < 0.001).
• Diffuse thickening correlated with reduced bladder capacity and voided volume (p < 0.001).
• Focal/diffuse thickening showed increased inflammation and uroepithelial damage (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Bladder wall thickening on CT is associated with IC/BPS clinical phenotypes and histopathology.
• CT findings may indicate chronic inflammation and fibrosis.
• Focal or diffuse bladder wall thickening on CT can help differentiate bladder-centered IC/BPS.