Cytologic evaluation of urine is important in evaluation of chronic prostatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Cytologic examination of the urine has not been a recommended part of the diagnostic workup for patients presenting with chronic prostatitis. We identified 3 patients referred to our tertiary Prostatitis Research Clinic who had carcinoma in situ of the bladder discovered after evaluation of urine cytology.


METHODS
One hundred fifty consecutive patients referred to the Queen's University Prostatitis Clinic during 2000 and 2001 underwent extensive evaluation, including collection of urine specimen for cytologic examination if they also had symptoms compatible with interstitial cystitis (urinary frequency, urgency, and suprapubic pain).


RESULTS
Three patients, who were referred to our tertiary prostatitis clinic after being evaluated and treated by other urologists for an average of 3.5 years for chronic prostatitis, were eventually diagnosed with carcinoma in situ of the bladder. The patients were older than the average patient referred to our specialized clinic (average age 61 years compared with 42 years for the average patient). All 3 patients complained of pain (suprapubic and/or perineal) and irritative voiding symptoms, and 2 had dysuria. Only 1 of these patients had microscopic hematuria.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that urine cytology become a diagnostic test for men presenting with prostatitis-like symptoms, particularly if the symptom complex includes irritative voiding symptoms, dysuria, and suprapubic/bladder pain.
Department of Urology, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
J Curtis
JC
Nickel
Dale
D
Ardern
Joe
J
Downey
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine*