Blue Light Cystoscopy Articles

Articles

  • A cost-consequences and budget impact analysis of blue light-guided cystoscopy with Hexvix® in patients diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in France.

    French guidelines for the management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recommend that blue-light cystoscopy should be used in patients where the risk of missing residual tumour is highest. Despite evidence for its cost effectiveness, budgetary concerns have limited uptake in France.

    Published October 10, 2023
  • Bladder Cancer Diagnosis & Detection

     Non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (Ta, T1, and CIS), describes malignant urothelial tumors that have not invaded the detrusor.  

    • Approximately 70% of malignant bladder tumors are non–muscle invasive at presentation. (70% present as stage Ta, 20% as T1, and 10% as CIS).

    Signs and Symptoms Bladder Tumors

    • The common symptoms of localized disease (hematuria, dysuria).
    • Microscopic hematuria is associated with a 0.5% to 10.5% rate of bladder cancer.
    • Patients with macroscopic (gross) hematuria have reported rates of bladder cancer of 13% to 34.5%. 
    • The presence of irritative voiding symptoms may double the risk, especially for CIS (5% vs. 10.5%).
    • About 15% of patients are asymptomatic at presentation and are diagnosed when an incidental lesion is found on radiologic evaluation. 
    • Cystoscopy and upper tract imaging are indicated in patients with hematuria and/or unexplained irritative symptoms.
    • Low-grade Ta lesions are low risk, whereas all high-grade lesions (including CIS) have a high risk of progressing.
    • Patients may also present with symptoms of advanced disease, including flank or abdominal mass, weight loss, anorexia, and bone pain. 

    Consideration in the Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer

    • Recurrence is common in all patients with non–muscle-invasive urothelial cancer but can often be controlled successfully with transurethral surgery, intravesical therapy, or a combination. 
    • In contrast to recurrence, patients can be divided into low or high risk for progression, which is the true concern. 
    • Low-grade Ta lesions are low risk, whereas all high-grade lesions (including CIS) have a high risk of progressing.
    • Low-grade Ta lesions recur at a rate of 50% to 70% and progress in approximately 5% of cases. 
    • In contrast, high-grade T1 lesions recur in more than 80% of cases and progress in 50% of patients within 3 years. 
    • This behavior is primarily grade, rather than stage, dependent, because patients with high-grade tumors progressed with similar frequency regardless of whether they were invasive (T1) or noninvasive (Ta).
    • Prognosis also correlates with tumor size, multiplicity, papillary versus sessile configuration, presence or absence of lymphovascular invasion, and status of the remaining urothelium.
    • The variance in biologic behavior for low-grade versus high-grade lesions correlates with the known dual molecular lines of genetic development for these two pathways and supports the concept that high-grade and low-grade cancers may be considered as essentially different diseases.
    • Chromosomal alterations caused by oxidative DNA damage create two separate genetic pathways to the development of UC.
    • The first and more common (low grade) leads to noninvasive, papillary tumors. 
    • These usually follow an indolent course unless they convert to or are associated with a tumor of the second pathway.
    • The second pathway leads to the development of high-grade cancer including CIS, T1, and, ultimately, muscle-invasive carcinoma.
    • High-grade tumors tend to have numerous and greatly variable chromosomal gains and losses. 
    • In addition to their relatively predictable aneuploidy, high-grade tumors can also lose all or part of chromosome 9.
    • Because of these differing genetic imprints, it has been suggested that papillary pTa tumors could almost be considered benign and might be a completely separate disease entity in contrast to high-grade tumors.
    • High-grade and low-grade lesions are known to coexist. 
    • UC is traditionally considered a field change disease, with tumors arising at different times and sites. 
    • Rarely, patients who initially have low-grade tumors will subsequently develop high-grade tumor. 
    • Long-term surveillance is usually reasonable.

    Detection of Urothelial Bladder Tumors

    • Painless gross hematuria occurs in 85% of patients with bladder cancer and requires a complete evaluation that includes cystoscopy, urine cytology, CT scan, and a PSA blood test.
    • Patients with microscopic hematuria require a full evaluation, but low-risk patients do not require repeat evaluations. High-risk individuals primarily are those with a smoking history and should be evaluated every 6 months.
    • White light cystoscopy with random bladder biopsies is the gold standard for tumor detection. 
    • White light cystoscopy has an excellent sensitivity and specificity for papillary tumors but is relatively poor for CIS. 
    • Cystoscopy with blue light may be more sensitive in the detection of CIS.  
    • Porphyrin-induced fluorescence cystoscopy uses photoactive porphyrins, such as hexaminolevulinate, that accumulate preferentially in neoplastic tissue and emit red fluorescence under blue-wavelength light. 
    • This may improve the detection of small papillary lesions and CIS.
    • There are various urine markers that evaluate secreted proteins or shed cells in the hope of noninvasively detecting bladder cancer. 
    • None of these markers to date have a high enough sensitivity or specificity to replace office cystoscopy.  
    • NMP-22 is commonly used along with cystoscopy in approximately 10% of patients.

    References

    • Epstein JI, Amin MB, Reuter VR, Mostofi FK: The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology consensus classification of urothelial (transitional cell) neoplasms of the urinary bladder. Bladder Consensus Conference Committee. Am J Surg Pathol  1998; 22:1435-1448.
    • Golin AL, Howard RS: Asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. J Urol  1980; 124:389-391.
    • Grossfeld GD, Wolf Jr JS, Litwan MS, et al: Asymptomatic microscopic hematuria in adults: summary of the AUA best practice policy recommendations. Am Fam Physician  2001; 63:1145-1154.
    • Grossman HB, Soloway M, Messing E, et al: Surveillance for recurrent bladder cancer using a point-of-care proteomic assay. JAMA  2006; 295(3):299-305.
    • Harnden P: A critical appraisal of the classification of urothelial tumours: time for a review of the evidence and a radical change?. BJU Int  2007; 99(4):723-725.
    • Herr HW: Tumor progression and survival of patients with high grade, noninvasive papillary (TaG3) bladder tumors: 15-year outcome. J Urol  2000; 163:60-61.discussion 61–62.
    • Herr HW, Donat SM: A comparison of white-light cystoscopy and narrow-band imaging cystoscopy to detect bladder tumour recurrences. BJU Int  2008; 102(9):1111-1114.
    • Khadra MH, Pickard RS, Charlton M, et al: A prospective analysis of 1,930 patients with hematuria to evaluate current diagnostic practice. J Urol  2000; 163:524-527.
    • Kiemeney LA, Witjes JA, Verbeek AL, et al: The clinical epidemiology of superficial bladder cancer. Dutch South-East Cooperative Urological Group. Br J Cancer  1993; 67:806-812.
    • Kunju LP, You L, Zhang Y, et al: Lymphovascular invasion of urothelial cancer in matched transurethral bladder tumor resection and radical cystectomy specimens. J Urol  2008; 180(5):1928-1932.
    • Lee LW, Davis Jr E: Gross urinary hemorrhage: a symptom, not a disease. JAMA  1953; 153:782-784.
    • Lotan Y, Gupta A, Shariat SF, et al: Lymphovascular invasion is independently associated with overall survival, cause-specific survival, and local and distant recurrence in patients with negative lymph nodes at radical cystectomy. J Clin Oncol  2005; 23:6533-6539.
    • Mohr DN, Offord KP, Owen RA, et al: Asymptomatic microhematuria and urologic disease: a population-based study. JAMA  1986; 256:224-229.
    • Murphy WM, Crabtree WN, Jukkola AF, Soloway MS: The diagnostic value of urine versus bladder washing in patients with bladder cancer. J Urol  1981; 126(3):320-322.
    • Richter J, Jiang F, Gorog JP, et al: Marked genetic differences between stage pTa and stage pT1 papillary bladder cancer detected by comparative genomic hybridization. Cancer Res  1997; 57:2860-2864.
    • Ro JY, Staerkel GA, Ayala AG: Cytologic and histologic features of superficial bladder cancer. Urol Clin North Am  1992; 19:435-453.
    • Sauter G, Mihatsch MJ: Pussycats and baby tigers: non-invasive (pTa) and minimally invasive (pT1) bladder carcinomas are not the same!. J Pathol  1998; 185:339-341.
    • Smith Jr JA, Labasky RF, Cockett AT, et al: Bladder cancer clinical guidelines panel summary report on the management of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (stages Ta, T1 and TIS). The American Urological Association. J Urol  1999; 162:1697-1701.
    • Soloway MS, Briggman V, Carpinito GA, et al: Use of a new tumor marker, urinary NMP22, in the detection of occult or rapidly recurring transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract following surgical treatment. J Urol  1996; 156:363-367.
    • Sultana SR, Goodman CM, Byrne DJ, et al: Microscopic hematuria: urological investigation using a standard protocol. Br J Urol  1996; 78:691-698.
    • Tissot WD, Diokno AC, Peters KM: A referral center's experience with transitional cell carcinoma misdiagnosed as interstitial cystitis. J Urol  2004; 172:478-480.
    • Varkarakis MJ, Gaeta J, Moore RH, et al: Superficial bladder tumor: aspects of clinical progression. Urology  1974; 4:414-420.
    Published April 10, 2012
  • Blue light cystoscopy for the diagnosis of bladder cancer: Results from the US prospective multicenter registry

    Blue light cystoscopy (BLC) using hexaminolevulinate (HAL/Cysview/Hexvix) has been previously shown to improve detection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Herein, we evaluated the detection of malignant lesions in a heterogenous group of patients in the real world setting and documented the change in risk category due to upstaging or upgrading.

    Published August 6, 2018
  • Blue Light Cystoscopy: Indications and Outcomes.

    It has been firmly established that hexaminolevulinate-assisted blue light cystoscopy (HAL-BLC) reduces cancer recurrence rates. This review explores the impact of HAL-BLC on other meaningful outcomes in patients with bladder cancer, including disease progression, and earlier detection of disease at the time of surveillance cystoscopy.

