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Symptoms and Diagnostic Tools for Bladder Cancer

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Urologic Oncology

Abstract

The symptoms of bladder cancer (BC) can vary widely; sometimes only unspecific dysuria with irritative or obstructive symptoms can be present. Painless gross hematuria represents the most common symptom of BC. Ostial or urethral tumor obstruction might lead to impaired renal urine outflow, leading to flank pain. Advanced localized BC can display in abdominal distention, pelvic pain, and even palpable masses whereas metastases can be associated with multiple symptoms. Urine tests often represent the initial diagnostic marker. The urinary cytology (UC), in which exfoliated cells of the urothelium are extracted and microscopically examined, promotes a high sensitivity in high grade (G3) tumors and carcinoma in situ. UC should be utilized as an adjunct to cystoscopy, since positive UC can indicate urothelial tumors in the entire urinary tract. In order to improve sensitivity of UC, numerous different urinary marker tests were developed; however, a use for regular screening is not recommended, yet. In patients with suspected BC the white light cystoscopy (WLC) represents the diagnostic gold standard. The fluorescence cystoscopy (photodynamic diagnosis (PDD)) shows diagnostic advantages compared to WLC, outlined in improved detection rates and improved recurrence free survival. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) represents another promising visualization tool. Computed tomography urography and MRI can help to identify tumorous lesions in both the bladder and the upper urinary tract.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Munich, Germany

    Tobias Grimm, Jan-Friedrich Jokisch & Alexander Karl

Authors
  1. Tobias Grimm
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  2. Jan-Friedrich Jokisch
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  3. Alexander Karl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexander Karl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Urology & Urologic Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Axel S. Merseburger

  2. Dept. of Urology, University of Regensburg St. Josef Medical Centre, Regensburg, Germany

    Maximilian Burger

Section Editor information

  1. der Universität Regensburg, Oberarzt der Klinik für Urologie, Regensburg, Germany

    Wolfgang Otto

  2. Departement of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Shahrokh F. Shariat

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Grimm, T., Jokisch, JF., Karl, A. (2018). Symptoms and Diagnostic Tools for Bladder Cancer. In: Merseburger, A., Burger, M. (eds) Urologic Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42603-7_15-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42603-7_15-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42603-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42603-7

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