title: Asymptomatic microscopic hematuria--is investigation necessary?
abstract: Microscopic hematuria is common in asymptomatic adults, but the benefit of screening the general population for blood in the urine has not been established. On the other hand, most studies of referred patients with putatively asymptomatic microscopic hematuria have reported a 2-11% prevalence of urothelial malignancies, leading to the recommendation that all patients with microscopic hematuria be thoroughly investigated. Urinalysis is inexpensive and highly acceptable to the general population, but is neither a sensitive, nor specific test, and has poor predictive value for urothelial malignancies, and nephrological diseases. Furthermore the benefits of early detection of such diseases has not been established. We conclude that screening urinalysis cannot be recommended. Studies are needed to determine which constellation of findings primary physicians use to select patients for referral to centers with urological and nephrological expertise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Sackler School of Medicine, University of Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Froom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Froom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006417:Hematuria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000592:standards