    Published April 13, 2020
  • CUA 2017: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Hexaminolevulinate Blue Light-Assisted Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors in a Universal Healthcare System

    Toronto, Ontario (UroToday.com) Bladder surveillance for tumor recurrence and treatment of eventual recurrences account for 60% of the total costs of managing bladder cancer (BCa) patients1 – additional cost effective measures for surveillance and treatment are necessary. 
    Published June 26, 2017
  • Current Concepts in the Management of Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

    Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the world. Twenty to twenty-five percent of all newly diagnosed bladder cancers are muscle invasive in nature, and further, 20-25% of patients who are diagnosed with high-risk non-muscle invasive disease will eventually progress to muscle invasive disease in due course of time irrespective of adjuvant intravesical therapies.

    Published February 2, 2017
  • Enhanced cystoscopy including Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview®/Hexvix® is recommended in the New AUA/SUO Bladder Cancer Guideline

    Oslo, Norway, May 2, 2016: Photocure ASA announced today the American Urological Association (AUA) and the Society of Urological Oncology (SUO) have included enhanced cystoscopy in the 2016 Guidelines for the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

    Published May 2, 2016
  • Identification of Carbonic Anhydrase IX as a Novel Target for Endoscopic Molecular Imaging of Human Bladder Cancer.

    Emerging novel optical imaging techniques with cancer-specific molecular imaging agents offer a powerful and promising platform for cancer detection and resection. White-light cystoscopy and random bladder biopsies remain the most appropriate but nonetheless suboptimal diagnostic technique for bladder cancer, which is associated with high morbidity and recurrence.

    Published July 3, 2018
  • Immune Contexture Changes Following Blue Light Cystoscopy with Hexaminolevulinate in Bladder Cancer.

    Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a central component in the diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and can be guided by several optical imaging techniques for better visualization of lesions.

    Published January 2, 2024
  • Impact of enhanced optical techniques at time of TURBT with or without single immediate intravesical chemotherapy on recurrence rate of NMIBC, a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials.

    The novel optical techniques such as blue light cystoscopy (BLC) during transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) has been shown to improve the tumor detection rate and recurrence rate. Whether a single immediate intravesical chemotherapy (SIIC) still has an additive therapeutic effect in the setting of these novel optical techniques (e.

    Published March 10, 2021
  • Optimizing Diagnosis of Urothelial Bladder Cancer with Blue Light Cystoscopy via Recognition of False-Positive Lesions.

    Introduction: Blue light cystoscopy (BLC) using hexaminolevulinate (Cysview®) improves the detection of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).1-3 BLC results in lower recurrence rate and a better recurrence-free survival, as well as a progression benefit.

    Published February 25, 2020
  • Performance of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) and Photodynamic Diagnosis (PDD) Fluorescence Imaging Compared to White Light Cystoscopy (WLC) in Detecting Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Lesion-Level Diagnostic Meta-Analysis.

    Despite early detection and regular surveillance of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), recurrence and progression rates remain exceedingly high for this highly prevalent malignancy. Limited visualization of malignant lesions with standard cystoscopy and associated false-negative biopsy rates have been the driving force for investigating alternative and adjunctive technologies for improved cystoscopy.

    Published September 13, 2021
  • Role of Blue Light Cystoscopy in Detecting Invasive Bladder Tumor: Data from Multi-Institutional Registry.

    To evaluate the role of blue light (BL) cystoscopy in detecting invasive tumors that were not visible on white light (WL) cystoscopy.

    Using the multi-institutional Cysview registry database, patients who had at least one white light negative/blue light positive lesion with invasive pathology (≥T1) as highest stage tumor were identified.

    Published October 14, 2021
  • Safety of repeat blue light cystoscopy with hexaminolevulinate (HAL) in the management of bladder cancer: Results from a phase III, comparative, multi-center study.

    The therapeutic benefit of intravesical instillation of hexaminolevulinate (HAL) at the time of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) has been demonstrated in multiple studies. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the safety of repeated administration of HAL from a phase III pre-trial planned analysis.

    Published June 28, 2022
  • The Impact of Blue Light Cystoscopy on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Bladder Cancer.

    Photodynamic diagnostic technique with blue light cystoscopy (BLC) takes advantage of the preferential uptake and accumulation of protoporphyrins in neoplastic tissue which emit a red fluorescence when illuminated with blue light (360-450 nm wavelengths).

    Published March 29, 2017
  • The Impact of Blue Light Cystoscopy with Hexaminolevulinate (HAL) on Progression of Bladder Cancer - A New Analysis.

    Background: The International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) recently proposed a new definition of disease progression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), including change in T-stage, change to T2 or higher or change from low to high grade.

    Published May 1, 2019
  • Underutilization of Blue Light Cystoscopy for Bladder Cancer in the United States.

    Blue light cystoscopy (BLC) during transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is guideline-recommended as it improves cancer detection and decreases recurrence of the disease. However, the extent to which BLC is used has not been established.

    Published November 1, 2021