title: Hypericin-based fluorescence diagnosis of bladder carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the use of hypericin instillation for the fluorescent detection of papillary bladder cancer and carcinoma in situ.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven patients with papillary bladder cancer and/or carcinoma in situ received instillations with 40 mL of an 8 micromol/L hypericin solution for at least 2 h. Fluorescent excitation with blue light was effective for up to 16 h, and biopsies were examined by fluorescence microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no side-effects reported, no photobleaching and all papillary lesions fluoresced red. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting carcinoma in situ was 94% and 95%, respectively. An interval of 4 months is recommended after BCG instillations before using this test. Fluorescence microscopy showed that hypericin was selectively localized in the epithelium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypericin-induced fluorescence has a high sensitivity and specificity for detecting bladder cancer. After 4 months there are few false-positive results in patients treated with BCG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. marie-ange.dhallewin@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Marie-Ange
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: D'Hallewin
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kamuhabwa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roskams
authors.forename: P A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: De Witte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baert
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin