The role of urine cytology in the assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the role of urine cytology in the investigation of men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the absence of haematuria. Patients and methods The study comprised 336 men attending a LUTS assessment clinic, who had neither macroscopic nor microscopic haematuria. One sample of urine was collected for cytology. Those with suspicious urine cytology were investigated with intravenous urography and cystoscopy. Results Five men had abnormal urine cytology results; on further investigation one of them was found to have carcinoma in situ (CIS) and one to have a transitional cell carcinoma. Three had false‐positive urine cytology results. Conclusion A bladder tumour or CIS was detected in 0.6% of the population tested. The cost per cancer diagnosed was GB £2020. Urine cytology is a simple noninvasive way of assisting accurate diagnosis of men who have LUTS in the absence of haematuria.