ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a second look narrow-band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy in the follow-up of patients with NMIBC as compared to a second white light cystoscopy (WLI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 2013 to October 2014, 600 patients with history of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), who presented for follow-up cystoscopy at an academic outpatient clinic, were randomized to flexible WLI-cystoscopy plus second look NBI-cystoscopy (n = 300) or flexible WLI-cystoscopy plus second look WLI-cystoscopy (n = 300) in the same session. We analysed the detection rate of bladder tumours in second look cystoscopy as primary endpoint. In addition, we evaluated recurrence rates before study enrolment and after transurethral resection (TUR-BT) in each group. RESULTS: In 600 patients with a history of NMIBC, 78 out of 300 patients (26%) with WLI-NBI-cystoscopy and 70 out of 300 patients (23%) with WLI-WLI-cystoscopy were diagnosed with cancer recurrence (p = 0.507). Overall, WLI-NBI detected 404 and WLI-WLI 234 lesions, respectively. The second look cystoscopy detected 57 additional cancer lesions: 45 tumours in 18 patients with WLI-NBI and 12 tumours in 9 patients with WLI-WLI (p = 0.035). After initial examination without tumour detection an improvement was determined by the second cystoscopy in 3 patients (75 vs. 78 pat.) with WLI-NBI and in only one patient (69 vs. 70 pat.) with WLI-WLI (p = 0.137). Second look cystoscopy did not influence the detection of carcinoma in situ in both groups (p = 0.120). After TUR-BT the median recurrence-free survival was 4 months in 57 recurring patients (73%) in the group with WLI-NBI- and 6 months in 56 patients (80%) with WLI-WLI-cystoscopy (p = 0.373), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed no differences in per-patient tumour detection between WLI and NBI. Although NBI has significant benefits for detecting individual lesions overlooked by WLI-cystoscopy, this did not positively affect recurrence-free survival after transurethral resection.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/diagnostic imaging , Cystoscopy/methods , Light , Narrow Band Imaging , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Narrow band imaging (NBI) is a new technique of urethrocystoscopy, in which only certain wavelengths [415 (blue) and 540 nm (green)] are used to detect urothelial carcinoma. The aim of the investigation was to analyze the potential benefit of NBI in the follow-up of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. METHODS: Between August 2013 and July 2014, patients with a history of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, presenting for follow-up cystoscopy, were either examined via flexible white light endoscopy (WLE) plus second look WLE (n = 251, controls) or second look NBI cystoscopy alone (n = 251) in the same session. RESULTS: Rates of recurrences were similar in the two groups [NBI 68 (27.1 %); WLE 70 (27.9 %)]. NBI after WLE identified more tumors in 13 patients (5.69 vs. 3.92). In 8 patients NBI showed no vascularization in suspicious areas. In the control arm, in 8 cases more tumors (3.75 vs. 3.13) were identified in the second WLE. CONCLUSIONS: The additional use of NBI in the follow-up cystoscopy of patients after transurethral resection of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer leads to an increased number of detected tumors; however, a part of the additionally detected tumors can be explained by the double examination. NBI appears to provide information in individual cases whether transurethral resection of bladder tumor is necessary.